Following dramatic protests on Monday, Sept. 21, various local news outlets have confirmed that there is the potential for another data center in Roanoke.
According to WFIR news, The Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority (WVRIFA) confirmed plans for Clearview Dynamics to purchase land in Wood Haven Technology Park. This technology park is located where I-581 and I-81 intersect. The land is located in Roanoke County, but the City of Salem and City of Roanoke share ownership of the land as well, meaning that all localities can benefit from the potential economic benefits of the center. The land was zoned in 2020, before Clearview Dynamics was considering purchase, for Type I and II Industry. This includes factories, processing plants, and certain facilities with the potential to be dangerous. Data centers are a new addition to zoning laws, but they fit under these Industry Types.
The center would likely pull from the Appalachian Power Company grid and plans to use water from Spring Hollow Reservoir, which pulls water from the Roanoke River. This water source supplies most of South Roanoke currently, but can be used to feed other parts of the city and county if needed. The reservoir is owned by the Western Virginia Water Authority, and their website claims it can only produce up to 18 million gallons of water a day, but is currently operating at half that amount to meet customer needs…