FOJG Program - Lessons Learned from VA’s Data Center Boom and Pathways Forward

10/13/26, 7:00 - 8:30 PM Lessons Learned from Virginia’s Data Center Boom and Pathways Forward with Dr. Mary Finley-Brook at the University of Richmond and Tim Cywinski, Communications Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter at the Science Museum of Virginia R F & P Forum (2500 W. Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220)

As Virginia continues to attract large-scale data center development, communities across Central Virginia—including Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Chesterfield, and Petersburg—are increasingly asking whether local infrastructure and natural resources can keep pace.

This program explores how data centers use water and electricity, the different cooling technologies they employ, and the potential impacts on groundwater, municipal water supplies, energy demand, rural landscapes, and quality of life. Experts will also discuss why hyperscalers in Chesterfield VA are not inevitable and the need for government to call for a moratorium. Participants will be invited to engage and take action. There will be calls to action and how citizens can engage their government officials and community members to balance economic development with environmental stewardship and community interests.

Cost: Free Register here Richmond - Lessons Learned from Virginia's Data Center Boom and Pathways Forward