Community members and advocates called for an immediate statewide pause on new data center approval

DANVILLE, VA — Residents and advocates hosted yesterday a March for a Moratorium on Craghead Street and Patton Street in downtown Danville, calling on state leaders to pause approvals for new data centers across Virginia. The event was a part of a two-week series of marches across Virginia, mobilizing participants to oppose the reckless, rushed expansion of large data centers and demand strong protections. 

“We do not consent to the destruction of our land, the depletion of our precious water, the obliteration of our wildlife, farm animals, and the sounds and beauty of nature. And perhaps even more importantly, the raising of our utility bills, to the benefit of corporate interests,” said Melody Cartwright of Martinsville. 

The March for Moratorium series has brought together residents and community advocates to demand stronger statewide safeguards before additional data centers move forward. At the Danville event, attendees rallied and highlighted local drought conditions that are affecting the city and explained why state leaders must enact a moratorium before approving more energy- and water-intensive facilities.

”As a Congresswoman, Spanberger was a friend of farmers,” said Joy Oakes, a farm owner from Swansonville. “If she’s still a friend of farmers, if she wants to be a friend of farmers, she needs to pass this moratorium.”

Virginia’s rapid data-center expansion is placing growing pressure on water resources, electric grid, and nearby communities. This is critical, especially since Danville is still experiencing a drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. 

“Virginians have been asked to sacrifice too much,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund. “We cannot responsibly connect any new data centers until robust policy protections are in place to deal with serious impacts to energy bills, air quality, water reservoirs, the well-being of communities, and more.”

The request for a moratorium also comes as NextEra wants to cash in on Virginia’s data center boom, driving up electricity bills and harming our communities. That’s why the organization and residents are calling for a moratorium on data centers and a stop to the NextEra/Dominion merger.

“We need to stand up for Virginians and demand that our lawmakers establish a data center moratorium across the Commonwealth,” said Patrice Smallwood, Chairperson of Virginia Organizing’s State Governing Board. The fight against data centers in Virginia is far from over, but we are marching so our lawmakers know exactly where we stand.”

The Danville March for Moratorium was sponsored by CCAN Action Fund and Virginia Organizing. For more information and to see other events in the March for a Moratorium, visit the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund’s March for a Moratorium page here.

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Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia. 

Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success, so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.