County gets answers on data center
Emma Faulkner, shown during an earlier cross country season, was among the athletes honored at a recent Supervisors meeting.
Trey Ward, Rural Retreat
Fluid Stack engineers answered some questions and promised more answers concerning a data center project at Progress Park during the Board of Supervisors’ July 28 meeting.
Fluid Stack took over a proposed nearly 100-acre data center project from Solix Arx.
Project engineers told Supervisors that the company had applied with the town of Wytheville to use 3,000 of gallons of water per day, saying that amount is similar to what seven to 10 households might use daily. The engineers said that the water is mostly for employee use, noting that after the closed-loop cooling system has been filled it will require only minimal water input.
The company estimated a total power consumption between 210 and 300 megawatts. Some sources compare the load to a similar usage of a small city. The engineers noted that though a substation is planned for the Progress Park campus, it will not generate power on-site. Rather the substation will step down voltage for the facility’s use
The engineers also presented a plan for three retaining walls up to 30 feet high. The wall and existing vegetation, officials said, would be designed to blend into the surroundings.
The engineers also said that preliminary models show them easily meeting the county’s less than 65 dB sound threshold at 500 feet beyond the property lines. Models show levels of 50 to 52 dB at 500 feet, adding that a full noise study plan will be submitted later.
Supervisors Jesse Burnett, during board time, pointed out that 65 dB is equivalent to a normal conversation between two people standing three feet away.
Following the company’s presentation, the board approved the Fluid Stack site plan.
Residents, however, continued to strongly oppose the data center, with several being removed after the vote. During citizens time, too, residents continued to speak out against data center and in favor of moving forward on zoning regulations.
For their part, Supervisors agreed that they do not support centers out in the county.
Stacy Terry said that while he supports the one in the park, which he noted was marketed to accommodate center, he doesn’t want them out in the farmland in Wythe County.
Sarah Crockett noted that citizen concerns are real and she wants the county to not welcome any more centers without verifying what companies are selling, adding that Supervisors and residents need to know more about the impacts of development.
Dicky Morgan urged respect among those opposed to data centers, adding that the county has to get zoning right and can’t push too hard, too fast.
Chair Jamie Smith clarified that no one on the board signed a non-disclosure agreement, saying only the Joint Industrial Development Authority had signed an NDA.
In other news, the county recognized several athletes for accomplishments at the state track and field meet at the end of last school year.
Skyler McBride of George Wyth High School was honored for his 22-foot, 2.5-inch leap, a personal record and good enough for a boys long jump title.
Emma Faulkner, also of George Wythe, brought home several individual state titles last school year winning the 1000 meter and 3200 meter runs.
Trey Ward of Rural Retreat High School set records with state championships in the 55 meter dash, 300 meter dash and 200 meter dash. Ward, along with Brody Childers, Jake Robinson and Chaz Penright captured a 4x100 meter relay championship with a time of 43.09.
