Botetourt County Pipeline Project Sparks Concerns Over Google Data Center Ties

Botetourt County residents expressed deep concerns about a proposed water pipeline project during a recent Planning Commission meeting. The Western Virginia Water Authority is seeking approval for a nearly 4,000-foot pipeline project, which authority officials claim will provide high-pressure water to over 40 households and bring much-needed fire hydrants to the neighborhood.

However, many residents at the meeting disputed this information, accusing the water authority of being 'less than transparent' about their water supply in relation to a proposed Google data center. One resident stated, 'You're not getting the truth,' while another claimed, 'The Western Virginia Water Authority has been less than transparent with the citizens about our water supply as it relates to the Google data center.'

Despite the community's concerns, Planning Commission Chair Beth Leffel defended the project, emphasizing that the lack of water infrastructure in the subdivision poses an immediate safety risk. She argued that 'many people in this audience feel like you're going to be able to stop the momentum. It's not going to happen.'

The Planning Commission ultimately ended in a 2-2 tie vote, which means the permit will still move forward to the county’s Board of Supervisors for final approval.