Snyder Excludes Media from Google Data Center Town Hall Meeting

Botetourt County Board of Supervisors member Tim Snyder hosted a town hall meeting at the VFW Post 1841 for Amsterdam district residents to discuss Google data centers. The meeting focused on Google's plans and potential impact on the community, but members of the media were not allowed inside.

Ahead of the meeting, Botetourt County officials explained that Snyder wanted to ensure space was available for local residents, who might have been impacted by a potential crowd. However, this decision raised questions about transparency and accessibility.

Google representatives gave a 30-minute presentation followed by a 90-minute Q&A session. Those in attendance expressed concerns about the lack of specificity regarding Google's plans and how they would benefit the community.

Austen Schwend, one of those who attended the meeting, stated that 'a lot of it is stuff that can't be verified through the actual contracts.' This sentiment reflects the skepticism surrounding Google's claims and the need for more concrete information.