Google data center open house June 17 in Botetourt County

Google and Botetourt County will hold a community open house on June 17 in Daleville to field resident concerns about Google’s planned 312‑acre data center campus that will host three data centers and three substations [1]. The meeting, open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lord Botetourt High School, is intended to clarify water usage, power infrastructure and local revenue impacts, while giving neighbors a chance to influence planning [1].

Community concerns and project details

The open house follows Google’s March announcement that it will break ground on the Greenfield Industrial Center campus, a development that has sparked local worries about water consumption, energy costs and environmental effects [1]. Organizers say feedback will help “guide planning and efforts to minimize impacts on the surrounding community,” a message echoed on the event graphic [1]. Attendees will receive information on sound mitigation, zoning, and the projected economic benefits, including local revenue and job creation, though specific figures were not disclosed.

Local response and next steps

During the June 17 session, dozens of residents gathered, reading informational boards and questioning Google and county representatives about the project’s footprint [3]. The atmosphere was described as a “low hum of chatter” with occasional singing, indicating a mix of curiosity and opposition among community members [3]. While the open house is informational, organizers stress that community input could shape mitigation measures, but no concrete changes have been announced yet.

What to watch

• Project timeline: Google’s break‑ground schedule for the 312‑acre campus, still pending final approvals.
• Regulatory approvals: Any revisions to water or power usage plans that emerge from the open house feedback.
• Local economic impact: Updates on projected revenue and job numbers as the county refines its benefit analysis.

The open house underscores the growing tension between large‑scale tech infrastructure projects and rural community concerns, leaving it unclear how much resident feedback will alter the planned data center’s design or timeline.