‘Don’t destroy our paradise’: Neighbors push back on 400-acre data center campus in Hanover

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Concern is growing among residents of Hanover, Henrico and Goochland counties as a 400-acre data center project nears its first major vote.

The Hunting Hawk Technology Center is scheduled to go before Hanover’s Planning Commission in late January 2026 -- but its location along the three-county border has already drawn hundreds of residents to speak out.

Julianne Freakley, a Henrico resident who lives within eyesight of the site near Ashland Road, said the project was not what she expected.

"When I moved here 20 or so years ago, this is not what I intended for my backyard," Freakley said.

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The project, proposed by HHHunt, would include a 10-building data center campus in Hanover County, supporting 900 megawatts of power.

"I'm not interested in the noise that it's going to cause," Freakley said. "I'm not interested in the light pollution … there won't be wildlife around here."

Neighbors say the data center campus could take around ten years to build, and as the site borders Henrico and Goochland counties, hundreds of residents could feel the impact.

"We want to keep Hanover a wonderful place to live -- don't destroy our paradise," said Hanover neighbor Ronnie Jowers.

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Developers have stated the property will not include a wastewater treatment plant. They plan to create a 450-foot buffer for Henrico residents and a 480-foot buffer for Hanover neighbors.

Despite these measures, Jowers said concerns remain about noise, traffic, water systems and more.

"They were to preserve the rural character … greed is clouding people's visions," Jowers said. "Have they sold their souls to the devil?"

Several rezoning requests have been submitted to advance the development. As data centers continue to expand across Virginia, some residents, including Beth Clarke, founded the advocacy group Neighbors for Change to push back against projects like this one.

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"What is at stake here is our way of life," Clarke said. "We are not NOVA. To be frank, if they build the data center, I probably will move."

Neighbors say the proposal is scheduled to go before Hanover’s Planning Commission after January 2026.