Emporia leaders vote to welcome data centers into city
VENN
EMPORIA, Va. (WRIC) -- Emporia leaders have unanimously endorsed data center development, hailing the decision as an investment in a prosperous future.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, during a joint meeting of the Emporia City Council and the Planning Commission, officials voted unanimously in favor of potential data center development in the city.
In a Friday, Sept. 26 press release, leaders called this move a "decisive step" that welcomed "new opportunities in technology, innovation and economic growth" within Emporia.
"By welcoming data centers, Emporia positions itself as a competitive location for modern industries, bringing with it the promise of new investment, infrastructure improvements and expanded job opportunities," the city said in the release.
The state of Virginia is considered the data center capital of the world, as it contains the largest concentration of data centers globally. A 2024 study performed by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) found that this booming industry both helps and hurts the Commonwealth, as it stimulates economic growth while presenting several infrastructural and environmental concerns.
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It's the mixed bag these high-tech developments appear to offer that makes them fairly controversial -- however, leaders like Emporia city manager William E. Johnson, III believe they are the future.
"We are moving forward with technology in the City of Emporia, and I am proud to be part of these exciting changes," he said in the release. "This decision ensures that our community is ready for the future while creating opportunities for our citizens today."
