Wythe County Data Center
Fluidstack, a data center developer based in Texas, is building a data center campus in Wythe County, Virginia. Fluidstack is committed to transparency, local partnership, and environmental accountability.
What this means for youA Note to Our Neighbors
New developments bring lots of questions, and we are dedicated to earning your trust through open dialogue and visible actions. Please check back here for regular updates and information as the site develops. Feel free to reach out to us directly.
Get in TouchProject Overview
Progress Park was designed for industrial development, situated alongside existing other industrial users and well away from residential neighborhoods.
- Campus Size
- 99-acre tract within the southeastern corner of Progress Park.
- Site Plan
- One building
- Noise
- Noise levels will remain at or below 65 dBA at 500 feet from the property line, meeting all Progress Park requirements.
- Water
- Closed-loop cooling will limit daily water consumption to employee uses only, including kitchens and bathrooms, like a regular office building.
What This Means for Wythe County
Responsible
Fluidstack will cover 100% of the energy and infrastructure costs, ensuring residential bills are protected. This isn't just our promise, it's enforced per the Virginia State Corporation Commission's order.
Sustainable
We exclusively use closed-loop cooling, meaning we reuse the same water for years, avoiding extensive daily demand for operations like what is seen in evaporative cooling facilities.
Investment
Being a good neighbor means paying our fair share. That’s why Fluidstack did not seek and is not receiving local property tax incentives. That means we are paying full local taxes on this property. All revenue from this project will go into the county’s general budget to fund Wythe County Public Schools, public safety and emergency services, local infrastructure and economic development, and general community operations.
Local Jobs
Fluidstack intends to hire locally whenever possible. There are many jobs at data centers for a wide range of skill sets. If you are hoping to work on site, please send us a message below.
Impact
Economic
Commitment
Based on the projected investment, Wythe County is expected to receive tens of millions in tax revenue every year.
Jobs
Hundreds of construction jobs during the build-out, and 75 full-time roles once the campus is operational.
Water
Fluidstack exclusively uses closed-loop cooling, meaning we reuse the same water for years, avoiding extensive daily demand for operations.
Energy
Provider
Appalachian Power is the energy provider for this development, and has the necessary energy available. To serve the site, Fluidstack is funding all upgrades needed to the existing Gradient substation. Fluidstack will also pay for any upgrades or other energy infrastructure needed as the project develops.
Bill Protection
Think of our energy usage like a neighbor turning on a light; your service stays steady, and your bill remains unchanged. The data center pays for what the data center needs, ensuring residential bills are not impacted by the project.
Data center accountability
With the signing of Executive Order 22, Governor Spanberger established the Data Center Accountability Framework to protect Virginians.
Fluidstack is fully compliant with this framework. For this project we are:
- 01
Not using NDAs.
- 02
Building in an existing industrial park, keeping our water usage low with a closed-loop cooling system, meeting all Progress Park noise covenants, and utilizing EPA-certified backup generators with minimal testing hours to ensure air quality remains protected.
- 03
Paying for all our own energy costs and energy infrastructure.
- 04
Not using on-site gas generation, with only three backup generators on-site.
- 05
Prioritizing local hiring.
Separating myth from fact
Big projects can attract big speculation. Here are the most common concerns, answered with what our specific plan says.
“The project will use up all the water in the area.”
Cooling tanks are filled once; top offs are only for routine maintenance and repairs. The same water is used indefinitely.
It doesn't evaporate or get refilled.
Daily water is only for employee uses, like kitchens and bathrooms.
“The facility will make electricity bills go up for local homes.”
Appalachian Power is the energy provider for this development, and has the necessary energy available.
The data center is metered and tracked the same way as any other development. Similar to how your neighbor's energy usage has no impact on your bill, the data center will pay for what the data center needs.
“The data center will always be loud and disturb the area.”
Noise levels will remain at or below 65 dBA at 500 feet from the property line, meeting all Progress Park requirements.
Sound fades fast with distance, so nearby areas sound as quiet as a library.
“The backup generators will pollute the air around the facility.”
We will only have three generators; far fewer than the hundreds used by most large projects. We test them for only a few minutes each month. Air quality will not be significantly impacted.
“Data centers do not create real jobs for local people.”
This project will create hundreds of construction jobs and 75 full-time roles once the campus is operational. These positions require a wide range of skills, including janitors, landscapers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and server technicians.
“The project will not pay its fair share of local taxes.”
Being a good neighbor means paying our fair share. That's why we did not seek and are not receiving local property tax incentives. This means Fluidstack is paying full local taxes on this development. All revenue from this project will go into the county's general budget to fund Wythe County Public Schools, public safety and emergency services, local infrastructure and economic development, and general community operations.
FAQ
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