(Chatham) — A company that’s eyeing Pittsylvania County for a large power plant and data centers is setting up two meetings to reach out to neighbors.
Balico, LLC wants to rezone over 2,200 acres in the Banister District. The land is northeast of Chatham in the Sheva and Chalk Level communities, running along Motley, Transco and Mill Creek Roads.
They want it rezoned from Residential and Agricultural to M-2 Industrial; Heavy Industry to build what they call, “a world-class data center campus with a dedicated, 3,500 megawatt gas-fired power source.”
A Balico spokesperson says the plant would use the most advanced turbine technologies available and take advantage of the nearby Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Balico will hold two sessions next week to give residents more information about the project. The first is Monday 6 p.m. at the Pittsylvania County Community Center in Chatham. The second is Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Riceville Missionary Baptist Church in Java.
Neighbors are planning a meeting at Mill Creek Community Church on Wednesday to discuss the plan.
In a press release Wednesday announcing the community meetings, Balico described themselves as a company with, “a proven track record of developing complex, energy efficient projects in the power sector while working closely with local communities. It is committed to being a strong partner to Pittsylvania County, both by investing in the utilities and public safety infrastructure necessary to support this proposal and by helping the region to attract skilled, high-paying jobs at data centers that will train and retain local talent.”
Earlier this month, the county approved a Permit for the county’s first data center on South Boston Road just east of the city limits.