Community Questions

Your questions. Our responses. An ongoing conversation.

Since introducing Blue Ridge Innovation Campus, we've heard questions from community members about power, water, noise, visibility, traffic, economic impact and other aspects of the proposed project.

This page is a place to share what we're hearing, provide answers as information becomes available, and follow up on commitments and conversations along the way.

  • Blue Ridge Innovation Campus is proposed to generate its power on site, rather than relying on the regional electric grid for its primary power needs.

    Importantly, the proposed Blue Ridge Innovation Campus does NOT use natural-gas turbines.

    The proposed system will use natural gas to generate electricity on site through a non-turbine generation technology designed specifically to serve the campus. This allows the project to provide its own reliable source of power without placing its primary power demand on the existing regional electric grid.

  • Blue Ridge Innovation Campus is being designed with a closed-loop water system that requires an initial fill using deionized water. Once filled, that water will continuously circulate within the system rather than requiring a continuous supply of new water for cooling.

    Because the system uses deionized water, it is designed to avoid the mineral buildup and scaling that can require water to be routinely replaced in other systems.

    The cooling system will not draw water from surrounding natural water sources for ongoing operation. The water is intended to remain contained within the closed-loop system, with monitoring, maintenance and operating practices in place to prevent leaks or releases into the surrounding environment.

    This approach is designed to provide the cooling the campus requires while protecting local water resources and minimizing ongoing water demand.

  • Noise has been one of the most important questions raised by community members, and Blue Ridge Innovation Campus is taking that concern seriously.

    The project site is located immediately adjacent to Interstate 81 and active railroad tracks, both of which contribute to the existing ambient sound environment in the area. Preliminary information indicates that sound levels associated with these existing transportation sources can exceed the anticipated sound levels from the proposed campus.

    A qualified Project Acoustician of Record will conduct a project-specific noise assessment to evaluate anticipated sound levels at and beyond the property boundaries and demonstrate compliance with applicable Shenandoah County requirements.

    The goal is not simply to meet a number on paper. Site design, equipment selection and appropriate sound-mitigation measures will be evaluated to minimize the project's impact on surrounding properties.

  • The proposed buildings will have a maximum height of approximately 45 feet, with many mature trees in the area extending above that height. Site design is considering existing vegetation, topography, setbacks and additional landscaping to help integrate the development into its surroundings.

  • Construction will create temporary vehicle activity associated with workers, equipment and materials. Once operational, a data center campus generally has a very different traffic profile than retail, residential or other high-traffic development.

  • Blue Ridge Innovation Campus represents a significant long-term investment in Shenandoah County, with current conservative estimates projecting approximately $13 million in annual tax revenue for the County once the project is fully developed.

    The campus is also expected to support approximately 75–120 jobs, in addition to construction-related employment and economic activity during development.

    New tax revenue generated by the project would become part of the County's revenue base, providing additional resources that can support local priorities and services.

Don’t See Your Question?

The questions we receive help us understand what information matters most to the community. If there's something you'd like to know about Blue Ridge Innovation Campus, we'd like to hear it.