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Where Did Everybody Go? Anti-Data Center Coalition Sees Small Crowd After Packed Public Hearing
The Henry County VA Coalition Against Data Centers saw a much smaller turnout at its latest meeting, raising questions after more than 150 residents packed a recent Henry County public hearing to voice opposition to proposed data center development.
The coalition gathered this week to discuss its next steps in opposing data centers, but attendance was noticeably lighter than the crowd that filled the public hearing room just days earlier.
So what happened?
Was it the steady rain that kept people at home? Or has some of the momentum from the public hearing already begun to fade?
It's too early to know.
The earlier public hearing drew nearly three hours of testimony, with speaker after speaker urging county leaders to reject proposed data center projects. The overwhelming opposition made headlines and demonstrated the depth of concern among many residents over issues such as water use, electricity demand, noise, and the potential impact on nearby communities.
At the coalition's latest meeting, however, the atmosphere was much quieter as members discussed future organizing efforts and plans to continue pressing county officials.
A smaller crowd at one meeting doesn't necessarily mean public interest has disappeared. Community groups often see attendance fluctuate based on factors such as weather, schedules, and whether a meeting involves official government action or internal planning.
Even so, the contrast between a standing-room crowd at the public hearing and the lighter attendance at the coalition meeting was hard to miss.
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