Richmond Rally Condemns Data Center Sprawl, Demands Transparency From Lawmakers: Report

Dozens of people gathered in Richmond on Saturday for a rally expressing concern about the proliferation of data centers around the state, according to reports.

WTVR notes that Virginia currently hosts 736 data centers that are either active or under construction.

The protest took place at the Capitol Bell Tower on Capitol Square, which hosts Virginia state government buildings. Speakers, posters and creative outfits were captured by social media users.

Sarah Ahmed of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters warned lawmakers, "If you won't pass the guard rails we need, then you must put an immediate pause on all state data center permitting, and until then, we are watching and we are organizing," according to the outlet.

After years of fighting, residents in Prince William County managed to overturn approval for a massive planned data center called the Digital Gateway Project and blocked another, Dulles Cloud South, in its tracks.

Read more from WTVR here.