Iron Horse Data Center Proposal

At a glance

• What: A proposed hyperscale data center referred to as Iron Horse was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission while the Board continues a 12-18 month study of hyperscale data center impacts.
• Where it stands: As of the 2026-09-23 meeting no Board vote has occurred; citizens at every meeting urged denial or a pause on approvals until the study is complete. (as of the minutes read; later meetings may have updated this)

Built from the official minutes; check the linked source for the authoritative record.

Sources

• 2026-08-26 - Board of Supervisors (minutes): https://hanovercova.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=5809,plainText=false)
• 2026-08-26 - Board of Supervisors Public Hearings (minutes): https://hanovercova.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=5809,plainText=false)
• 2026-09-09 - Board of Supervisors (minutes): https://hanovercova.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=5841,plainText=false)
• 2026-09-23 - Board of Supervisors (minutes): https://hanovercova.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=5896,plainText=false)

Log

2026-09-23 - Board of Supervisors

Zamorski urged caution on the Iron Horse proposal citing statewide power, water, and environmental concerns, and Covington said the Planning Commission acted prematurely in recommending approval while the study is underway.

2026-09-09 - Board of Supervisors

Covington asked that no additional data center approvals be granted until the Board's study is complete, and Kirchner requested that data centers be removed as by-right uses and that water resource and public health protections be prioritized.

2026-08-26 - Board of Supervisors Public Hearings

Mendelson Cheely asked the Board to eliminate by-right data center approvals, Wilhoit criticized the Planning Commission's handling of the Iron Horse vote, and Turner urged the Board to consider replacing commissioners and disputed the developer's claim that the East Ashland concept could proceed by right.

2026-08-26 - Board of Supervisors

During Citizens' Time, Nelson disputed assumptions about data center personal property tax revenue, Coney read a Democratic Committee resolution against new data center construction, Zamborski urged denial of Iron Horse, Manke said the County should not need data center tax revenue, and Covington urged pausing approvals during the hyperscale study.