Data centers provide very little benefit to people who live near them (and that’s pretty much everyone in Virginia now) while costing us plenty. They take up land that could be used in a more beneficial way, drive up electricity bills, and contribute to the uglification of our state. Their enormous energy demands have given our utilities an excuse to back away from their climate pledges. They are terrible neighbors, inflicting constant noise on nearby homes, schools, and businesses. And now they want to increase the amount of diesel pollution they can pour into our air. These monstrosities are owned by some of the world’s richest corporations. They can afford a better, cleaner power source. We’ve paid enough. Let them pick up the tab for once.