Frederick County is holding two Public Information & Engagement Forums focused on data centers. These sessions are designed to give residents, business owners, and civic leaders the opportunity to access clear, fact-based information about data centers, their operations, and potential community impacts.

The dates and times of the forums are:

• Sherando High School on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m.
• James Wood High on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Both will be held in the school auditoriums.

These exchanges will feature presentations and discussions with subject-matter experts in areas such as electrical power and public water systems.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of both the benefits and challenges associated with data center development. The goal of these sessions is to provide clear, objective information about data center development in Frederick County; explain infrastructure and regulatory considerations and industry background; and gather public input to inform future planning and decision-making.

Below is the agenda for the forums:

1. Welcome & Meeting Overview: Mike Bollhoefer, County Administrator

Time: 5 minutes

• Welcome from Frederick County leadership
• Purpose of the Community Exchange
• Ground rules for respectful, productive dialogue
• How public questions and feedback will be handled

2. Data Center Development Overview

Presenter: Frederick County EDA/Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Time: 20 minutes

• What data centers are and where they could locate in Frederick County
• Economic and operational overview
• How data centers differ from other industrial uses

3. Panel

Time: 30 minutes

Topics & Presenters:

• Electrical Power
  • First Energy
  • Rappahannock Electric Coop (REC)
  • Shenandoah Valley Electric Coop (SVEC)
• Public Water & Wastewater
  • Frederick Water

Format: Introductions/Brief presentations (5 minutes each)

4. Break (if needed)

Time: 10 minutes

5. Community Questions to First Energy, REC, SVEC, VEDP, County Planning, EDA

Due to anticipated interest in the Q&A portion of these meetings, we are asking people to provide their questions in advance via this email or to provide their questions in writing at the meetings. We ask that questions pertain to the generalized topic of data centers in Frederick County and not to specific projects. This format will allow more questions to be answered by the meeting participants.

Questions received after noon on Tuesday, February 24 will be presented at the meeting on Thursday, February 26. Cut off for submitting questions is noon on Thursday, February 26. 

6. Next Steps & Closing Remarks

Time: 10 minutes

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