For several years running, we have “kicked off” the Choose Clean Water Conference with an afternoon seminar diving into issues confronting clean water restoration efforts throughout the Chesapeake Bay. As we gather in Virginia this year, we are excited to focus on data centers and their many environmental impacts.

Join us Monday, May 19 in Harrisonburg, Virginia for our 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference Kickoff!

If you’re interested in attending the Conference, please contact Amy Scofield at amy.scofield@nwf.org.

If you have any questions, please contact Drew Robinson at RobinsonAQ@nwf.org.

Conference Kickoff Agenda Overview

Monday, May 19

1:30-1:35 – Welcome
1:35-1:45 – Video: The Hidden Costs of Data Centers
1:45-2:30 – Panel Discussion
2:30-2:45 – Panel Q&A
2:45-3:00 – Break
3:00-3:25 – Data Centers and Water Consumption
3:25-3:35 – Data Centers 101: From Idea to Execution
3:35-4:30 – Breakout groups
4:30-4:50 – Review breakout group outcomes
4:50-5:00 – Wrap up and next steps
5:00-7:00 – Networking reception

It’s Not in the Cloud: Confronting the Rise of Data Centers in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Few issues present a greater threat to clean water in the Chesapeake Bay region than the widespread proliferation of data centers. Voracious consumers of both land and energy, data centers present unique challenges, particularly in the Commonwealth of Virginia which has the highest concentration of data centers in the world. Forecasts predict the demand for data centers will only rise as artificial intelligence expands at a rapid scale.

Join us for an afternoon seminar as we explore the state of data centers in the Chesapeake Bay region, the issues they present in our work for clean water, and the actions we can take to stem the unchecked expansion of data centers. Featuring well-respected speakers and targeted breakout groups, we will collaborate to develop an action plan that protects ratepayers, serves healthy communities, and safeguards our precious waterways.

Conference Kickoff Agenda

1:30-1:35
Welcome
Join us as we kick off this year’s 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference with It’s Not in the Cloud: Confronting the Rise of Data Centers in the Chesapeake Bay Region. We will provide a brief overview of the Conference Kickoff and conduct live polling to learn who’s in the room.

1:35-1:45
Video: The Hidden Costs of Data Centers
Hugh Kenny and Faith Schweikert, Piedmont Environmental Council
As we dive into the state of data centers in our region and their impacts, we will lay a solid foundation for the afternoon ahead. Thanks to the Piedmont Environmental Council, we’ll see why data centers are rapidly spreading, the challenges they present, and the consequences of their unchecked growth.

1:45-2:45
Panel Discussion
Power Surge: Community Activism Pushes Back
Delegate Josh Thomas, Virginia House of Delegates
Tyler Ray, Bren Pointe HOA and SaveBrenMar Coalition
Elena Schlossburg, Coalition to Protect Prince William County
Kyle Hart, National Parks Conservation Association (Moderator)
As the explosive growth of data centers continues throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, the ripple effects on local waterways and communities are enormous. New data centers are increasing polluted runoff, destroying valuable forests and farmland, placing incredible strain on local water supplies, consuming unsustainable amounts of energy, increasing harmful air pollution, and pushing our climate goals out of reach. While the data center industry possesses significant resources, there are many actions we can take to stem the unchecked tide of this growing threat. Hear how elected officials, community organizers, and nonprofit advocates are fighting back and learn how you can join us in the work to protect and preserve our waterways and communities.

2:45-3:00
Break
Please enjoy some refreshments and gather back at 3:00.

3:00-3:25
A Dry Horizon? Data Centers and the Future of Water Supply in the Chesapeake Bay Region
Alimatou Seck, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
In the Chesapeake Bay region, water supply concerns have traditionally been associated with periods of severe drought. The Potomac River, which supplies approximately 78 percent of the Washington Metropolitan Area’s water, has typically had ample flow to meet water supply and environmental needs. However, the growth of data centers is prompting new questions about long-term water availability. The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin is conducting a regional water supply study, including an analysis of data center water use. This presentation will share insights into the consumptive use of data centers under various growth scenarios, the potential impacts on water availability through 2050, and how different cooling technologies and infrastructure limitations affect water demand and supply resilience.

3:25-3:35
Data Centers 101: From Idea to Execution
Julie Bolthouse, Piedmont Environmental Council
Virginia’s Loudoun and Prince William counties boast more than 32 million square feet of data center space - equivalent to more than 550 football fields. And millions more square footage of data centers are either under construction or approved for development throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. But how are these massive facilities built? We will cover how data centers go from conception, to the planning phase, permitting, construction, and operation. By understanding this process, we will showcase opportunities to stop or impede construction of harmful data centers and improve their operation.

3:35-3:40
Breakout Previews
We will cover the breakout groups and provide instructions. Each group will have similar questions but will cover a different area of work.

3:40-4:30
Let’s Get to Work!
There are eight break out groups set up around the room and in the rooms across the hall. Each group represents an area connected to data centers. Self-select which group you would like to join to collaboratively brainstorm and discuss ideas and resources necessary to better manage and potentially reign in the unchecked spread of data centers throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.

Breakout Topics*

• Policy: Land Conservation
  Moderators: Pat Calvert, Virginia Conservation Network, and Ken Wright, Potomac Conservancy

• Policy: Energy
  Moderator: Ashish Kapoor, Piedmont Environmental Council

• Policy: Stormwater
  Moderator: Peter Marx, Choose Clean Water Coalition

• Policy: Water Resource Management
  Moderator: Alimatou Seck, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin

• Legal
  Moderator: Elena Schlossburg, Coalition to Protect Prince William County

• Communications
  Moderators: Drew Robinson, Choose Clean Water Coalition, and Marco Sanchez, Piedmont Environmental Council

• Environmental Justice
  Moderator: Angie McCarthy, Nature Forward

• Community Organizing
  Moderator: Renee Grebe, Nature Forward

*Subject to change

4:30-4:50
Breakout Group Review
Rosa Hance, Choose Clean Water Coalition
We will regroup to hear from some of the breakout groups and identify themes. We will also discuss next steps for how to build on the momentum from this afternoon and develop joint tools and resources to equip clean water advocates in the fight against harmful data centers.

4:50-5:00
Closing Remarks and Housekeeping
Drew Robinson, Choose Clean Water Coalition
Whew–what a day! Thank you all for attending and being part of this important conversation. It is just the beginning! Let’s debrief what we have accomplished and heard today and provide an overview of what you can expect for the rest of the evening (drinks!) and for the rest of the conference.

All photos are courtesy of Hugh Kenny, The Piedmont Environmental Council