Hopewell officials deny any role in data center case study

Hopewell officials say they were not involved in a case study conducted by a Maryland-based technology advisory firm about the possibility of a data center being built in the city.

In a late-afternoon statement July 13, city spokesperson Kyle English explained Hopewell’s connection to the issue and asserted that the city “did not commission, participate in, or conduct any case study regarding the development of the property.” Any role by the city was strictly on a standard-practice basis for all questions about potential economic development, the city said.

“Consistent with its standard practices, the city responds to inquiries from property owners, prospective developers, and their representatives regarding permissible uses, applicable development standards, and the City’s development review process,” English stated. “In March 2025 and again in May 2026, the city received formal inquiries regarding whether a data center was an allowable use at the site.

“The city’s role is to administer and enforce its zoning ordinance and applicable development regulations,” English continued. “Property owners are free to explore potential redevelopment opportunities for their properties; however, no development proposal is formally reviewed or considered by the city until an application has been submitted through the established development review process.”

The advisory firm, Volterra Advisors, told The Progress-Index last week it was working with the property owners, NS Development Partners, on an analysis of what could be built on the site of the former Green Plains ethanol plant, and that part of it was conducive to a small, 20-megawatt data center because of the natural gas lines on the site.

The remainder of the 55-acre site would be ideal for light industrial. NS Development announced four months ago that it was working out a lease with an unidentified manufacturing company.

“The city of Hopewell remains committed to providing accurate information regarding development activity within the community while ensuring that all proposed projects are reviewed in a fair and consistent manner,” the statement concluded.

Messages left with city administration at the time of the original article were never answered. A link to the case study, available on the Volterra website at the time of publication, appears to have been taken down. The Progress-Index was able to access the study last week.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell officials deny any role in data center case study

Reporting by Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index / The Progress-Index
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