In a small Virginia town, distrust of Big Tech hampers Trump’s AI push

In a small Virginia town, distrust of Big Tech has hindered President Donald Trump's push for artificial intelligence (AI). A local newspaper, the Danville Register & Bee, recently reported on the controversy surrounding a proposed data centre campus in Berry Hill, a 3,500-acre industrial site near Danville. The leader of the Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA), Vic Ingram, claimed that much of the "propaganda" online against the area's first-ever data centres was driven by China.

However, Danville residents argue that their concerns are rooted in their distrust of local officials, a history of broken investment promises, and an opaque decision-making process.

The dispute over the data centre project in Danville is the latest chapter in the city's complicated relationship with China. After losing its textile industry to China in the 2000s, the city used to hope for economic revitalization from Chinese investments. However, those investments failed to materialize, resulting in thousands of job losses and a long-lasting economic downturn.

Local officials attempted to secure Danville's next major economic driver by turning to China in 2013, launching "The China Strategy," which aimed to attract Chinese companies to set up manufacturing plants in the area. Despite initial promises, none of the deals materialized, and the city was left to foot the bill for grants. Later, in 2023, officials sought to make Berry Hill the home of Ford Motor's new US$3.5 billion battery plant, but it eventually went to Michigan.

Now, Berry Hill is once again at the center of a politically charged debate in Danville, with China being invoked to support the proposed investment rather than reject it. Shannon Kelly, a local reporter, noted that the area's history of failed economic development looms large over the data centre debate. While many do not oppose data centres on principle, residents have trust issues with local officials, as non-disclosure agreements between officials and the company behind the project prevented residents from obtaining information about the project's purpose and plans.