Date/Time: Tuesday, 10/13/26, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Location: Science Museum of Virginia R F & P Forum (2500 W. Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220)

Data Centers and Virginia's Resources: Water, Energy, and Community Impacts with Dr. Mary Finley-Brook at the University of Richmond and Tim Cywinski, Communications Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter

As Virginia continues to attract large-scale data center development, communities across Central Virginia—including Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Chesterfield, and Petersburg—are increasingly asking whether local infrastructure and natural resources can keep pace.

This program explores how data centers use water and electricity, the different cooling technologies they employ, and the potential impacts on groundwater, municipal water supplies, energy demand, rural landscapes, and quality of life. Experts will also discuss why hyperscalers in Chesterfield VA are not inevitable and the need for government to call for a moratorium. Participants will be invited to engage and take action. There will be calls to action and how citizens can engage their government officials and community members to balance economic development with environmental stewardship and community interests.

Mary Finley-Brook is a Professor of Geography and Global Studies at the University of Richmond, where she has taught since 2006. Finley-Brook has decades of experience conducting participatory action research and collaborates regularly with community-based organizations and frontline populations to advance climate justice in energy sector transformation. Her interests include environmental policy, climate justice, public health, energy transition, affordable access to renewable energy technologies, and equity in environmental, climate and energy governance.

She has served on review panels for the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Finley-Brook is co-author of the textbook Climate Crisis, Energy Violence with Elsevier Press (2024). Her research has been published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Energy Research and Social Science, Geopolitics, International Forestry Review, Water Alternatives and William and Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. Finley-Brook recommended creation of the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Council on Environmental Justice to the Northam Administration and was a founding member.

She conducted participatory research with the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (2015-2023). Current collaborations with community partners include green workforce training with Bridging the Gap in Virginia and energy justice initiatives in Puerto Rico with Comité Diálogo Ambiental.

Tim Cywinski currently leads communications for the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, where he promotes environmental justice at the local, state, and federal levels while helping communities stand up to Big Industry and Big Tech polluting projects. Tim is a political communications specialist dedicated to building a livable, fair future for every community, For more than 14 years, he has advanced policies on poverty, student rights, education, economic security, sustainability, and environmental justice.

Previously, Tim worked on electoral campaigns, community organizing, and lobbying at both the state and federal levels. He also offers free trainings to civic and community groups on strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.

Tim holds a B.A. in Political Science from Roanoke College and an M.A. in Political Communications, Public Relations, and Media from Johns Hopkins University. He has called central Virginia home since 2015.

Outside of work, Tim enjoys kickball, karaoke, movies, and long walks with his sweet but stubborn hound, Lady Bones.

Click HERE to see the FOJG's Richmond Clean Energy & Climate Justice Budget Recommendations for fiscal year 2027.  These were sent to Mayor Stoney and the Richmond City Council.