Cullers: ‘Heck No’ to Data Centers, Yes to Smart Growth and Tourism in Warren County

Warren County Supervisor Cheryl Cullers is making her position clear: data centers do not belong in Warren County. During a wide-ranging interview, Cullers addressed concerns about data centers, economic development, tourism, schools, and what she sees as divisive rhetoric in the community.

“I’m going to use my nice language and say, heck no, as far as I’m concerned,” Cullers said when asked if data centers are coming to Warren County. “I have no intentions of voting for a data center, and I have not heard anybody else say they were either.”

Cullers explained that her opposition isn’t just political — it’s personal and informed by research. She recalled a 2022 visit to Loudoun and Prince William counties to see existing data centers for herself.

“I went down to Prince William first… and this was back in ‘22… and the couple that I was able to find, they were so well closed in with trees… you couldn’t see the building,” she said. “So I said, drive me over to Loudoun County… and oh my word, that was an eye-opening experience.”

Describing Loudoun’s industrial landscape, Cullers continued: “It was block after block of these huge cement buildings… this huge electric area that looked like it would take up the middle portion of Front Royal. And I thought this is ridiculous.”

Cullers also raised concerns about noise, electrical load, and water consumption. “Why would I want to do that when what is the return on what you’re doing to your natural resources?”

In January 2023, Cullers made her stance official during a Board of Supervisors meeting. “I made the motion to deny it and everybody agreed, and it was denied,” she said. “So as far as that board… I was an automatic no, and I’m still a no.”

Cullers said the recent focus on data centers is a distraction from more pressing community issues. “It is a non-issue. It is ridiculous that it’s being thrown out there… I see the signs all over the place to stop the data centers from coming. They’re not… nobody’s inviting them to come in.”

She also suggested that promoting fear about data centers could unintentionally attract unwanted attention. “It’s almost like the beacon… and another why I don’t want a data center here is terrorism… We’re already in the blast zone. We don’t need to make it. I don’t need to put a bullseye on us with a data center that somebody’s going to want to blow up.”

Instead of industrial development like data centers, Cullers is advocating for environmentally safe businesses, local job creation, and expanded tourism efforts.

“I also think that we are not… taking advantage of our natural resources and the tourism aspect of things either,” she said. “We’re tunnel-focused on this when we need to have a wide-pan view of how we can use our assets.”

Cullers noted the county has unique attractions like the Shenandoah River, Skyline Drive, and the Shenandoah River State Park. She pointed out that Page County is capitalizing on tourism more effectively. “People are driving through Warren County to go to Page County because Page County’s knocking it out of the ballpark with tourism.”

In her efforts to revitalize tourism, Cullers launched a tourism committee and worked to coordinate with local groups. However, she said some of the board’s momentum stalled. “We did interviews, and then the members of my board decided to put that on hold. I’m a little disgruntled over that.”

She also promoted using the 4-H Center as a potential convention or retreat center, saying, “It could be a convention center for us… working cooperatively with them would be a win-win situation.”

Cullers didn’t shy away from discussing Warren County’s past infrastructure needs, particularly with schools. “None of the schools were handicap accessible,” she said. “They needed to be renovated.”

Responding to criticism of the county’s debt for school improvements, she emphasized that it was a necessary investment. “It’s an investment… these buildings now will be around for another 50 or 75 years.”

Above all, Cullers said she wants county residents to do their research and reject misinformation, particularly on social media. “Do your due diligence and don’t believe what you see on Facebook. My golly… Go to the source.”

Cullers says she’s not a career politician but a public servant. “I don’t see myself as a politician; I see myself as a public servant,” she said. “This is where I was born and raised. This is where my children were born and raised and my grandchildren. And what is going on in this community breaks my heart.”

She urged collaboration and open dialogue between town and county leaders. “We should be able to do this… It’s a win-win situation for the whole county.”

As for her ongoing role on the board, she said, “If people want to be heard, I’m willing to listen to you. And I think that’s… if you didn’t want to do that, you should not have got in any of these positions.”

Cullers said she is willing to speak out, even if it pushes her out of her comfort zone. “I want the truth out because the truth is being twisted so badly on a lot of topics. Data centers being one of them.”