CaseLock Community Investigation

Fluvanna County
Community Investigation

Fluvanna County, Virginia

Data CentersTenaskaWaterConflicts of Interest
Read the Complete 23-Page Fluvanna Case File (PDF)

The Five Supervisors

Four voted YES on the Tenaska power plant at a midnight meeting on March 19, 2026 — overriding a unanimous Planning Commission denial. One stood with the community.

Tony O'Brien

Rivanna District · Chair
Voted YES

Owned Good Neighbor Fund land tied to the deal. Controlled the midnight-vote agenda that rammed the project through after the community had gone home.

Top Donors:Good Neighbor Fund ties

Mike Goad

Fork Union District · Member
Voted YES

The Bremo data-center site sits inside his district. Documented SugarOak Realty relationship. Allen Powell donated to his campaign.

Top Donors:Allen Powell ($2,452), SugarOak-linked interests

Timothy Hodge

Palmyra District · Vice Chair
Voted YES

Won his seat by a razor-thin 52.14%. Virginia Realtors PAC was his #1 donor — the same PAC that lobbies for the development interests behind the project.

Top Donors:Virginia Realtors PAC (#1 donor), Allen Powell ($2,452)

Mike Sheridan

Columbia District · Member
Voted YES

Ran unopposed and reported $0 in campaign contributions — yet still held a town hall where residents begged him to vote NO, then voted YES anyway. No disclosed donor to explain it.

Top Donors:$0 reported (ran unopposed)

Chris Fairchild

Cunningham District · Member
Voted NO

Stood alone. The only NO vote on the Board. Listened to the community and refused to rubber-stamp the midnight deal. A community ally worth supporting.

Top Donors:Not applicable — voted NO

Tenaska Power Plant

1,540 MW Gas Plant — Approved at Midnight
Project Cost
$2.2 Billion
Capacity
1,540 MW gas-fired
Vote
Approved 4–1 at midnight, March 19, 2026
Override
Overrode unanimous Planning Commission denial (3–1 Jan 13; 5–0 Feb 24)
Conditions
49 conditions attached
Harvard Health Study
4M+ people affected · 2–3 premature deaths/year
Health Harms vs. Tax Benefit
~$50M/year health harms vs. $247M tax benefit
The Board overrode a unanimous Planning Commission denial — voting 3–1 against on Jan 13 and 5–0 against on Feb 24 — then approved it 4–1 at a midnight meeting. The Harvard health study projects 2–3 premature deaths per year and ~$50M/year in health harms against a $247M tax benefit.

Bremo Data Center Site

843 Acres at Historic Bremo Plantation
Acreage
843 acres
Developer
SugarOak Realty
Power Connection
AVAIO connection
Current Zoning
A-1 (needs rezoning after Dec 2025 ZTA)
Historic Status
Bremo Plantation — historic site
Environmental Risk
Coal ash landfill on/near site

The site is currently A-1 agricultural and requires a rezoning after the December 2025 Zoning Text Amendment. Bremo Plantation is a designated historic site, and a coal ash landfill sits on or near the property — making this both a preservation and an environmental-justice issue.

Water Crisis

Drought + Contaminated Private Utility
Drought Status
Severe drought declared
Aqua Virginia Violations
76 violations on record
Contaminants Found
E. coli · arsenic · chromium-6
Rate Increase
29% rate increase imposed on residents
Tenaska Withdrawal
9–11 MGD combined withdrawal during drought
Aqua Virginia — the private utility serving thousands of Fluvanna residents — has racked up 76 violations including E. coli, arsenic, and chromium-6, while imposing a 29% rate increase. Meanwhile Tenaska is permitted to withdraw 9–11 MGD during the same drought residents are being asked to conserve through.

Campaign Finance

Supervisor#1 DonorAllen PowellNote
Tony O'BrienGood Neighbor Fund tiesOwned land tied to the deal
Mike GoadSugarOak-linked interests$2,452Bremo site in his district
Timothy HodgeVirginia Realtors PAC (#1)$2,452Won 52.14% — narrowest margin
Mike Sheridan$0 reported (unopposed)Voted YES after town hall opposition
Chris FairchildVoted NO — no developer ties

The Virginia Realtors PAC was the #1 donor for 3 of the 4 YES voters. Allen Powell donated $2,452 to both Goad and Hodge — the two supervisors whose districts hold the Bremo site and the narrowest win.

Valley Link Transmission Line

31 Miles Through Fluvanna

The proposed 765kV Valley Link line would run roughly 31 miles through Fluvanna County, threatening three irreplaceable places:

  • Bremo Historic District — the plantation and surrounding historic landscape
  • Green Springs — a National Historic Landmark district
  • Courthouse District — Palmyra's historic core
Fluvanna is on Preservation Virginia's 2026 Most Endangered Historic Places list largely because of this corridor. File comments with the SCC (docket PUR-2026-00018) before the October 14, 2026 hearing.

Action Items

1

File DEQ public comments on the Tenaska air & water permits before the comment windows close.

2

FOIA the supervisor cell-phone records and text messages around the March 19 midnight vote.

3

Organize a recall effort for Goad and Hodge — both won narrow/unopposed seats and voted YES against their constituents.

4

Document every piece of evidence (photos, recordings, meeting minutes, emails) and upload it to caselock.us so it's preserved and attorney-ready.

Submit Evidence to CaseLock

Leadership Directory

Anthony P. "Tony" O'Brien
Rivanna District · Board of Supervisors · Chair
David M. "Mike" Goad
Fork Union District · Board of Supervisors
Timothy M. Hodge
Palmyra District · Board of Supervisors · Vice Chair
John M. "Mike" Sheridan
Columbia District · Board of Supervisors
Christopher Fairchild
Cunningham District · Board of Supervisors
Eric M. Dahl
County Administrator
Dan Whitten
County Attorney
Caitlin Solis
Clerk to the Board / Executive Assistant

Supervisor individual contact is routed through the Board Office. Regular meetings: 1st Wednesday at 5:00pm & 3rd Wednesday at 6:00pm, Fluvanna Courts Building, Palmyra.

Download the Full Fluvanna Case File (PDF)

Compiled by CaseLock from Fluvanna County public records, Planning Commission minutes, campaign finance filings, and the Harvard health-impact study.
This is an informational community investigation, not legal advice. Residents with direct concerns should consult an attorney.