Jul 14, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
A former ethanol plant in Hopewell, Virginia, near Richmond, is being evaluated for redevelopment into a data center. Data center consulting firm Volterra Advisors is studying the site at 701 S 6th Ave, with plans potentially calling for a 20MW facility spanning 50,000–70,000 sq ft (4,645–6,505 sqm). Hopewell is located about 20 miles south of Richmond.
The Hopewell ethanol facility opened in 2014 and was acquired by Green Plains Inc. in 2015 before closing in 2018. The plant produced around 60 million gallons of ethanol annually and employed about 31 workers. Real estate developer NS Development Partners acquired the former industrial site in February, paving the way for potential redevelopment.
“This investment signals strong momentum and confidence in Hopewell’s future—we can’t wait to see what’s next!” the city of Hopewell said at the time. Founded in 2023, NS Development has largely been focused on industrial warehouse developments to date.
Volterra Advisors, a data center advisory firm focused on strategy, site development, leasing, and transactions, was launched this year by former CloudHQ VP Jeramy Utara. Utara said the firm is working on multiple sites with available power expected in 2026. Regarding the Hopewell project, he noted that the site could potentially reuse existing natural gas infrastructure.
.png)
