A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds published a commentary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on January 22nd on the need for greater transparency in data center water use. The column is titled “How Will the Data Center Boom Impact Virginia’s Waters. Secrecy on this Topic Doesn’t Bode Well.” Read the full commentary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Sociology Professor Eric Bonds
Sociology Professor Eric Bonds and two UMW students worked together to publish a commentary in the Virginia Mercury urging greater public transparency in the use of isolated confinement in regional and local jails. The students—Aaliyah Anderson, an English creative writing and American studies double major, and Tabitha Van Doren, currently studying sociology—helped research for the article, titled Could increased transparency reduce the use of solitary confinement in Virginia’s local jails? The work is based on research the team conducted over the fall semester. Read the full piece published in the Virginia Mercury.
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds was featured in an NBC News article titled “How NDAs Keep AI Data Center Details Hidden from Americans.”
The piece examines how major tech companies are requiring local land sellers to sign non-disclosure agreements that restrict public knowledge about the construction of artificial intelligence data centers, raising concerns among communities about transparency. Bonds contributes his expertise by sharing findings from his research, which revealed that 25 of 31 localities in Virginia had signed NDAs with prospective or existing data centers — agreements that effectively limit discussion about how these projects may negatively affect nearby residents. Read more.
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds has authored an op-ed for Cardinal News titled “Virginia has one of the highest utility disconnection rates in the nation. The data center boom will make things worse.” Bonds highlights research from the Energy Justice Lab at Indiana University showing Dominion Energy disconnected 339,000 households from electrical service in Virginia for nonpayment in 2024, while Appalachian Power disconnected another 43,000 customers. Among the 23 states reporting data, Virginia had the highest disconnection rate. Bonds argues that the rise of energy-intensive data centers will worsen energy insecurity, leaving many families struggling. Read the op-ed in Cardinal News.
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds was quoted in Arizona Luminaria in an article examining the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by public officials in data center development projects. “Part of due diligence for elected officials is to know the company so they can scrutinize how it can behave elsewhere,” said Bonds, who has written extensively on data center transparency, particularly in Virginia. Read the full story.
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds was quoted by WFYI and The Indiana Citizen in an article titled “How confidentiality agreements around a proposed data center could impact Indianapolis’ development.” In the article, Bonds provided expert commentary on the lack of transparency in data center deals, noting that “Democracy – some say – dies in the dark. But that is exactly where many data center deals are born and live.” Read the article.
Other recent media mentions for Bonds include: