By Luanne McGovern, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
On March 26, 2025, a small legal notice appeared in the Parson Advocate. A company called Fundamental Data was applying for an air permit for a facility called Ridgeline, to be built just outside the towns of Davis and Thomas, WV, in Tucker County. It listed numerous air pollutants but gave no description of what the facility was or what it would be used for.
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy (WVHC) and Go North Coalition member Pam Moe spotted the advertisement and quickly downloaded the permit application. She alerted the WVHC and the Go North Coalition, which led to an in-depth analysis of the permit application.
The application was for a massive power plant located less than a mile from Davis and Thomas residents. Local political figures in the area were contacted, as well as Senator Randy Smith; all responded with the same message, “We know nothing about this.”
The permit application was heavily redacted, making it difficult to truly understand the facility’s purpose. It proposed to generate a large quantity of electricity and “would not be selling power to the grid.”
At the same time, the WV Legislature was debating HB2014 – the Certified Microgrid bill. This bill would allow companies to build unlimited power plants as long as more than 70% of the power was used for data centers, and less than 10% of the power was sold to the grid. This facility had to be for a data center, as the current laws would not otherwise allow such a facility to be built.
Davis Mayor Al Tomson was contacted and quickly scheduled a Town Hall meeting in Davis on April 13.
More than 300 people came in person, and another 100 attended via Zoom, to hear about how this massive complex could upend their homes and lives. Speakers included Mayor Tomson, members of the Tucker County Commission, WVHC President Marilyn Shoenfeld, and dozens of concerned citizens.
While the crowd listened politely and intently for almost 2.5 hours, it was clear that most people were shocked that such a facility could be proposed in their own backyards with no involvement of the local community.
Concerned local citizens quickly reacted and held the first meeting of “Tucker United” on April 21. As stated on their website: “We are a coalition of residents and allies of Tucker County that demand the power to protect our community, our families, and our economy against harmful development.” Their first action was to draft a petition asking Governor Morrisey to veto HB2014, the key to the entire project. As of our publication date, almost 2000 people have signed the petition.
The coalition is forming committees to conduct research on the impacts of data centers on local communities, to develop permitting and legal strategies, and to engage stakeholders with communications and advocacy.
The WVHC is firmly opposed to this power plant and potential data center complexes to be built anywhere within the region. The potential impacts on this precious region cannot be overstated.
Air Emissions – The planned emissions from the power plant are very large and would have immediate impacts on the local communities, the state parks, and Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Prevailing winds could direct these emissions towards Canaan Valley, where weather inversions would trap pollutants. The plant would produce over 2 million tons per year of carbon dioxide, a major source of climate change.
Water – Power plants and data centers require huge quantities of water for cooling, in a region that has already been stressed by drought and water shortages. Pendleton Creek flows through this site, draining to the Blackwater River and eventually to the Cheat River. This project imperils some of the most scenic and beloved rivers in the entire state.
Noise and Light Pollution – The proximity of the facility would cause significant noise and light impacts to the towns of Davis and Thomas, as well as Blackwater Falls State Park. Data centers and power generation plants have been shown to generate significant noise pollution from process equipment, cooling systems, and exhaust fans, sometimes exceeding 96 decibels. Residents close to data centers have documented health effects caused by constant low-level noise. Light pollution is also problematic in areas known for dark skies and superior stargazing.
Significant Diesel Storage – The permit application states that 30 million gallons of diesel fuel would be stored on site for backup power generation. This quantity of a hazardous hydrocarbon poses risks for fires and explosions, water contamination, accidental releases to the ground, and transportation risks associated with delivering this huge amount of material through local communities. Diesel fuel would be periodically burned in the power plant, further increasing the release of dangerous pollutants.
Impact on Culture and Community – Tucker County is a small rural area with some of the most outstanding natural resources found anywhere in the country. The area is a mecca for hikers, mountain bikers, kayakers, campers, anglers and hunters. This massive industrial project would negatively impact the robust tourism industry and numerous local businesses. Most importantly, the small-town mountain culture that is so cherished by residents and visitors alike would be devastating, never to be recovered. Once these data centers are established, experience shows they will proliferate and take over an area, like in Loudoun County, Virginia.
There are many ways that you can get involved and help save Tucker County from a data center invasion.
Sign the petition letting Governor Morrisey know how opposed you are to HB2014, which strips away local control and tax revenues from communities. Join the Tucker United team and provide your support and expertise in this fight. Join us on Facebook to stay updated on what’s happening. Subscribe to WVHC Action Alerts.