Residents gather in Giles to protest potential Monroe County data center
Residents from Virginia and West Virginia gathered in Pearisburg, Virginia, to protest a potential data center project in Monroe County, West Virginia. Protesters cited concerns about agricultural land, noise, pollution, water use and the large amount of electricity data centers require, while county commissioners said they have limited authority over such developments under a 2025 state law.
Residents gathered outside a law office in downtown Pearisburg, Virginia, to oppose a possible data center on property owned by Jason Buckland in nearby Monroe County, West Virginia. The project has not been formally announced, but residents said rumors about developers’ interest in the land have circulated for months.
Protesters, including Hazel Wines and nearby resident Reni Fulton, warned that a large facility could damage agricultural land and increase noise, pollution, water consumption and electricity demand. Monroe County commissioners said they have no specific information about a project, while noting that a West Virginia law signed in 2025 removed county governments’ authority to decide whether data centers can proceed. The West Virginia Department of Commerce declined to comment on potential development sites.