Mason County residents press commissioners on new data center

Mason County residents engaged in a two-hour meeting with county commissioners, raising significant concerns about the Monarch Project, a data center under construction north of Point Pleasant. Residents brought up issues related to dust, water pressure, flooding, and the potential for future data center development in the area.

Commissioners, including President Rick Handley, informed residents that their authority over the project is largely limited by House Bill 2014. This state law, enacted last year, exempts High Impact Data Centers from various county and municipal ordinances, including those concerning noise and lighting.

A key point of contention for residents was whether the Monarch Project is officially registered as a High Impact Data Center, and thus whether HB 2014 applies. Commissioners have committed to verifying the project's registration status with the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Separately, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection had previously ordered Monarch Compute Campus to address and repair its stormwater system due to flooding concerns.

Elaine Matheny, representing the organized group Mason County United, emphasized the community's desire for commissioners to actively engage with the developer, Nscale, and ensure accountability. Commissioner Sam Nibert announced an upcoming meeting with the West Virginia Division of Highways to discuss widening Route 62 due to increased traffic and large machinery near the site. Commissioners also indicated they are collaborating with other counties to find ways to restore more local control over data center and land-use decisions.