Neighbors voice concerns over Mason County data center construction damage to properties

Residents in the Meadowland Estates neighborhood of Mason County, West Virginia, are expressing deep concerns over the impact of a large-scale data center construction project adjacent to their homes. Homeowner Joshua Jeffers, who has lived in the area for two decades, described constant shaking and vibrations from the construction, causing items in his home to rattle and even triggering truck alarms. He also reported trees from the construction site falling onto his property and damaging his fence, resulting in the loss of chickens.

Neighbors are not only grappling with the immediate construction issues but also fear the long-term effects of the data center, including light pollution, noise from generators, and potential health concerns from emissions. The once-desirable neighborhood is now seeing numerous "for sale" signs, but homes are not selling, leading Jeffers to state that residents feel "stuck."

Further exacerbating the situation, the area experienced heavy flooding over a recent weekend, which residents attribute to a failure of the construction site's erosion controls. A silt fence separated, causing water to flood homes and damage properties. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) issued a statement confirming an inspection prior to the heavy rains found stormwater control structures correctly installed, but added that the cause of the control failure is currently under investigation. The unnamed company responsible for the data center construction has reportedly stated its intention to cover cleanup and repair costs related to the flood.