Morrisey’s data center plan promises communities a voice in the process. Locals say they’re still shut out.
West Virginia's Governor Patrick Morrisey unveiled a 20-year plan for data center development, promising local community involvement and protections. However, local officials in Mason County and residents across the state express frustration, stating they lack control over data center placement and are often excluded from project decisions. Existing state law has also stripped local communities of oversight, despite specific projects like Nscale's Monarch data center and a new Starwood Digital Ventures project moving forward.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's recently announced 20-year data center development plan, which promises local input and protections, is facing criticism from local officials and residents who feel shut out of the process. Mason County Commission President Rick Handley, while appreciating the economic contributions of companies like Nscale, whose Monarch data center is under construction in Point Pleasant, expressed frustration that counties have no control over the location or number of data centers.
Morrisey's plan aims to attract data centers to West Virginia, prioritizing tax redistribution, electricity rate limits, and effective water usage. It also outlines strategies for community involvement, but key aspects, especially concerning water, power, and local voice, are not legally binding. The dissatisfaction stems partly from a state law passed last year that stripped local communities of oversight, control, and tax revenues, forming a basis for some of the plan's principles.
The disconnect between the plan's promises and reality is evident in Mason County, where officials learned about new projects, including a $12-billion Starwood Digital Ventures development, from residents selling homes rather than state communication. Elaine Matheny of Mason County United and Amy Margolies of Tucker United, an opposition group against a proposed data center near Thomas and Davis, voiced anger and discouragement over being excluded from decision-making.
Morrisey's administration plans to create a Data Center Advisory Council composed of experts to recommend standards for noise, aesthetics, and site security. However, the plan lacks a timeline for the council's formation or details on how it will genuinely interact with local communities, leaving local officials and residents questioning the effectiveness of their promised voice.