West Virginia Officials Uphold Air Quality Permit for Fundamental Data's Proposed Power Plant
West Virginia officials have upheld Fundamental Data's air quality permit for a proposed power plant in Tucker County, intended to supply electricity for data centers. The decision affirms the company's legal site control for the 291-acre parcel, despite challenges from opponents regarding the transparency of the land purchase agreement. Opponents had questioned the heavily redacted purchase and sale agreement with Western Pocahontas Properties.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has affirmed Fundamental Data's legal site control over a 291-acre parcel in Tucker County, West Virginia. This site is slated for a proposed power plant designed to supply electricity to data centers. The WVDEP's decision validates the air quality permit previously issued, which had been contested by opponents who questioned whether Fundamental Data possessed the necessary legal control over the site.
To address the state's requirement for proof of site control, Fundamental Data submitted a heavily redacted "purchase and sale agreement" for the land, acquired from Western Pocahontas Properties, the largest private landowner in Tucker County. Despite the significant redactions, the WVDEP ruled that the document adequately met the legal requirement.
Casey Chapman of Fundamental Data stated that the ruling confirmed their initial claims of legal site control and the accuracy of information submitted to the state. However, opponents of the power plant criticized the heavily redacted agreement, viewing it as evidence of Fundamental Data's lack of transparency regarding its project intentions.