Conflict-of-interest concerns loom over WV appeals court, Hanshaw in data center case

West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw, also an attorney with Charleston-based law firm Bowles Rice LLP, is facing scrutiny for representing out-of-state data center developers in ongoing legal battles. Ethics advocates and groups wary of data center expansion in the state have raised conflict-of-interest concerns, especially as Hanshaw has also publicly supported Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Daniel Greear's election campaign. Hanshaw, in his legal capacity, represents MGS CNP 1 LLC, an affiliate of Houston-based Fidelis New Energy LLC and Purcellville, Virginia-based Fundamental Data LLC. These companies are currently fighting legal challenges against the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's approval of air quality permits for their data center-linked projects located in Mason and Tucker counties. The conflict-of-interest concerns extend beyond Hanshaw to Chief Judge Daniel Greear and other court judges. Hanshaw has actively campaigned for Greear, lending his name as a sponsor for meet-and-greets and speaking at fundraisers for Greear's Intermediate Court of Appeals election bid. These activities are fueling ethical questions surrounding the case.