Trump slams anti-data center movement as local opposition continues to grow in West Virginia
President Trump criticized the anti-data center movement, warning that communities rejecting them risk economic decline. This comes amid growing opposition in West Virginia, where residents and agencies are challenging projects like NextEra's MARL transmission line due to concerns over local utility customer subsidies and environmental impacts. Governor Morrisey has announced a plan to balance economic benefits with protections for ratepayers.
Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized the growing national anti-data center movement, stating on Truth Social that communities rejecting data centers risk becoming "backwards and poor" and that such resistance pleases foreign competitors like China. He warned that rejecting data centers would lead to missing out on economic prosperity, lower taxes, and job creation.
Trump's comments are set against a backdrop of surging opposition in West Virginia, where residents and state agencies are challenging utility infrastructure projects designed to power large-scale, out-of-state data centers. The State Public Service Commission (PSC) investigators and the Consumer Advocate Division have moved to pause or dismiss NextEra's multi-billion-dollar MARL transmission line project, citing concerns that local utility customers would unfairly subsidize power lines primarily benefiting Northern Virginia data centers. The project's formal docket records over 7,300 public protests.
Adding to the local resistance, state appeals courts recently dismissed environmental lawsuits filed by environmental and citizen groups. These lawsuits targeted a controversial off-grid gas-and-diesel power plant and data center proposed near Davis and Thomas in Tucker County, with opponents arguing it threatens local air and water quality. Despite this opposition, Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced a "20-Year Responsible Data Center Development Plan" aimed at capturing economic benefits while legally protecting local ratepayers from bearing construction and energy costs.