Local company proposes data center in Marion County

Hog Lick Aggregates, a local supplier based in White Hall, West Virginia, has proposed a data center development on its 277-acre site in Marion County. The project is currently in a preliminary study phase, focusing on mitigating common environmental and infrastructure concerns associated with data centers. Brian Redmond, President of HLA, highlighted the company's intention to explore alternative cooling and power solutions, including geothermal cooling utilizing water from a nearby shuttered coal mine and powering the facility with abundant local natural gas. The company suggests that combining natural gas with carbon capture and storage could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lessen the need for new pipelines. Despite some initial criticism observed on Facebook regarding potential impacts, HLA emphasizes the study's aim to understand trade-offs and identify strategies to reduce community and environmental strain. Redmond noted potential benefits such as job creation, an increased tax base, and upgraded infrastructure. The proposed data center could also support the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supercomputing facility at the adjacent I-79 High Tech Park, positioning Fairmont as an AI and cloud computing hub. Redmond stated there is currently no timeframe for development, with the study expected to take several years before yielding actionable results. HLA also indicated openness to other development proposals for the site, including manufacturing and commercial projects.