Homeowners in West Virginia angry over new data center next door
Homeowners in Mason County, West Virginia, are deeply upset by the construction of a large data center next to their property, leading to anger and the departure of many neighbors. The data center, developed by NSGale, is set to be one of the country's largest, generating significant power, but residents feel their neighborhood has been destroyed by the development and a recent flood exacerbated by construction. While NSGale offers to buy homes and highlights economic benefits, residents like the Frames refuse to leave their long-time home.
A large data center project has broken ground in Mason County, West Virginia, causing significant distress among long-time residents. The project, described as one of the largest data centers in the country, is being constructed by NSGale just feet from the backyard of homeowners Randy and Marcia Frame.
The Frames, who have lived in their home for 42 years, expressed profound sadness, stating that the construction has "destroyed" their neighborhood. They recounted that construction equipment now dominates the view from their porch, replacing what was once a soybean field. The first phase of the data center is projected to generate two gigawatts of power, with the potential to expand to four times that amount, which is equivalent to powering the entire city of Los Angeles in the summer.
Neighbors began leaving after a flood in May, where nearly five inches of rain in two days submerged yards and crawl spaces. While NSGale attributed the damage to a failed fence on the construction site and has offered to buy 56 homes in the neighborhood at above market value, the Frames are among those refusing to sell. They emphasize that their property is not just a house but their cherished home.
Jason Bechtel, a Mason County native and NSGale's data center site manager, spoke about the positive impact of the project, citing over $80 million in tax revenue and hundreds of jobs for West Virginia. He also assured that electric bills would not rise as the data center will generate its own power. NSGale claims to be investing over $1 million in community outreach, including donations to the county sheriff's department, ambulance service, and school system. However, a recent NBC News poll indicates deep distrust, with 69% of Americans opposing data center construction in their local area, reflecting the sentiment of remaining residents like Jim Pyle, who laments the loss of his neighbors.