‘A lot of rumors’: Mason County residents meet, discuss plans to fight data center
News ClipCharleston Gazette-Mail·Point Pleasant, Mason County, WV·3/19/2026
Mason County residents met to discuss plans to oppose or mitigate the impacts of the proposed Monarch Compute Campus, a large data center project by Nscale. The data center, backed by Nvidia and Microsoft, would include its own gas-burning power plant, raising concerns among locals. Attendees at the meeting agreed on the need to stop or reduce the project's harmful effects.
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Mason County residents recently convened to address the proposed Monarch Compute Campus, a massive data center project slated for construction north of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The project, described as one of the world's largest AI factories, is being developed by Nscale, a startup supported by technology giants Nvidia and Microsoft.
Local residents, including Mike Wooten from the nearby unincorporated community of Camp Conley, gathered to discuss strategies to either halt the development or lessen its potential negative impacts. The primary concern revolves around the data center's reliance on a dedicated gas-burning power plant, which could raise environmental and electricity supply issues.
The meeting, held on March 17, 2026, was characterized by both calm discussions and contentious moments among approximately 60 attendees. Participants largely agreed on the urgency of taking action against the data center, which is planned for a site along W.Va. 62, a few miles north of Point Pleasant.