Nscale acquisition includes plan to build AI facility in Mason County

Nscale, a London-based company, has announced an agreement to acquire American Intelligence & Power Corp. (AIPCorp), which includes plans to construct one of the world's largest AI facilities at the Monarch Compute Campus north of Point Pleasant in Mason County, West Virginia. This acquisition aims to expand Nscale's U.S. footprint and meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure. The Monarch Compute Campus is highlighted for its unique state-certified utility grids designed for AI workloads, with initial power capacity of 2 gigawatts expected by early 2028 and expansion to 8 gigawatts by 2031, supported by a long-term, low-cost, onsite-powered microgrid. Despite the developer's optimism and support from state officials like Governor Patrick Morrisey, who view the project as a significant boost to West Virginia's economy and a vote of confidence in its future, local opposition has emerged. Morgan King, climate and energy program manager for Citizen Action, expressed significant concerns regarding the data center's potential for extreme water usage, heavy energy consumption, light and noise pollution, and a lack of community participation and transparency. King also noted that most jobs created would be temporary construction roles. In parallel, Marshall University, in collaboration with Nscale and Mountwest Community and Technical College, plans to develop training and apprenticeship programs to prepare local residents for future engineering and facility management positions at the campus, which is projected to employ around 2,800 people. This initiative aims to create a homegrown talent pipeline for high-tech careers within West Virginia, aligning with Nscale's commitment to investing in the communities that welcome them.