Local activism groups unite to form statewide data center accountability coalition
A new coalition, the West Virginia Data Center Accountability Project (WVDCAP), has formed to oppose "unchecked" data center development across West Virginia. The group, comprising local and environmental organizations, demands greater local control, community consent, and stricter environmental protections. WVDCAP plans to lobby for data center moratoriums and restore local zoning controls, citing ongoing legal battles like that against Fundamental Data's proposed facility in Tucker County.
Impacted communities and environmental advocacy groups across West Virginia have united to launch the West Virginia Data Center Accountability Project (WVDCAP), a new collaborative network aimed at combating "unchecked" data center development in the state. The coalition was announced by stakeholders on Tuesday evening and is a direct response to what organizers describe as rushed attempts to build data centers under House Bill 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act.
WVDCAP is demanding greater local control, community consent, stricter environmental protections, and a prioritization of "community over computers." The coalition integrates several county-level grassroots movements, including Tucker United, which is engaged in a high-profile legal battle regarding Fundamental Data's proposed 1,600-megawatt off-grid facility near Davis and Thomas in Tucker County. Tucker United Director Amy Margolies stated the proposed hyperscale facility would consume water, threaten health, and permanently alter landscapes. The state appeals court recently dismissed Tucker United’s lawsuits on a jurisdictional loophole, moving the case to the West Virginia Supreme Court.
Other prominent groups in the coalition include the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and the Sierra Club. Olivia Miller, Interim Executive Director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, noted widespread concerns about the speed and scale of data center development across the state, emphasizing that West Virginians deserve a voice in their communities. The coalition intends to share legal, environmental, and grassroots strategies among counties to lobby for data center moratoriums and the restoration of local zoning controls.
Eastern Panhandle activist Rupok Bhuiyan highlighted the bipartisan nature of the movement, stating that protecting homes and water transcends political divisions and urging elected officials to take note of the unified front.