West Virginia Column Criticizes Data Center Growth and Rising Energy Costs
The opinion column argues that federal and state energy policies will increase household costs and worsen pollution in West Virginia. It also criticizes data center development, citing opposition from residents in Mason County over property damage, noise and woodland loss, while promoting home energy efficiency and solar power as alternatives.
The column cites an Energy Innovation analysis projecting higher household energy costs, job losses, increased pollution and additional health impacts as a result of federal clean-energy rollbacks. It argues that West Virginia residents are particularly vulnerable because of the state’s dependence on coal-fired electricity and high levels of household energy burden.
The author also objects to the expansion of data centers, citing estimates of rapidly rising electricity demand and a national Gallup poll showing broad public opposition to AI data centers in local communities. The column says residents in Mason County have already experienced property damage, noise and woodland loss associated with construction of a data center campus, and calls instead for energy efficiency, solar power and cleaner renewable generation.