Governor Promises to Address Power Plant and Data Center Worries

At a public event in Keyser, West Virginia, Governor Patrick Morrisey promised to engage with Tucker County residents regarding a controversial proposed power plant and data center complex. Morrisey, however, avoided direct comments on the proposal or on HB 2014, a state law enacted last year that stripped local governments of control over certified data center projects. Despite the Governor's office claiming he has spent significant time in Tucker County, local news found no record of visits since he took office. Separately, local officials in Tucker County, including Commission President Mike Rosenau and Mayors Jody Flanagan (Thomas) and Al Tomson (Davis), voiced concerns about FirstEnergy's proposed 260-mile Valley North Project, a 765-kV electric transmission line spanning between Putnam County, West Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland. While FirstEnergy representatives held preliminary discussions with local leaders, exploring various routes including some through Tucker County, officials hope the lines bypass their county entirely, questioning the benefits for local residents. West Virginia Senators Randy Smith and Jay Taylor, representing Tucker County, also spoke at the event. Senator Smith expressed frustration over the lack of legislative action to restore local control over data center development, despite some discussion during the recent legislative session. The article also notes that Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw represents a data center project developer in Mason County and the controversial power plant and data center project in Tucker County, raising ethical concerns. This comes as West Virginia residents face rising electricity costs, partly attributed to the high power demands of data centers, with approximately 600 such facilities in Northern Virginia driving the need for new transmission lines through the region.