From Foundry to Future: Warwood Site Eyed for 100-Megawatt Data Center Campus
A 100-megawatt data center campus is planned for a former industrial site in Warwood, Wheeling, West Virginia, by Silicon Foundation Energy LLC. The project is facing scrutiny from local officials and state legislators who are raising questions about community engagement, power infrastructure, ratepayer impacts, and state data center legislation. City officials are reviewing the project plan, while community members seek more information.
Silicon Foundation Energy LLC has acquired the former Centre Foundry & Machine Company property in Warwood, Wheeling, West Virginia, with plans to redevelop the 15-acre brownfield site into a 100-megawatt computing and energy technology campus. The project, for which South Carolina-based Stokes Energy Inc. has been named the Prime Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor, envisions a three-phase development. This includes an initial 10-megawatt modular data center, expanding to 20-30 megawatts, and ultimately a large-scale 100-megawatt regional compute hub utilizing existing power infrastructure and industrial zoning.
Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron confirmed meeting with representatives from Silicon Foundation Energy, who outlined plans for a data center and potential battery manufacturing. Herron stated the city would review the project fairly, adhering to state and city ordinances, and noted the site's existing high-voltage service and industrial zoning as key assets.
However, the proposed development has raised questions among local officials and residents. W.Va. Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, expressed concerns about a recently passed state data center bill (House Bill 2014) which he opposed, citing "zero local control, zero transparency and zero input from the communities." He questioned the impact on ratepayers, asking who would fund necessary electricity infrastructure improvements and whether local taxpayers would subsidize a private company. Fluharty also highlighted that most tax revenue from the data center would flow to the state capital, Charleston, rather than Ohio County.
Conversely, W.Va. Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, who supported the data center legislation, asserted that House Bill 2014 includes ratepayer protections to prevent adverse effects on electric prices. Both Chapman and Fluharty are seeking more details from Silicon Foundation Energy and hope for a community meeting to address residents' questions and concerns regarding the project's specifics and local impact.