West Virginia Speaker of the House takes on data center company as legal client

Following the West Virginia Legislative Session, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, affiliated with the Bowles Rice law firm, announced his legal representation of Fundamental Data, a company involved in a significant data center project in Tucker County. This development occurred shortly after Hanshaw oversaw the passage of HB 4983, a bill that established new regulations for future data center projects in the state. The bill, which aimed to prioritize state competitiveness over local autonomy and transparency, was debated intensely in the House of Delegates. While the Senate's Judiciary Committee amended the bill to address water intake surveys—a primary environmental concern for high-impact data centers—Delegate Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) opposed its final passage, arguing it failed to restore local control over issues like noise and setbacks from residential areas. Dr. Amy Margolies, a leading member of the non-profit Tucker United, voiced her shock and concern over Speaker Hanshaw's new client relationship, particularly given his recent legislative role. Tucker United has been advocating for greater transparency regarding the proposed data center, noting difficulties in obtaining information. Dr. Margolies also testified before the DEP board in November, where she observed Hanshaw present, highlighting the community's frustration that over 600 public comments resulted in no substantive changes to the project's permit. Tucker United is now contemplating filing a formal ethics complaint against Speaker Hanshaw.