Fundamental Data project request under review as Morrisey admin rep short on answers

The West Virginia Department of Commerce is currently reviewing an application for state certification from Fundamental Data LLC for its proposed gas turbine-powered Ridgeline data center facility in Tucker County, West Virginia. The application, received on March 30, 2026, seeks approval for a project planned near the towns of Davis and Thomas, which has already drawn significant community opposition and an ongoing legal challenge. Andy Malinoski, a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, confirmed the review, stating the Data Economy Office is assessing the company's funding, power, and water requirements, with a final decision expected within 14 days of a complete application. The certification process comes seven months after the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection approved an air quality permit for the facility, a decision that community advocacy groups are legally challenging due to projections of increased air pollution in Tucker and Grant counties. Amidst these developments, a public forum on March 31, 2026, at Shepherd University in Jefferson County highlighted the controversial nature of the state's data center certification program, established by House Bill 2014 of 2025. At the forum, Chris Morris, Director of the West Virginia Data Economy Office, faced sharp questioning from Tucker County resident and Executive Director of Tucker United, Amy Margolies, and Jefferson County Commissioner Cara Keys, particularly regarding the department's discretion in approving projects and the enforcement mechanisms of the new legislation. Morris, appointed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, struggled to provide clear answers on the state's oversight. Critics, including Margolies, argue that HB 2014, which prohibits local control over "High Impact" data centers, diverts property tax revenue, and allows developers to withhold critical information, lacks transparency. Margolies urged the Department of Commerce to deny certification for what she called "poorly conceived projects," emphasizing the public costs associated with these large-scale developments.