Residents cite transparency gaps as proposed Wheeling data center plan remains unclear
Residents in Wheeling, WV are expressing concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding a proposed data center project at the former Centre Foundry site. A deleted LinkedIn post from a contractor caused uncertainty, and community members are pressing local officials for information, while a lawmaker highlights state House Bill 2014's impact on local control.
Community members in Wheeling, West Virginia, convened at Waterfront Hall to voice ongoing concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding a proposed data center development at the former Centre Foundry site. A key point of contention was a deleted LinkedIn post by Stokes Incorporated, a contractor for Silicon Foundation, the company that purchased the site. The post, which stated "Stokes Energy has been named the prime EPC to convert the site into a modern compute and energy campus," has led to uncertainty about the project's status.
Town hall speaker Polly Barks suggested the post might have been shared prematurely. Barks also mentioned reaching out to an individual with ties to Silicon Foundation and Silicon Foundry, who indicated plans for a meeting with city officials about data centers, a meeting the city subsequently denied having scheduled.
Sean Flu Hardy, a lawmaker who attended the meeting, expressed concerns about West Virginia House Bill 2014, arguing that it diminishes local control and diverts taxpayer dollars from Ohio County to Charleston. Residents highlighted a general lack of understanding about data centers among city officials, making it difficult for them to ask relevant questions.