Officials outline plan for data center project at former Centre Foundry site
Officials outlined plans for a 10-megawatt data center and manufacturing campus at the former Centre Foundry site in Wheeling, West Virginia, developed by Silicon Foundation. Residents raised concerns about noise, water quality, and utility rates, and were denied direct questioning of company representatives at a public meeting.
A public meeting was held in Wheeling, West Virginia, where officials presented plans for a data center and manufacturing campus at the former Centre Foundry site. This was the first opportunity for residents to engage directly with stakeholders since the project became public earlier in the summer.
Silicon Foundation, the company that purchased the property, outlined that the facility would house a 10-megawatt data center and include a manufacturing component. The company suggested the project could create temporary construction jobs, but did not address resident concerns about long-term employment, potential noise pollution, or the impact on local utility rates and water supply. Residents cited examples of other areas experiencing issues like low-pitch hums and water disruptions from similar developments.
Despite the public forum, residents' requests to directly question Silicon Foundation representatives during the city council meeting were denied by Mayor Denny Magruder. A representative for Silicon Foundation, Garanin, left the meeting before the public comment session and did not accept questions from the media, leaving many residents with unanswered queries about the project's community impact.