ACTION ALERT: Oppose HB 2014 – Tucker County Data Center, No Local Say

This week, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy caught wind of a major natural gas fired power plant in the works—likely tied to a data center—that’s set to land just north of Davis. Local and county officials have been caught off guard by the scale of this plan, which could radically reshape one of our beautiful mountain communities.

We learned of this proposal through an air quality permit submitted to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which outlines the facility’s massive size, emissions, and planned 24/7 operations.

Data centers are vast facilities filled with computer servers that require immense electricity to run and stay cool, making them some of the heaviest energy consumers on the planet. Tucker County’s proposed project could be even more powerful than Mount Storm Power Plant. Equally concerning is the toll it would take on our natural resources—this facility’s colossal demand for natural gas and massive diesel backup would emit pollutants like CO₂, NOx, and other toxins that threaten our health.

To make matters worse, the West Virginia House of Delegates just passed House Bill 2014 on April 1, and it’s on its way to the Senate. If approved, this bill would effectively remove any meaningful local say in major developments like the Tucker County project. Specifically, the bill states they are not subject to any “county or municipal zoning, horticultural, noise, viewshed, lighting, development, or land use ordinances, restrictions, limitations, or approvals.” It’s outrageous to think of losing what little authority our communities still have—especially when an undertaking of this magnitude can so deeply affect our environment, our tourism, economy, and our daily lives.

HB 2014 places no limits on the water that may be extracted or used for these facilities. We have seen water concerns raised in neighboring Virginia, where some data centers are using upwards of 1 million gallons of water a day. Just last summer, the city of Thomas experienced severe drought conditions, placing the town under an extended boil water advisory and posing major challenges for local businesses.

Without proper oversight, a 500-acre power plant and data center could impose heavy construction, nonstop noise, and glaring light pollution on areas near Blackwater Falls State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Local leaders who should be involved from the outset have been left in the dark. And now, if HB 2014 becomes law, that lack of transparency could become the new normal across West Virginia.

There are two things you can do to help. First, contact your state senator right away and urge them to oppose or amend HB 2014. Emphasize that it stifles local input on projects that can profoundly impact our land and our people. Second, help spread the word: share this message with your friends, your family, and your broader community networks. We need to stand together and make sure folks understand what’s at stake for Tucker County—and for the rest of our state.

We’re counting on your support to protect what we love about West Virginia’s highlands. Our mountains, valleys, and small-town way of life shouldn’t be upended without our voices in the conversation.

Take Action!

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