West Virginia law shuts counties out of data center decisions as residents protest rumored project

A cross-border protest in Giles County, Virginia, drew attention to a fight across central Appalachia over data centers entering the area.

Here's what to know

WVTF reported people from both sides of the Virginia-West Virginia line showed up at attorney Jason Buckland's office amid growing concern about a rumored data center development on his land in Monroe County, West Virginia.

Hazel Wines, who has been active in opposing another possible data center near her Pulaski County home, said the issue crossed town, county, and state lines.

"I think it's really important that we stand together on this because central Appalachia is being exploited again," Wines told WVTF. "And that has to cross town lines. It has to cross county and state lines. And it has to cross party lines if we're going to stop the extraction of our water and the massive amounts of power that are needed."

Residents have said developers are eyeing Buckland's land for a project, and Buckland declined to provide a comment to the outlet.

More background

Monroe County Commissioners said they have no detailed information about any proposed data center. In February, however, they said state officials visited the county with a company interested in such a facility, noting a 2025 West Virginia law removed authority from counties to approve or stop one.

Residents have raised concerns about the local government's role and what a data center could mean for land, water, and daily life in the rural area.

What's being done?

The Giles County demonstration showed opposition to the Monroe County rumor and drew public attention to data center expansion.

Residents may have to rely on public pressure and cross-state solidarity rather than local lawmakers' votes. Their hope is that Buckland and any developer hear their voices loud and clear.

"We are concerned about the agricultural land being desecrated really for a huge operation like a data management center, where we are going to encounter noise, pollution," Reni Fulton said. "We do not want these centers where we live."

Where can I learn more?

The fight in Monroe County is part of a broader pushback playing out across central Appalachia and the nation. 

• In West Virginia, a rare chestnut grove faced bulldozers for an AI data center.

• A hidden camera caught a developer saying resident opposition didn't matter to their project.

• In Kentucky, a hyperscale developer used a housing law against residents' zoning challenge.

• In Pennsylvania, residents appealed a second approval as questions lingered over local power.

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