The Fight for Appalachia: From Coal Ruins to AI Wars: Why West Virginia Residents Are Fighting Back

For residents of Tucker County, the fight against the coal-powered AI data center is about more than just preserving their views of Blackwater Falls (pictured) or their favorite hiking trails. It’s about protecting their health, their homes, and their future.

As the tech boom reshapes landscapes across the United States, a quiet yet fierce battle is brewing in the scenic mountains of our neighboring state, West Virginia. In a bid to attract tech firms, the state recently passed groundbreaking legislation encouraging the use of natural gas and coal to power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. But what seemed like a step toward economic progress has ignited a firestorm of local resistance, with residents in Tucker County determined to protect their environment, communities, and way of life.

From Coal Mines to Data Centers: West Virginia’s Next Energy Boom?

West Virginia is no stranger to the exploitation of its natural resources. For decades, coal mining was touted as the backbone of the state’s economy, but it left behind a legacy of environmental destruction, health crises, and economic instability once the boom went bust. Now, as AI-driven data centers are poised to become the state’s next big energy consumer, residents fear they’re witnessing history repeat itself: profits funneled out of state while communities are left to deal with pollution, resource depletion, and a disrupted way of life.

Protesters in Davis, Tucker County, WV standing up for their way of life.

At the heart of the controversy is a proposed data center in Tucker County, nestled in one of the most ecologically diverse and picturesque stretches of Appalachia. The facility, backed by Fundamental Data of Virginia, would include a gas-fired power plant and store 30 million gallons of diesel fuel on-site. For many in this small community, this isn’t just a data center—it’s an existential threat.

A Clash of Visions: Progress vs. Preservation

In a Wall Street Journal article, we learn that proponents of the new legislation, including West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, see data centers as a golden opportunity. With their high energy demands, these facilities promise jobs, economic growth, and an influx of tax revenue (the reality is that the data center industry provide temporary jobs and sucking up natural resources). The state’s new law even goes so far as to remove local government input on where these centers are built, streamlining the process for tech companies.

But for residents of Davis and Thomas, two small towns near the proposed site, the costs far outweigh the benefits. These mountain communities, known for their dark skies, wildflowers, and charming main streets, thrive on tourism and a deep connection to nature. A gas-powered data center with potential air and noise pollution threatens to disrupt not only the environment but also the quiet, idyllic lifestyle that draws visitors and residents alike.

It’s a story that’s becoming all too common across the U.S. As tech companies seek rural areas with affordable land and energy sources to power their data-hungry operations, communities are being forced to grapple with the consequences. From Memphis, Tennessee, to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, similar resistance is mounting (read our blog about the data center boom in Georgia here). Residents are raising concerns about emissions, environmental degradation, and the long-term implications of hosting such massive facilities.

Governor Morrisey’s Vision: Turning West Virginia into a Data Center Hub

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has made it clear: he wants the state to become the “single best place in America for data centers to come.” His recently unveiled Power Generation and Consumption Act is a bold move to attract tech companies by expanding access to microgrids and removing renewable energy requirements.

West Virginia's Microgrid Development: West Virginia’s legislation explicitly removes renewable energy requirements for microgrids, making it more likely that these systems will be powered by coal and natural gas, two major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. 

The legislation is part of a larger economic development strategy aimed at luring investments from AI-driven companies like OpenAI and Google, whose data centers require massive amounts of electricity. By revising state laws to make microgrid construction easier and prioritizing fossil fuels over renewable energy, the bill seeks to position West Virginia as a leader in energy innovation.

While the governor touts this as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to boost the state’s economy, local residents and environmental advocates are sounding the alarm. For many, this push for economic development comes at the cost of community input, environmental sustainability, and the preservation of West Virginia’s treasured natural resources.

Environmental Concerns and Local Voices

For residents of Tucker County, the fight against the data center is about more than just preserving their views of Blackwater Falls or their favorite hiking trails. It’s about protecting their health, their homes, and their future. A person on Reddit writes: 

“ that power plant is only (providing energy) for the data center, period. It's not going to be used for anything else. And where is the data center in Thomas and Davis getting all the water it needs since that can be upwards of 1 MILLION gallons per day?”

Residents in Davis lining up for a town hall meeting.

The proposed facility will operate off the grid, relying on fossil fuels (and water) to meet its massive energy demands. Critics argue that this approach flies in the face of efforts to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Tucker County residents have already begun organizing, filing Freedom of Information requests (FOIAs), and installing air quality monitors to track potential pollutants. Their message is clear: they won’t sacrifice their environment for the sake of corporate profits.

According to the WSJ, “I heart Tucker County more than ChatGPT,” reads a bumper sticker that’s become a rallying cry for locals. It’s a sentiment echoed by many who see the data center as a new form of resource extraction—a modern-day version of the coal and timber industries that once stripped the region of its natural beauty.

The Bigger Picture

The battle in Tucker County is a microcosm of a larger trend.

As artificial intelligence continues to grow, so does the need for data centers—warehouse-like structures that house servers responsible for processing and storing vast amounts of information. These centers are essential to the digital economy, but their environmental footprint is hard to ignore.

West Virginia’s new law, which boasts the least restrictive regulatory environment in the nation, sets a concerning precedent. By stripping local governments of the power to make decisions about where these facilities are built, it prioritizes corporate interests over community well-being.

It also raises questions about the sustainability of relying on fossil fuels to power AI projects. While the tech industry often markets itself as forward-thinking and innovative, its dependence on energy-intensive data centers reveals a more complicated reality.

A Call to Action

The residents of Tucker County are standing up for their land, their health, and their future. Their fight is a reminder that economic progress shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment or the people who call these places home.

As the debate over data centers and their environmental impact continues, it’s crucial to consider the voices of those most affected. Rural communities like Tucker County deserve a say in how their land is used and their futures shaped.

The AI revolution may be inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be at odds with sustainability or local autonomy. Tucker County’s fight is a call to reimagine what progress looks like—and to ensure that it benefits everyone, not just a select few.