TUCKER COUNTY, W.Va. — Residents in Tucker County say they are continuing to oppose a proposed 500‑acre natural gas power plant and data center complex, arguing the project — known as Ridgeline — would pose significant risks to public health and quality of life.
At a recent town hall meeting, Davis Mayor Alan Tomson said the facility would emit air pollutants associated with cancer, respiratory illnesses and developmental harm in children.
“There’s 30 large power plants in our region, and arguably, this power plant would be in the top 10,” Tomson said. “They’re all major source pollutants as opposed to a minor source.”
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection approved an air quality permit for the project earlier this year. Supporters of Ridgeline and similar data center developments argue the facilities can drive economic growth and expand the state’s energy capacity.
In 2024, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 2014 — the Power Generation and Consumption Act — which allows for expanded energy infrastructure and the use of coal and natural gas to power data centers.
Tomson said he believes state lawmakers and regulators failed to adequately consider the concerns of local residents when advancing the Ridgeline permit and others like it.
“I would maintain that the DEP did not live up to their mission, which is to protect the environment,” he said. “I don’t think that they applied any judgment to the process, nor did they use any common sense.”
The Ridgeline proposal is one of several large‑scale data center projects underway across West Virginia. Google is developing a major data center in Putnam County, and Penzance Management is leading a more than 500‑acre data center campus in Berkeley County.
