Citizen groups are continuing their efforts to uncover hidden information in an air pollution permit for a proposed Ridgeline facility in Tucker County, West Virginia.
A Virginia-based company, Fundamental Data LLC, is proposing to build a large gas-fired power plant and data center in the region.
Nikki Forrester, a spokesperson for Tucker United, said the state’s Department of Environmental Protection has kept too much of the project secret by allowing the company to redact key details about emissions and plant design from its air permit application.
“We believe that the facility is wrongfully classified as a minor source of emissions when it should be a major source,” said Forrester, “given the size of the plant and the expectation that it would have to run 24/7, to power all of these data centers.”
The rise of data centers in Appalachia, largely fueled by AI, poses ongoing environmental and public health threats to communities.
Earlier this year West Virginia lawmakers passed a bill that bans municipalities and counties from enforcing ordinances related to the zoning, noise, environmental impact, or location of data centers.
Supporters argue the legislation will bring more economic development to the state.
Forrester added that if the plant were categorized as a major emissions source, it would be subject to much stricter environmental regulations and air pollutant dispersion modeling. She added that the topography of the region causes air to frequently become trapped in the valley.
“People who live there, or people who visit there, could be exposed to really high levels of pollutants for periods of time throughout the year,” said Forrester, “and so that, for us, is really critical information to know.”
After the state Air Quality Board dismissed a lawsuit filed by Tucker United, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Friends of Blackwater, the groups have appealed to the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals.
They’re asking the court to require transparency around proposals for permits.
