Our member organization, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, published its March issue of the Highlands Voice. For some great weekend reading, check it out HERE.
The National Parks Conservation Association released an insightful report on responsible data center development in relation to National Parks. Every corner of the U.S. is experiencing a boom in data center development, ultimately impacting the environment in state and national parks everywhere. Read more about resource use projections and how we might utilize policy as a safeguard in “A Smarter Path Forward: Safeguarding National Parks Amid Explosive AI and Data Center Growth.”
Penn Future, a Pennsylvania environmental organization, published a press release calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers until state government enacts better protections.
Bill Jones, a Republican candidate for State Representative in District 117, joined Penn Future in calling for a statewide moratorium on data center development. Jones says the state has never had a plan for combatting the harmful effects of the boom of data center development in the state. You can read more in his Op-Ed in the Times Leader HERE.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
WV legislative session came up short on funding, other support for cleaner water
“We know the majority of impacted tanks are owned by regional oil and gas companies, not individuals,” West Virginia Environmental Council president Quenton King told the Gazette-Mail Wednesday. “Over the next year, we plan to educate citizens about who exactly is trying to threaten their water quality.”
The coalfields will go another year without help with safe water access. In addition to failing to pass support for water infrastructure projects in the southern part of the state, the Legislature weakened the Aboveground Storage Tank Act of 2014. With the help of our member organizations and allies, we were able to reduce the harm. Read more and see comments from West Virginia Rivers Coalition policy specialist Maria Russo HERE.
Longtime chief of staff of coal magnate Justice named new Appalachian Power president
Brian Abraham was appointed president of Appalachian Power despite a lack of background in energy or a career with AEP. Instead, he has an extensive history of leading Sen. Justice’s political career, both as legal counsel and chief of staff. Read more about it HERE.
“A lot of rumors”: Mason County residents meet, discuss plans to fight data center
More than 60 people gathered in Point Pleasant this week to talk about how they could fight back against a planned data center. West Virginia Citizen Action Group, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, and West Virginia Rivers Coalition worked together to field questions from locals and discuss how they might organize against the data center. Read more about it from Jim Ross HERE.
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‘A fossil fuel state’: Legislature cuts renewable energy out of long-term energy plan
While support for renewables grows around the US, WV cut it out of the state’s energy plan. The original bill included language for energy efficiency. The Legislature cut it. Read more HERE.
Evidence mounts suggesting health costs from WV lawmaker moves on data centers, water
Too many West Virginians live without access to safe water. Lawmakers allocated hundreds of millions in funding for different projects, yet nothing to immediately combat the crisis in the coalfields. The few who tried to pass legislation to support infrastructure projects to repair aging water systems faced resistance. Read more about it HERE.
WV Public Broadcasting
Large AI Development Hub In Mason County Getting Larger
This week, West Virginians learned that the 2,200-acre Monarch Compute Campus would become home to London-based tech company Nscale. Both Governor Morrissey and Marshall University President Brad Smith spoke positively about the move, despite concerns from the local community. Read and listen HERE.
