TUCKER COUNTY, W.VA. — Fundamental Data LLC is a Virginia-based company developing the Ridgeline data center complex. Developers that a proposed site spans 10,000 acres between Thomas and Davis, W.Va. And extends into Grant County. The complex includes a new natural gas power plant with diesel backup generators and a solar facility.

Nikki Forrester is a resident of Thomas, W.Va. And an organizer with Tucker United. Tucker United is a group leading opposition to the proposed data center and power plant in Tucker County. In early July 2026, Forrester estimated that hundreds of citizens support Tucker United due to concerns about air and water pollution.

Forrester stated that Fundamental Data LLC has not been consistent with details regarding the proposed project. Fundamental Data LLC did not provide answers to emailed questions from Roll Call. Forrester also stated that Tucker United has reached out to members of Congress representing the area but has not received a response.

Rep. Riley Moore represents Tucker County, W.Va. A spokesperson for Rep. Riley Moore stated that his office has not been in contact with Tucker United. Moore stated that locals are unhappy because there is no local approval or disapproval process for data center projects.

He referenced a state law that overrides local control to attract business, citing the critical nature of data centers and the AI race with China. He stated he wants to see how the state’s new data center development plan might address constituent concerns. "I’ve heard from hundreds of constituents across the Second District who are sharing their concerns about the impacts data centers are having on our communities," he said in a statement.

The debate over data center siting has drawn attention from lawmakers beyond West Virginia. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam represents a district in Virginia. Subramanyam stated that Republicans appear tied with the industry and protective of it, while Democrats have developed a platform supporting affected communities.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden represents a district in southwestern Wisconsin. Van Orden stated that much information opposing data center projects comes from Chinese companies paying people to spread it. He also stated he will not support data centers unless they have local buy-in and avoid farmland.

Rep. Tim Burchett represents a district in Tennessee. Burchett commented on the industry's public relations efforts. "I think the data center people are totally off their game, they’re terrible at messaging, and there’s talk that the Chinese are putting it out because they’re the ones that want to be in the business of it," Burchett said.

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation aiming to foster local control in the data center proposal process and stabilize energy prices. Pew Research Center reported that most new data centers are cropping up in rural areas. Volunteers distributed yard signs opposing a proposed data center near Davis, W.Va. In the summer of 2025.

Why It Matters

The conflict in Tucker County illustrates a broader national tension between rapid technological infrastructure expansion and local governance. With most new data centers located in rural areas, communities like Davis face significant environmental changes without established mechanisms for local input. The scale of the proposed Ridgeline complex, potentially one of the largest in the world, amplifies concerns about air and water pollution among residents.

Congressional involvement shows the political stakes, with legislators from both parties introducing bills to address local control and energy stability. The lack of response from some elected officials to community outreach reflects the disconnect between federal policy discussions and ground-level opposition. As the AI race intensifies, the balance between attracting business through state laws and preserving community autonomy remains unresolved.