West Virginia Lawmakers Ignore Community Outcry, Prioritize Big Data Developers Over Local Control

In a troubling display of government overreach disguised as economic progress, West Virginia has sidelined the very citizens it is meant to serve. Earlier this year, Tucker County residents were blindsided when a state law stripped their authority to regulate noise, lighting, and land use in proposed data center developments in their backyard. Despite overwhelming public opposition and a petition urging Governor Patrick Morrisey to veto the measure, the bill passed and was signed into law—effectively silencing community concerns. This isn’t just a local land-use issue. It symbolizes a broader trend where political leaders prioritize corporate interests over the sovereignty...