To the Editor,
West Virginia is facing a defining moment. Across our region, massive infrastructure proposals are appearing one after another—the MARL transmission project, the Valley North transmission line, and the proposed data center in Tucker County. On paper, these may seem like separate projects. In reality, they are part of a much larger transformation that deserves the full attention of every West Virginian. Big Tech, power conglomerates, and their political allies are flooding the zone.
The common thread is clear: the ever-growing demand for electricity to power data centers and artificial intelligence. While technology companies and utility conglomerates stand to profit, rural communities are increasingly being asked to bear the burden. Landowners face the possibility of losing property through eminent domain. Families who have farmed, hunted, and lived on their land for generations are being told that their interests must give way to corporate priorities. Forests, mountain vistas, and rural landscapes that define our communities are placed at risk so electricity can be delivered to facilities that may be hundreds of miles away.
West Virginians have always supported responsible economic development. We understand the importance of modern infrastructure and a reliable electric grid. But responsible development should benefit the communities where it occurs, respect private property rights, and involve local citizens as partners—not obstacles.
Too often, it feels as though decisions are being made in corporate boardrooms and government offices long before the people most affected have a meaningful opportunity to be heard. This isn’t simply about one transmission line or one data center. It is about who has the power to shape the future of our state. Will it be the people who live here, raise their families here, and care for this land? Or will it be multinational corporations whose primary obligation is to shareholders?
West Virginia should never become merely an energy corridor for someone else’s prosperity. We deserve policies that encourage investment while protecting property owners, preserving our natural beauty, and ensuring that local communities receive tangible, lasting benefits from projects built in their backyards. The decisions we make today will shape our state for generations. We must ensure that West Virginians—not outside interests—remain in control of West Virginia’s future.
Sincerely,
Jason Armentrout
