WHEELING, W.Va. — Concerns linger in the Ohio Valley about a potential data center coming to the area.
AI infrastructure company Silicon Foundation purchased the former Centre Foundry and Machine site in the community of Warwood. In late June, plans to convert the 15-acre site into a data center were announced. Silicon Foundation purchased the land for $1.5 million.
Wheeling residents spoke directly to city council members during a 37-minute public comment opportunity. The majority of those comments focused on data centers and shared a consistent theme opposing the center’s arrival in the Ohio Valley.
Resident Holly Barks said many people are against the data center, including herself.
“I am asking you to stop the data center from being built in Warwood,” Barks said. “And more broadly, to stop dismantling the real magic of Wheeling’s character and thwarting the good work of the community here.”
She said she works remotely from Wheeling and has embraced the community. Barks noted that her parents plan to move to Warwood next year when her mother retires.
“I am a walking billboard for Wheeling,” Barks said. “Folks in this city are attracting people like me with their big ideas, and a genuine desire to cultivate a Wheeling renaissance, but I do not that same spirit amongst city leadership. Frankly, Warwood is going to be a very hard sell when a droning, energy vampire of a data center takes over.”
Barks said there’s a “lack of transparency” from city officials regarding the data center. She called for city council to take action and stand united to oppose Silicon Foundation’s investment.
“Pass a resolution that would make your position on data centers clear,” Barks said. “They are not welcome in Warwood, they are not welcome in Wheeling, or anywhere that would disrupt people or ecology.”
Another resident Lindsay Edgington said she’s concerned about what artificial intelligence can do. Specifically, she wondered what the Warwood data center would be for.
“When I hear the term ‘AI data center,’ I admit that I don’t actually know what that means, and that’s a problem,” Edgington said. “It’s not that I don’t know what AI is, or what data is, or that the center is a localized place for information or services. No, the problem is that AI can mean many things.”
Edgington said AI work could continue towards “replacing” human jobs through “mass data scraping.” She said there are too many questions left unanswered about the project.
Resident Stephanie Heckethorn said the data center plans is the latest in a troubled timeline for the Mountain State.
“Much like the coal and the pharmaceutical industry, data centers and the rich who own them are out to further marginalize the people of West Virginia,” Heckethorn said. “Silicon Foundation plans to exploit the people of Wheeling for affordable labor during construction, but it’s going to provide 10 jobs when the center is complete.”
Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder appeared on MetroNews “Talkline” last week to discuss the project. He said the city will not rush into any decisions regarding development of the site.
Magruder listened the comments made during Tuesday’s meeting. He told WTOV-TV that there’s already been a meeting between city officials and the Silicon Foundation.
“I know they purchased the property,” Magruder said. “Now, we just have to see how things unfold. When we look at what they’re really going to do, we have to weigh the whole thing and we have to talk to people who understand data centers, or data concepts better than we do.”