“Two external forces pressing upon this county convinced me that this was the time to document [Tucker] county as I’ve known it,” explains Carl Feather in anticipation of his 600-page memoir detailing Tucker County’s history and culture: Corridor H and Fundamental Data. Some may think these projects are a done-deal simply because our state government wants them, but history tells us otherwise – West Virginians have always advocated for what’s best for their communities, whether or not the project was rubber-stamped.
Just one of these projects would be enough to change the nature of Tucker County, but together, the effect would be enormous. Both are proposed to lie within a few miles of Blackwater Falls State Park and between Thomas and Davis. Fundamental Data’s power plant, only a piece of the 10,000 acre complex, would smother our skies while Corridor H’s interstate-grade chaos subsumes our streets.
Data centers are a new form of resource extraction for a digital means, and Corridor H plays a part. It’s been framed by state officials as a lifesaver for small towns like Thomas and Davis, but in truth, the WVDOH’s preferred four-lane highway would become part of a typical extraction economy.
When Corridor H’s rough route was drawn in the 1960s, coal’s heyday had passed but it was still in the game. Legislators noticed Appalachia’s lag in economic growth and believed an infrastructure project would attract new capital, continuing West Virginia’s export of resources. Fast forward 50 years later, and American manufacturing has fallen off. West Virginia is consistently losing population. Coal used to employ over a million people and now employs 20,000. Yet, the WVDOH wants the same highway.
To companies in coal’s “golden era,” low pay was key, and even when good pay was negotiated, the industry continued mechanizing to reduce labor costs. Nowadays, data centers require few workers, and instead need even more massive amounts of capital investment, including fiber optic cables, natural gas pipelines, million-dollar facilities, and suitable road infrastructure – all without much concern or need for local populations and workers.
So when officials tell you these projects are going to lift up our state’s economy, but the money only goes back to Charleston, you should be concerned. New coal is back in town, and worse than old coal, it doesn’t even need you to work. All you need to do is lay back, accept the devastation of our communities, and sleep soundly in your bed, periodically awakened by the local data center’s blinking lights and the sound of self-driving trucks.
Corridor H’s route is undecided, and a public comment period is coming up on August 5th, 2026 I believe the Northern Route makes much more sense for the mountaintop area – go to go-northcorridorh.org/ to learn more.
Fundamental Data’s air quality permit was approved by the WVDEP last fall. To get involved, head over to tuckerunited.com.
Carl’s new book “Wandering Tucker County, W.Va.” is now available for sale at thefeathercottage.com.
