Dear Editor and Citizens,
I feel that it is very important to speak publicly about the proposed data centers. I have very close friends and family on both sides of the issue. A big part of the reason for the divide is a lack of information. I also have decades of experience in the development of manufacturing facilities.
I am not an electrical engineer, but I have experience with power requirements of this magnitude. Opposition to the project is driven by fear, not facts. Fear of the unknown, fear of outsiders, fear of change, and fear of progress.
Most of the opposition I said most, not all, oppose the project for emotional reasons. It would be a healthier debate if there was less hysteria. Four of the unknown, unregulated, toxic chemicals from the rail cars were not released into the air; it was vinyl chloride. The alarmist expressions except to say that the potential harm from that incident is dwarfed by the potential harm from the battle between power plant data center and whatever is behind the opposition. Both sides are being played by forces, 25 years since 1965 by self-appointed “environmentalists” who have made careers and their culture with “open space”. Our planet and our mother are at risk.
The data centers are here to stay. We must adapt, or we will become a permanent welfare state, with the exception of the very rich. The ideal would have been for a state-level plan for all 55 counties and their power supply needs. That, unfortunately, would not happen. Why? We all know the answer.
I believe the citizens of Tucker County are very intelligent, but maybe it is their general and generally their only source of information from one news media outlet. It is what I suggest: a group of citizens to access to central WVA which it so richly deserves, what happens next.
West Virginia has done a masterful job of doing an end-run around the democratic process of informing its people, the people of the state, in this reckless, pointless, delay out of the process.
This is not a partisan issue. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are being played. Try to build a house in other places. This is a big country. This process has been hijacked and controlled by emotion rather than by facts. I am in full support of our county officials and reps who are slower to read than I expected because our County has always been thoughtful and deliberate. I am writing today to express my disappointment with some of their public comments for their constituents and for West Virginia’s Legislature. I agree with Senator Clements that the process has been.
I applaud the state legislators for having the foresight to bring data center development to the state. The ideal would have been for a state-level plan for all 55 counties and their power supply needs. That, unfortunately, would not happen. Why? We all know the answer.
It would be a sad day, indeed, if the ideal gradual replacement for king coal goes up in smoke because we were too shortsighted to see the forest for the trees. The ideal would be nice if more people came to.
J.Wm. (Bill) Ryssell
Indian Head, MD 20653
