Are Data Centers the Next Frontier of Extraction in West Virginia?

100 Days in Appalachia & More Perfect Union
November 18, 2025

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Mingo County, West Virginia, was once thriving, but the coal industry’s decline left it one of the poorest counties in the US. Now, several data centers could be built in the region. Are data centers a new extractive industry, or will they provide a much-needed economic lifeline?

This story was produced by 100 Days in Appalachia & More Perfect Union, an independent, non-profit digital news publication.

Many hard questions must be asked and answered by elected political leaders