Most Local Leaders Avoid Taking a Stand on Power Plant

Plus, Davis mayor considers annexing property around National Youth Science Academy; and a council member balks at Airbnb applications

The blue area is owned by Western Pocahontas Properties, which also owns several other large parcels in the area. The dark yellow and orange areas indicate flood risk zones. The images are from the West Virginia Property Viewer and were annotated by Country Roads News.

Opponents of a proposed power plant and data center complex have been working to get elected officials and other local leaders to take a stand on the issue, but so far most have resisted doing so.

The town of Davis unanimously voted on May 31 in favor of a resolution opposing the facility, but no other local elected officials, government bodies, or prominent leaders have publicly taken a clear stand.

When contacted by Country Roads News, leaders of the Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucker County Chamber of Commerce, and the Tucker County Development Authority said those organizations don’t have a position on the facility.

“At this time we’re not taking a position,” said Jessica Waldo, executive director of the Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Waldo also leads the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce.

Tucker United, a local group formed to fight the power plant and data center complex, made presentations to the Tucker County Commission, the Thomas City Council, and the Parsons City Council, but none of those elected bodies took a stand or committed to do so in the future.

Tucker United plans to continue asking local officials to take a stand. “We are planning on attending council meetings in Hendricks and Hambleton in the near future,” Nikki Forrester, a spokeswoman for Tucker United, said in a statement. “We will also continue attending County Commission meetings, and council meetings in Davis and Thomas.”

Davis Mayor Al Tomson, who has become a prominent opponent of the proposed power plant and data center complex, said in a statement that he found it frustrating that so few local leaders will take a stand on the proposal. “I know enough about the emissions and proximity to a school and residences to make an informed decision,” Tomson said.

“I do encourage them to take a position one way or the other,” he added. “That’s leadership.”

Meanwhile, Tucker United continues trying to block state approval of an air quality permit for the facility, although that prospect appears to be a long shot. Forrester said state regulators seem to be “more invested in getting permits approved than they are in protecting the health of people and the environment.” Nevertheless, the group plans to continue highlighting what it sees as “errors and missing information” in the permit application for the facility.

Where Local Officials and Organizations Stand

Opponents of the proposed power plant and data center complex gathered outside a Thomas City Council meeting June 10. There was not enough room for everyone who wanted to attend the meeting, so many had to wait outside.

Country Roads News is tracking where prominent local officials and organizations stand on the proposed power plant and data center complex.

In Favor

• None. No local elected officials, business groups, or other prominent local organizations have endorsed building a power plant and data center complex in Tucker County.

Opposed

• Davis Town Council. The Davis Town Council voted, 5-0, on May 31 for a resolution expressing strong opposition to the facility.

No position

• County Commission. The commission heard arguments for and against the facility on June 25, but took no position on it.

• Thomas City Council. The City Council heard debate on the facility at a June 10 meeting but took no position on it. Mayor Jody Flanagan and other members of the council said they need more information before taking a position.

• Parsons City Council. The City Council heard a presentation June 17 from opponents of the power plant but did not debate the issue or indicate whether the council will take it up again in the future.

• Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Tucker County Chamber of Commerce. “At this time we’re not taking a position,” said Jessica Waldo, executive director of both organizations, in response to an inquiry from Country Roads News.

• Tucker County Development Authority. Executive Director Steven Leyh said in response to an inquiry from Country Roads News that his organization has not taken a position on the facility and has no plans to do so. At an April 13 community meeting in Davis, Leyh called for more information and dialogue about the project, saying that good corporate leaders “don’t shove things down your throat.”

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Other News

Davis Mayor Eyes Annexing Land Northeast of Town, and a Council Member Balks at Airbnb Applications

The National Youth Science Academy building.

By Mat Cloak, contributing writer

Davis mayor Al Tomson hopes to annex a large parcel of land northeast of town that includes the National Youth Science Academy building and multiple homes under construction by a local developer.

“The rationale is we’re going to provide sewer and water eventually, so if we provide services it makes sense that they’re in the city limits of Davis,” Tomson said Wednesday at a Davis Town Council meeting.

Tomson did not go into detail about the plan. After the meeting, Tomson said he has about 150 acres in mind for the annexation.

The most recent major annexation by the Town of Davis was the Tuscan Ridge residential development two decades ago. Tuscan Ridge is composed of about 200 lots, and new homes frequently spring up in the development.

Airbnb vote

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Davis Council Member Jennie Helmick abstained from voting on three applications for properties to be used as short-term rentals, or “Airbnbs.”

Votes to approve such applications typically have been unanimous and perfunctory, because the town has no authority to limit the number of Airbnbs operating in its jurisdiction. However, Helmick indicated that her vote reflected the will of many local residents who are unhappy with the proliferation of short-term rentals in Davis.

“Nothing personal, I just cannot vote in good conscience when I know the town people didn’t want them,” Helmick said.

A year ago Davis residents rejected a zoning ordinance that would have limited the number of short-term rentals operating in some residential neighborhoods. Efforts to restrict the spread of Airbnbs have substantial support in Davis, but many local residents complained that the zoning ordinance had other land use restrictions that were too strict or unnecessary.