Data Center Census

Point Pleasant, Mason County, WV

Monarch Compute Campus

Also known as Monarch Cloud Campus, Nscale Monarch

Under constructionSite work under way; air permit for 864-engine on-site gas power plant under WVDEP review as of mid-2026
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

Nscale is building a multi-phase AI data center campus on a site of up to 2,250 acres along W.Va. 62 north of Point Pleasant, powered by an on-site microgrid of 864 natural gas-fueled engines. Nscale says the first phase is engineered for 1.35 GW of AI computing capacity, with an expansion path to 8 GW or more and over $20 billion in planned investment. The project received state 'high-impact' certification in September 2026; nearby residents have reported flooding, dust and property damage from site work.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Planned capacity8 GW [3]
company-stated expansion path of 8 GW or more at full build-out
Phase 1 capacity1.35 GW [3]
first phase engineered for 1.35 GW of AI computing capacity (company-stated)
Site size2,250 acres [2]
site of up to 2,250 acres
Buildings3 [1]
three H-shaped data center buildings; one on the former Mason County Airport runway
Stated investment$20 billion [3]
over $20 billion in planned capital investment (company-stated)
Permanent jobs (promised)645 [3]
Construction jobs4,375 [3]
approximately
Target completionOperations start targeted for January 1, 2027 per air permit application [2]

Power

Power supplyOn-site gas-fired microgrid: 864 natural gas reciprocating engines (2.16 GW) plus 120 additional natural gas/diesel engines for emergency power, fire suppression and heating [1]

Water

Water permitWVDEP proposed stormwater discharge permit WVR312628 for 556.5-acre natural gas pipeline earth disturbance in Putnam and Mason counties; public hearing June 15, 2026 [7]
this source describes the June 15, 2026 Mason County Courthouse hearing as being on this permit application
Source excerpt
“The DEP is poised to an issue a proposed water pollution control permit for Monarch Cloud Campus to discharge treated stormwater linked to a 556.5-acre earth disturbance project for installation of natural gas pipelines in Putnam and Mason counties.”

Money & incentives

Tax incentives$62.5 million forgivable state loan approved in 2023 to affiliate Mountaineer GigaSystem LLC; $25 million first phase provided, $37.5 million second phase waived [2]

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. State approves $62.5 million forgivable loan to affiliate Mountaineer GigaSystem LLC for a project originally planned around hydrogen production [2]

  2. Monarch Cloud Campus LLC submits air construction permit application to WVDEP for 2.16 GW on-site generation [1]

  3. WVDEP inspection documents dust cloud; department issues warning [2]

  4. Silt fence failure during site work floods properties of six residents (May 23-24) [2]

  5. WVDEP public hearing on air permit at Mason County Courthouse [2]

  6. WVDEP issues a unilateral enforcement order to Monarch Cloud Campus after stormwater and mud from the site entered a nearby neighborhood [8]

  7. Gov. Morrisey announces state 'high-impact' certification for the project [3]

Issues raised

  • Environmental groups cite air pollution and public health risks from the nearly 1,000 on-site engines [1]
  • Air permit projects annual emissions including 1,043 tons of carbon monoxide and 506 tons of nitrogen oxides [2]
  • Nearby residents report flooding, dust, and foundation damage from construction; about 60% of neighborhood homeowners have agreed to sell [2][4]
  • Community group Mason United opposes the project; residents object that HB 2014 limits local zoning and ordinance authority over data centers [5]

Sources

  1. Point Pleasant data center: 3 buildings, nearly 1,000 natural gas, diesel engines
    Charleston Gazette-Mail · May 2, 2026 · news
  2. New permits eyed for Mason Co. data center-tied project after eight-figure WV support
    Charleston Gazette-Mail · Jun 3, 2026 · news
  3. Morrisey hails state certifications for two Mason County data center projects
    Charleston Gazette-Mail · Sep 3, 2026 · news
  4. As Data Centers Eye W.Va., Local Communities Feel Overlooked
    West Virginia Public Broadcasting · Aug 3, 2026 · news
  5. New data center project coming to Mason County, WV spearheaded by Florida-based real estate group
    West Virginia Watch · Sep 8, 2026 · news
  6. 'Total shocker': Residents react to second data center coming to Mason County
    WSAZ · Sep 4, 2026 · news
  7. Permit requests loom for Mason Co. data center-tied project
    The Herald-Dispatch · Jun 3, 2026 · news
  8. DEP hands down enforcement order on company preparing data center site in Mason County after second muddy event
    WV MetroNews · Jul 14, 2026 · news