Ridgeline Facility
Thomas, Tucker County, WV[2]Developer: Fundamental Data[2]
Also known as Ridgeline project, Fundamental Data Ridgeline
- Rumored
- Proposed
- Approved
- Under construction
- Operating
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Fundamental Data LLC proposes an off-grid, gas-fired power plant and data center complex between Davis and Thomas in Tucker County, West Virginia. Reported sizes vary: local press describes a 1,600 MW plant on about 500 acres, while POWER Magazine reports a roughly 5 GW, two-phase plan on a 291-acre tract. The state air permit has been issued and upheld over appeals by Tucker United, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and the Sierra Club, and in August 2026 WVDEP confirmed the company controls the site.
Key facts
Size & schedule
| Planned capacity | 1.6 GW [2] as reported by WDTV for the off-grid gas-and-diesel plant |
|---|---|
| Planned capacity | 5 GW [5] POWER Magazine: ~5 GW total across two phases (Phase 1 ~800 MW gas + ~1.3 GW solar; Phase 2 3.1 GW additional gas) |
| IT load | 2 GW [5] POWER Magazine: Phase 1 includes 14 data center buildings using 2+ GW of computing load |
| Site size | 500 acres [3] as reported by local press |
| Site size | 291 acres [1] tract purchased from Western Pocahontas Properties (purchase agreement dated 2024-07-19) |
| Buildings | 14 [5] data center buildings in Phase 1, per POWER Magazine |
| Target completion | Commercial operations targeted for 2028 (per POWER Magazine) [5] |
How big is that? Data center sizes compared with football fields and Central Park.
Power
| Power supply | On-site natural gas / diesel combustion turbines with heat recovery steam generators (off-grid microgrid); three 10-million-gallon diesel storage tanks [6] |
|---|---|
| Air permit | WVDEP permit R13-3713 classifies the facility as a synthetic minor source, with physical and operational limits to stay below PSD major thresholds [6]Source excerpt“Physical and operational limitations so that source is below PSD major thresholds” |
Money & incentives
| Tax incentives | Project says it seeks no state or local financial assistance (per POWER Magazine); proceeds under WV HB 2014 certified microgrid program [5] |
|---|
Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.
Water and power
Water
Not disclosed. No source reviewed gives a water figure for this site. The Census does not estimate one.
Disclosed figures only, each as the cited source states it. Many are projections or permit limits, not metered use. How data center water and power use is measured, and every disclosed figure →
Timeline
Purchase and sale agreement for 291-acre site with Western Pocahontas Properties [1]
Air permit application R13-3713 filed with WVDEP Division of Air Quality [6]
WVDEP issues air quality construction permit R13-3713 after 1,605 written comments [7]
West Virginia Air Quality Board upholds permit over appeal by Tucker United, WV Highlands Conservancy and Sierra Club [5]
WVDEP determines Fundamental Data has demonstrated site control after company missed Aug 7 deadline and filed documents Aug 11 [1]
Intermediate Court of Appeals dismisses environmental groups' appeals for lack of jurisdiction, finding good cause for late appeals to the WV Supreme Court [2]
Issues raised
- Opponents dispute WVDEP's classification of the plant as a synthetic minor source of air pollution [3][4]
- Groups objected to redaction of emissions data and permit details as confidential business information [1][3]
- Expert testimony at the appeal hearing said daily emissions could fluctuate beyond DEP assumptions [4]
Issues are concerns and claims raised by the parties, officials or residents named in the cited sources. They are reported as attributed, not as findings by the Census.
Sources
- WV DEP says Fundamental Data controls site of proposed Tucker County data center, power plantWest Virginia Watch · Aug 17, 2026 · news
- State appeals court dismisses environmental groups' lawsuits over Tucker County data center plantWDTV · Aug 26, 2026 · news
- Air Quality Board sides with developers of Tucker County data centerWV MetroNews · Feb 7, 2026 · news
- State Regulators Hear Two Days Of Evidence In Appeal Of Tucker County Data Center PermitsWest Virginia Public Broadcasting · Dec 4, 2025 · news
- Contested 5-GW Ridgeline Gas, Solar, and Data-Center Complex in West Virginia Clears Site-Control QuestionPOWER Magazine · Aug 18, 2026 · news
- Fundamental Data LLC Ridgeline Facility public meeting presentation (R13-3713)West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality · Jun 30, 2025 · government
- DEP Approves Fundamental Data Air Quality Permit for Ridgeline ProjectParsons Advocate · Aug 19, 2025 · news
- Tucker power plant's air permit upheldThe Inter-Mountain · Feb 10, 2026 · news
Cite this page
Last updated Sep 22, 2026. Figures may change as records are updated — include the date you retrieved them.
| APA | Data Center Census. (2026). Ridgeline Facility. Retrieved from https://datacentercensus.com/dc/ridgeline-tucker-county-wv |
|---|---|
| MLA | “Ridgeline Facility.” Data Center Census, Sep 22, 2026, https://datacentercensus.com/dc/ridgeline-tucker-county-wv. |
| Link | https://datacentercensus.com/dc/ridgeline-tucker-county-wv |
Republishing a figure or table? Attribute it to Data Center Census with a link to this page. The underlying data is downloadable as JSON and CSV; the press kit has standing figures and contact details.