To the Editor:
In the weekly column of The Hillsboro Opinion, aka, Letters to the Editor, dated August 20, 2026 edition of The Pocahontas Times, Martin Saffer put his negative spin on the possibilities of data centers in West Virginia. He highlighted a fundamental divide in how we view the future of Pocahontas County and our State. While some residents prefer our area to remain quiet and untouched, we must confront a harsh reality: standing still economically is the same as dying on the vine.
For decades, Pocahontas County, and the State of West Virginia, has struggled with a lack of economic prosperity. Young people leave after high school because career opportunities are scarce, and local families carry a heavy tax burden to keep basic public services running. Welcoming data center development offers our community a modern, viable path toward economic revitalization without compromising the rural character we all hold dear.
First, let us address the immediate and profound economic benefit: jobs. The construction and build-out phase of a modern data center require hundreds of skilled tradespeople – electricians, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, concrete technicians, and engineers. These are high-paying, family-supporting jobs. For local workers who currently have to travel out of county or out of state to find consistent work, a major project here means earning a great living while coming home to their families every night. Furthermore, the operational phase brings permanent, technical, and facility- management roles, creating long-term career paths right in our little corner of West Virginia, and the world.
Second, the tax revenue generated by these facilities would be transformative for our local governments and school districts. Data centers represent massive capital investments in real estate, infrastructure, and equipment. The property and utility tax revenues generated by a single facility can inject millions into local budgets. That means funding for updated school facilities, better equipment for our volunteer fire departments, and improved services all around – all achieved without raising taxes on local homeowners and small business owners. Our county and town commissioners are constantly forced to stretch tight budgets; data center revenue would be a crucial lifeline.
Critics raise concerns about land use, resources, or environmental impact. While healthy debate and proper oversight are vital for any infrastructure project, modern data centers are designed with strict efficiency, quiet operation, and environmental compliance in mind. They do not produce smoke, industrial waste, or heavy traffic once built. In fact, many tech companies actively partner with local communities to invest in regional infrastructure, grid upgrades, and broadband expansion – benefits that ripple across the entire county.
It is easy to advocate for keeping things as they are when your own economic situation is secure. But for the small business owners, the working families, and the next generation of West Virginians looking for a reason to stay, economic growth is not optional; it is essential. West Virginia’s state leadership has rightly recognized that our abundant land and strategic location make us a prime candidate for the digital economy. We should not push these opportunities away out of fear of something that’s not real. Don’t you think we can enjoy our mountain environment, and still welcome responsible economic progress? Data centers offer a balanced, low-impact, high-reward opportunity to secure our county’s financial future. Let us choose opportunity over stagnation and work together to bring good jobs and strong tax revenues to us all.
We should encourage our local government leaders to be doing everything possible to make this new opportunity look our way.
Joel Srodes,
Marlinton
Editor;
It has been alleged that SNL is taking legal action against the Democratic Socialist Party for stealing their material without compensation. I say this in jest, but listening to interviews with leaders of this party recently is both funny and saddening and does resemble something out of an SNL or Saturday Night Live skit.
Their answers to simple questions resemble something a small child or drunk would come up with. Abolishing prisons, no borders, eliminating the Senate, nationwide rent control, taking over private property and private industry, defunding the military, the list of their insanity goes on and on and would make any hard-core communist smile with joy.
The fact that many mainstream Democrats do not disown them but welcome them to what has become the big Circus Tent of silly ideas that do not work in the real world and in many cases are dangerous is also concerning.
I have a low opinion of most politicians with a few exceptions, but the Democratic Machine is taking it to Olympic competition levels. Pure Socialism and Communism have never worked in the real world and yet these folks continue to sell this insanity as a solution to the many problems we face as a country. It’s like believing that mutilating children for profit, i.e. so-called gender reaffirming care, to treat children who have emotional problems, most of which are transitory and part of growing up is an acceptable solution. Oh, yea, something that many in the Democratic mainstream support.
As someone who voted for Democrats in the distant past I wonder if the rot that has permeated this party will ever be fixed since it appears to only get worse with time.
Yes, Trump and many Republicans have their own issues, but insanity is not one of them so I will continue to the pick the least bad option and make sure I vote in the midterms since not doing so lets a small group of simpletons control the future.
Sadly, on average only half of all eligible voters turn out for the midterms.
Joseph Kaffl
Hillsboro
