Editor:
Data centers for Pocahontas County have been discussed extensively in recent letters touting tax benefits a data center would bring. Looking realistically at the possibility of a data center gives a different picture.
Data centers require 200 to 900 acres depending on the size. Where? State parks and forests as well as the National Forest would not allow one. It would not work near the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Perhaps on Beaver Creek Road where people going to Watoga can see it. Maybe Hillsboro so it would be a sight to see from the Droop Mountain observation tower. Knapp Creek near Minnehaha Springs, Huntersville or Dilleys Bottom? The truth is there’s no good place. Because all will impact the growing tourism economy.
Tourism is the economic driver of the county. Tourism is a $232 million dollar industry in the county which translates to $4,000 in tax savings per household and 28% of all employment is tied to Tourism.
Resources required are electricity and water. Depending on size, data centers use 300,000 to five million gallons of water daily. That would dry the aquifer and wells will dry up. Data centers use 20 to 100 megawatt of electricity daily. The grid in the county will not support this, requiring a high-tension electric line to be brought in. Higher electric rates.
Thermal pollution, water is used to cool the processors, is heated and is discharged into the streams. This water contains chemicals, PFAS, heavy metals all contributing to health issues.
Because of the up-front costs, it’s unlikely that any company would pursue building a data center in Pocahontas County. However, increasing the tax base is a worthy effort for community leaders to look into. Millions in tourism dollars is something to build upon.
The Greenbrier River Trail is a sparkling necklace. It’s world renowned. Public/private partnerships could be developed to create more river access, waystations etc. It’s not the only jewel, but it’s the current attraction that brings people from England to New Zealand as well as from around the country. The trail can showcase other assets in Pocahontas County.
David Bott
Morgantown
Editor,
In ancient Rome before Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, Christians and other people were thrown to and devoured by wild animals in front of tens of thousands of spectators in the Roman colosseum.
Our President recently posted a video of a man being killed by a tiger.
In what direction are we headed now as a country – backward to barbarism or forward to greater human dignity and worth?
Martin Saffer
Hillsboro
Editor,
Below is a Citizen’s Letter I sent to the Solid Waste Authority of Pocahontas Coun-ty and passed to their Chair, [email protected]:
The County needs a cost-effective viable solution to the pending closure of the County Landfill. I am requesting that the Authority consider all the possible options to include the previously proposed Transfer Facility deal and any other submissions by private industry if they exist. I am further requesting that the Authority prepare detailed business plans for all these options to include short- and long-term costs with all costs being validated. A validated cost is an actual written quote by a service provider or publicly listed cost for equipment or services. I further request that the source of costs be identified as part of each business plan. Failing to conduct and provide the cost analysis to the public of all options would demonstrate a lack of due diligence by members of the Authority and a failure to meet their obligation to the community to find the lowest cost solution based on detailed factual data. It would also call into question why one solution is selected over another. The solution chosen needs to be based on detailed open cost analysis and not the personal preferences of a group of non-elected individuals. Bottom line, preparing these business plans and making them available to the public will help promote support for the solution chosen and will help the Authority demonstrate that they are looking out for the community’s interests based on actual factual data. In the last year there have been allegations of backroom deals. Preparing these detailed business plans and providing them to the citizens of the county will go a long way to dispel these concerns.
I further request that this letter be read out loud at the next meeting and entered into the official record.
Joseph Kaffl
Hillsboro
