November 9, 2026 - West Virginia has approved a proposed data center development in Boone County that could eventually become one of the largest technology infrastructure projects in the state, with plans calling for as much as 10 gigawatts of computing capacity across thousands of acres at a former coal mining site.

The project, known as Project Country Roads, received High-Impact Data Center certification from the West Virginia Department of Commerce on Sept. 30, according to documents obtained by the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The certification followed an Aug. 17 application from Houston-based LM Core Energy Services.

The proposed campus would be located at the former Hobet mining complex near Danville and encompass approximately 3,557 acres, according to the state's approval notice. Project documents describe an anticipated full-campus electricity demand of approximately 1.4 gigawatts, although the developer has discussed the possibility of expanding the project to as much as 10 gigawatts over time.

The certification was issued without a public announcement from the state.

The project is expected to focus on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. LM Core identified Las Vegas-based TensorWave, an artificial intelligence infrastructure and cloud computing company, as an anticipated tenant in its certification application.

LM Core CEO Jarrette Lewis described the development as a potential project that remains under exploration, telling the Gazette-Mail that the company considered it premature to release additional details before plans are finalized.

The company's August investor presentation outlined an initial phase targeting 1 gigawatt of computing capacity, with the potential to expand to 10 gigawatts by 2034. The presentation also identified Microsoft, Google parent company Alphabet, OpenAI and Amazon Web Services as companies with which LM Core said it was having discussions about potential computing capacity.

An unsigned memorandum of understanding dated June 22 between LM Core and the state outlined a proposed initial deployment of 50 megawatts in the fourth quarter of 2026, scaling to 1,000 megawatts by the fourth quarter of 2028.

The memorandum estimated the first phase could involve approximately $9.65 billion in capital investment, 2,000 to 3,000 peak construction-period jobs and between 200 and 400 permanent operating positions.

Those figures represent projections in company documents, not confirmed investment or employment commitments.

The proposed development would include onsite electricity generation, energy storage and supporting infrastructure. Project documents also identify the Little Coal River as the planned discharge location for wastewater from an onsite treatment facility and estimate average and peak daily water use of 4,000 to 5,000 gallons.

Appalachian Power reportedly provided LM Core with a conceptual service plan for the project, including a proposed connection to the regional transmission system. The utility declined to discuss the potential customer, telling the Gazette-Mail that requests from large new energy users would go through its standard planning and regulatory processes.

The Department of Environmental Protection has not received an air quality permit application for the proposed LM Core project, according to the agency. The company would still need to pursue applicable environmental and other regulatory approvals before moving forward with construction and operation.

The company's certification petition also contemplated public listening sessions in eight communities: Madison, Danville, Van, Foster/Julian, Hamlin, West Hamlin, Alum Creek and Griffithsville/Duval.

The Boone County project also highlights the broader debate over West Virginia's approach to attracting large-scale data center development.

House Bill 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act, passed in 2025 and established a framework intended to encourage major electricity users, including data centers, to develop in West Virginia. The law created the High-Impact Data Center designation for facilities with critical power demands of at least 90 megawatts and gave state officials a significant role in approving qualifying projects.

The legislation has also drawn criticism from residents and lawmakers who argue that it limits local governments' ability to influence development decisions and restricts public access to information about proposed projects.

Under rules governing the certification process, developers' initial letters of intent are confidential. That has raised questions about how residents can learn about projects early enough to participate in decisions affecting their communities.

House Minority Leader Pro Tempore Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, previously raised concerns about the lack of public access to project applications, arguing that residents cannot challenge developments they do not know exist.

Department of Commerce spokesperson Andy Malinoski told the Gazette-Mail that prospective economic development projects remain confidential until they receive final approval, when the department formally releases details. That statement raised questions about the status of the Boone County project, despite the department's Sept. 30 certification notice.

The certification also incorporates a supplemental commitment from LM Core requiring the company to coordinate with the department on significant changes to the project's development schedule, infrastructure, power strategy and mitigation measures.

The Boone County proposal joins a growing list of major data center developments being pursued in West Virginia, including projects in Mason, Putnam, Berkeley, Tucker and Grant counties.

The developments have attracted interest from state officials seeking new investment and economic activity, while also generating concerns about electricity demand, water resources, environmental effects and the potential consequences for existing utility customers.

For Boone County, Project Country Roads represents a proposed redevelopment of a large former coal mining property into a major artificial intelligence computing campus. However, the project's ultimate size, construction schedule, tenants and required permits remain subject to further development.