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I am an avid supporter of local reporting but I was disappointed to read the Sept. 19 editorial section titled "With recent announcements, W.Va. is making this a ballgame" which touted data centers as a solution to West Virginia's economic woes.
West Virginia has a long history of out of state individuals and companies extracting its resources. While the short term jobs and payouts are tempting, the vast majority of wealth inevitably flows out of state while leaving West Virginian's to deal with the environmental and economic fallout.
Historical examples of the timber, coal, and natural gas industry all come to mind. I am by no means making a blanket statement against these industries but one needs to look no further than the recurring water quality issues in McDowell county to see but one example of the longstanding effects of "short term gain for long term pain" from extractive industries in West Virginia.
Data Centers are yet another temptation in the Garden of Eden that is the natural beauty of this wonderful state. Rather, the extraordinary ecosystems found in our state should be thought of an economic asset in themselves. Just as farmland should be well-tended and protected from varmints in order to yield the most profit, the wild environs of this state should be preserved as an economic investment.
Travel + Leisure magazine recently listed West Virginia as the nation's second most beautiful state and in the past year the state saw an estimated $9.1 Billion in annual tourism economic impact. This is not far off from the estimated $14.7 billion the entire oil and gas industry in West Virginia is estimated to generate annually, according to Gas Facts 2025 report and shows that tourism is an economic powerhouse comparable to other more traditional industries.
Many other economic opportunities that rely on a healthy West Virginia ecosystem exist also, such as hunting and fishing licenses which bring in millions of dollars ($4.9 million from non-resident licenses 2022-2023 according to WVDNR).
Finally, the population in West Virginia is steadily decreasing with census data showing an average of 1-2% population decrease every year in most WV counties. West Virginia has a unique opportunity to attract residents from competitor states mentioned in the editorial (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia) by demonstrating how the scenic wonder of this state makes it desirable to relocate to and stay in.
I speak from first hand experience, as I chose to leave Virginia to practice rural medicine in West Virginia, primarily due to the easy access to wilderness hiking trails, pristine fishing spots, and land to plant a garden. I am proud to have a son who was born in West Virginia with another on the way.
In conclusion, West Virginians should hold their lawmakers accountable for preserving the distinctive ecosystems of our state as this not only promotes sustainable economic opportunities but also attracts new residents while encouraging native west Virginians to stay. Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.