Soil-and-water district warns of potential impacts from proposed industrial projects; residents voice opposition to data centers

Summary

At the April 9 meeting Walter H. Smith of the Lonesome Pine Soil and Water Conservation District said voluntary cost-share programs supported seven local projects with about $483,627 from 2023–2026 and cautioned that proposed nuclear, hydro-storage and data center projects could have environmental impacts requiring early coordination. Several public commenters opposed data centers and raised water-study concerns.

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Walter H. Smith, representing the Lonesome Pine Soil and Water Conservation District, updated the Wise County Board of Supervisors on April 9 about the district’s conservation work and potential environmental risks posed by large proposed projects.

Smith said the district provides technical assistance and voluntary cost-share programs; he reported that seven local projects received about $483,627 in cost-share funding between 2023 and 2026. He identified prospective developments — including proposed nuclear siting, hydro-storage projects and data centers — as having potential environmental impacts and urged early coordination between project proponents, regulators and the public to protect soil and water resources.

During the public expression portion of the meeting, Lee DeMontigny of Coeburn and Jane Branham of Big Stone Gap spoke in opposition to data centers. Lauren Albrecht of Big Stone Gap raised concerns about water studies and the local impacts of data center proposals. Those public comments followed Smith’s remarks and reflected community concern about industrial-scale projects and their potential effects on local resources.

The board did not take action on the proposed projects at the meeting; the record shows the district’s recommendation for early public engagement and coordination but no approvals or policy changes were made.