WHEELING, W.Va. — New details are emerging about the proposed data center and manufacturing campus at the former Centre Foundry property in Wheeling as residents continue to raise questions about the project’s potential impact.
Representatives of Silicon Foundation, which purchased the property, addressed Wheeling City Council this week in what was reportedly the first opportunity for residents to hear directly from someone involved with the project since plans became public earlier this summer.
Andrii Garanin, chief energy and infrastructure officer for Silicon Foundation, told council the planned facility would include a 10-megawatt data center along with a manufacturing component.
The development is expected to create temporary construction jobs during the buildout. However, questions remain about the number of permanent jobs the project could ultimately provide.
Council members also raised concerns about issues that have surrounded data centers in other communities, including persistent noise, demands on local utilities and the potential effect on utility rates.
Second Ward Councilman Ben Seidler asked what assurances could be provided to residents concerned about problems such as water service and continuous noise.
Garanin acknowledged concerns surrounding data center development but said technology and facility designs have continued to evolve as the industry has grown.
First Ward Councilman Tony Assaro said that even with efforts to reduce potential problems, the development would still have an impact on the surrounding community.
Several residents attending the meeting asked Mayor Denny Magruder for an opportunity to question Silicon Foundation representatives directly during the council meeting. That request was not granted.
Garanin left before the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not take questions from media afterward.
The proposal has drawn significant public attention since plans for the former Centre Foundry site became known, with residents seeking additional information about noise, utilities, employment and the project’s overall effect on the surrounding area.
