WV certified Boone County data center campus project without public announcement

Key Takeaways:

• A Houston-based firm secured state certification to develop a data center in Boone County.
• The project, referred to as “Project Country Roads,” gained approval without a public announcement.
• Plans involve redeveloping the former Hobet Mine into a large-scale computing campus.
• Proposals indicate a potential capacity of up to 10 gigawatts over 8,000 acres.
• West Virginia leaders engaged in months of talks before certifying the project.

Project Country Roads: The Large-Scale Vision

The West Virginia Department of Commerce issued a High-Impact Data Center certification for a massive new development located in Boone County. Project documents refer to the initiative as “Project Country Roads,” showing a vision for a phased construction that could shift the region’s industrial and economic landscape.

Quiet Authorization Raises Questions

“The Gazette-Mail has obtained documents indicating a monthslong courtship between West Virginia leaders and an out-of-state developer,” the original coverage noted. In September 2026, the Department of Commerce extended its official endorsement to Houston-based LM Core Energy Services, a move that took place without any direct public announcement. The circumstances of this quiet authorization have raised questions about transparency and the behind-the-scenes dealings that led to the project’s certification.

An Ambitious Scale

According to the project’s early filings, the data center campus could ultimately span up to 10 gigawatts and 8,000 acres, though the immediate plans call for a 3,557-acre development with a projected demand of about 1.4 gigawatts. This large-scale artificial intelligence and high-performance computing campus reflects an emerging focus on technology-driven industry in a region historically known for coal mining.

Redeveloping the Hobet Mine

The site for “Project Country Roads” is the former Hobet Mine located along Shaffer Road in Danville. Reimagining this area for data center use indicates a pivot from coal to more modern forms of industry. Once completed, the campus has the potential to significantly reshape not only the physical environment but also the economic landscape of Boone County.

Looking Ahead

While the project has secured state certification, public scrutiny continues as more details surface. The extent of the final build-out, the anticipated economic impact, and the costs surrounding the infrastructure remain key points of discussion. For West Virginia, the development could herald an era of high-tech growth—provided that all stakeholders are brought into the decision-making process for such a transformative project.