One of America's Last Chestnut Groves Is About to Be Destroyed for a Data Center
a day ago
- A grove of approximately 200 American chestnut trees, reportedly planted in the 1970s from wild survivors, may be cleared by November 1, 2026, for data-center development in Mason County, West Virginia.
- The grove is described as a genetic archive crucial for chestnut restoration, but these claims lack independent verification from official sources.
- The project's website states the grove is not on its land, creating an unresolved boundary dispute between advocacy claims and project denial.
- No public environmental review or consideration of preservation alternatives has been identified, highlighting a systemic gap in transparency for AI infrastructure projects.
- The industry is urged to release site plans and parcel documentation, and to consult conservation experts before any clearing occurs.