URGENT ACTION

Don’t Let An AI Data Center Destroy West Virginia’s Historic, Blight-Resistant American Chestnut Grove!

Dear Priscilla,

West Virginia’s rare, 50-year-old American chestnut grove is facing an immediate threat from an AI data center, and we need your help to protect it. This issue is of national importance.

A multi-billion-dollar AI data center project is slated to build directly over the historic Clements State Tree Nursery site. In response to public outcry, state officials proposed a "preservation plan" to dig up and relocate these 60-foot mature trees. But arborists know the truth: you cannot simply dig up 50-year-old hardwood trees without killing them. Moving these blight-resistant chestnuts is a fatal gamble with an irreplaceable piece of our natural heritage.

We cannot let greenwashing replace real conservation. Real protection means leaving these trees in their native soil!

How You Can Help Right Now:

Demand In-Place Protection for the Clements Grove

Sign the petition to WV Governor Patrick Morrisey to send your email to the West Virginia Governor’s office right now and remind them that greenwashing a data center at the expense of a critically endangered native species is unacceptable. Edit the suggested message to make it your own.

Then take two minutes today to call the WV Secretary of Commerce and Department of Tourism to make sure your voice is heard:

WV Secretary of Commerce (Matt Herridge): 304-558-2234

What to Say: "Hold incoming tech developers accountable. The state pledged to safeguard these historic trees, and economic development cannot come at the expense of our natural heritage. These American chestnut trees are of national importance and must not be uprooted."

WV Department of Tourism: 304-558-2200

What to Say: "As a potential visitor, I will not spend my tourism dollars in a state that bulldozes or uproots rare, historic American chestnut groves of national importance to make room for a massive AI data center."

Key Talking Points for Your Calls:

1. Relocation is a high-risk gamble: Transplanting 60-foot mature hardwood trees carries an extremely low survival rate. True conservation requires protecting established root systems where they stand.

2. Resource-heavy AI vs. native ecosystems: Industrial data centers consume enormous power and water reserves. Replacing living climate-resilient trees with energy-hungry compute infrastructure harms West Virginia's environment.

3. Stand by original commitments: State officials previously assured citizens that the historic Clements grove would remain undisturbed. Hold them to that promise!

Every call and email proves that our community is paying attention and standing up for living ecosystems over corporate expansion. Thank you for taking action today!

In solidarity,

The GMO/Toxin Free USA Team

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