Late last year, Wise County, Virginia, residents learned that Red Post Energy Group, a Texas-based company, had signed a letter of intent with Wise Innovation Hub Venture to develop a methane gas power plant for a proposed data center complex adjacent to the Lonesome Pine Airport.

This phased project, nicknamed the “Maverick Project,” would begin with a 100-megawatt power plant, but developers plan to increase up to 600 megawatts of energy specifically to meet the needs of the proposed data center cluster. 

As of early March 2026, no additional public information was available. 

Appalachian Voices opposes building out new electricity infrastructure with fossil fuels, including methane gas, for many reasons. Methane gas power plants increase air pollution and health risks and play a potent role in raising global temperatures. Burning methane releases particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases, which can lead to health complications such as heart attacks, lung disease, asthma and difficulty breathing, especially in more vulnerable populations like children, pregnant people and the elderly. But the damage to land, water and people starts long before, with environmental and health problems at fracking wells and compressor station sites, and safety and environmental hazards along the route of large methane gas pipelines.  

While the degree of gas pipeline infrastructure needed for this project is currently unclear, Red Post and the Hub Venture have indicated a desire to partner on the Maverick Project with Enbridge. This Canadian gas company has a history of hazardous pipeline projects, including a Kentucky pipeline that exploded in 2019, killing one person and hospitalizing six others. 

Enbridge is also behind the Ridgeline Expansion Project, a 122-mile methane gas pipeline under construction to fuel a power plant in Harriman, Tennessee. Landowners along the route of the Ridgeline pipeline have repeatedly shared negative experiences with Enbridge. Wise County residents should not be forced to choose between development and safety. 

Robust community engagement is a necessity

If completed, the project would not be the only data center near the airport. 

Wise County set an example of responsible development when Mineral Gap, another data center located less than a mile from the airport, was designed with a solar array to provide power for the facility. 

Developing clean energy in Wise County should remain a top priority to protect the health of our local water, air and residents. Renewable energy, such as solar paired with energy storage systems, offers both. Studies have shown that these renewable models are among the most cost-effective and dependable options for powering economic growth. Additionally, our region is making great strides in building out a local workforce trained in solar installation and maintenance. Wise County can be an integral part of that journey, providing for its residents, students, business owners and environment. 

Regardless of the energy source, when counties explore a major potential project like this proposed data center complex, these decisions cannot be made behind closed doors. Since Wise County residents have consistently attended board of supervisors meetings to ask for more transparency, many people were understandably surprised to learn about the Maverick Project from a LinkedIn post. Building community trust requires our local leaders to engage the individuals they represent and to advocate for and listen to their needs. 

The best path forward is one in which county officials talk with their people through genuine engagement, instead of announcements, and meaningfully incorporate resident input into their plans. Wise County could model this type of community-informed development by participating in conversations with local residents, business owners and stakeholders to develop guidelines that would drive future county projects.

Residents in the county recognize the need for economic development and, indeed, increased power generation in our region. However, Virginia needs to continue to move away from fossil fuels, and our community deserves better than unsafe and irresponsible gas projects. Appalachian Voices urges Wise County to continue a legacy of innovative and sustainable development for our communities and our futures. 

Our team will be watching this issue closely. For updates, keep an eye on our blog and social media, and sign up for our email list.