A DATA CENTER LOCATION OF CHOICE
A Region Ready to Power the Digital Economy
Once known for its coal, Wise County is now building its future on innovation, sustainability, and digital infrastructure. With key assets like naturally cooled mine water, renewable energy development, and a robust utility and broadband network, Wise County is ready to meet the needs of data center operators looking for reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient solutions.
Commissioned by InvestSWVA, Project Oasis is a landmark feasibility study that identified Wise County as a prime location for hyperscale data center development. The study highlighted various regional large development-ready sites, including Wise County’s Lonesome Pine Regional Business & Technology Park, with sites that offer the unique advantage of geothermal cooling options using mine pool water—a method that could generate more than $1 million in annual water and energy savings.
Mineral Gap Data Center, established in 2017, is a Tier III, high-security facility serving both government and private clients. Located in the Lonesome Pine Business & Technology Park, Mineral Gap employs over 20 employees and stands as the second-highest source of improved real estate tax revenue in Wise County. In 2023, Mineral Gap made history by powering up Virginia's first commercial-scale solar field on previously coal mined land—a 3.6 MW array that provides behind-the-meter electricity to the data center.
Wise County is actively exploring how data centers can be paired with next-generation energy systems. The Energy DELTA Lab has proposed the development of a new 400-acre data center campus—"Data Center Ridge"—on remote, previously mined land. This bold vision includes powering operations with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) or other innovative clean energy technologies, reinforcing Wise County's reputation as a forward-thinking hub for digital infrastructure.
Infrastructure that Delivers
- Geothermal cooling with consistent 51°F mine pool water
- Reliable electric power with transmission upgrades from Old Dominion Power
- Triple-redundant broadband (Point Broadband, Verizon, Scott County Telephone Cooperative)
- Hundreds of acres of land at the Lonesome Pine Regional Business & Technology Park and Data Center Ridge site
- Behind-the-meter solar development potential
- 17% lower wages for specialty IT positions compared to the national average
- Strong IT and technical skills training through Mountain Empire Community College and UVA Wise
- Low natural disaster risk and geographic separation from other data center hubs (Ashburn, Richmond, Boydton)
- Access to skilled workers with transferable experience from energy and manufacturing sectors
- Lonesome Pine Regional Business & Technology Park sites are located adjacent to the Lonesome Pine Airport
Incentives that Add Value
- Lowest regional data center equipment tax rate in Virginia: $0.24 per $100 with a favorable depreciation schedule: 50/35/20/10/5% (compared to $3.70 levied elsewhere in Virginia)
- Data Center Retail Sales & Use Tax Exemption
- Opportunity and Enterprise Zone eligibility
- Access to Commonwealth Opportunity Fund and Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund
- Local and state financial and technical support for custom workforce training
Wise County is where sustainability, affordability, and innovation converge to create a premier destination for the next generation of data centers.