West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has said publicly that there is a plan in place to protect historic chestnut and chinquapin trees that were developed at the Clements State Tree Nursery in Marson County as a data center development takes shape on the former state property.
“I recognize the historical and ecological importance of chestnut and chinquapin trees at the former Clements State Tree Nursery and am committed to ensuring their preservation,” the governor said.
His office said after an October 5 assessment involving The American Chestnut Foundation, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, “a plan is now in place to protect these trees and preserve their genetic lineage.”
The nursery was closed by the West Virginia Division of Forestry in May 2021 due to financial losses. 
The governor’s office says that since 2023, access to the property for seed and sapling harvesting has continued uninterrupted as tech companies took possession of the land.
“The American Chestnut Foundation, the Division of Natural Resources, and the Division of Forestry have already taken steps to preserve the genetic lineage of these trees, establishing multiple two-acre stands on state land, along with two additional plots using grafts and seedlings,” said the governor’s office.
The preservation plan involves moving the existing trees to “a more suitable environment within the property”. According to the governor’s office, a professional arborist will supervise that work in late 2027 during the dormant season of the trees. Those will remain accessible for seed and sapling harvesting for propagating the varieties.
Gov. Morrisey said Nscale will cover the full cost of the preservation and relocation efforts, with no expense to West Virginia taxpayers.
Nscale is building the 2,250-acre Monarch Compute Campus in Mason County, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) microgrid that the company claims will be part of a $20 billion capital investment in AI infrastructure in the state.
“I am committed to working together with NSCALE, the Department of Agriculture and concerned citizens to ensure the concerns about the trees are addressed and I thank everyone for their thoughtfulness in developing solutions,” the governor said.
