Steven P New Vs. Data Center

Trial attorney and legal advocate, Stephen P New, learned that a massive data center complex and an ammonia plant were approved to begin construction right by his childhood home—where his aging father still lives. Without hesitation, Steve has been preparing for the battle of a lifetime. But this battle isn’t just about political parties and permits, it's about our home and how we decide to leave it for future generations. In perfect Stephen P. New fashion, we get to hear how he plans on saving southern West Virginia from these massive pollution centers. He has discovered that the waters surrounding it is one of the last known habitats of an endangered species, giving him a powerful and unexpected legal angle.

As he prepares to sue a web of corporate developers, federal agencies, and political power players, Steve confronts the emotional weight of defending the place that shaped him… and the high-stakes strategy of using environmental law to protect both his family, friends, the fragile ecosystem that we, as appalachians, have come to love and learn to respect and appreciate its power.

This podcast is the first of a series where we will be following Steve's quest to hold the powerful accountable—before the land, the communities, and his father’s home are lost forever.