FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is making a major investment in North Central West Virginia with the installation of a $100 million supercomputer, named Rhea.
Scheduled to be housed at NOAA’s Environmental Security Computing Center within the West Virginia High Technology Foundation’s I-79 High Technology Park, Rhea will enhance the agency’s ability to collect climate and weather data, improve forecasting accuracy, and monitor natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and wildfires.
Jim Estep, President and CEO of the West Virginia High Technology Foundation, has long advocated for expanding the region’s role in the commercial and climate weather industry. He believes Rhea’s arrival could be transformative.
“This is one of the first major projects that our park expansion was designed to support,” Estep said. “Rhea will allow NOAA to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can improve weather, ocean, and climate forecasting, as well as ecosystem modeling. Many experts believe applying AI and ML to these fields could revolutionize how we predict and adapt to climate change.”
NOAA has also renewed its lease at the technology park, reinforcing its commitment to the region. Estep is optimistic that this investment will serve as a foundation for further technological growth.
“With NOAA’s advancements, I’m hopeful that we can develop a nationally recognized regional hub for AI and machine learning,” Estep said. “This could position us as a major player in the evolving technology landscape.”
The agency is transitioning to a cloud-based system to enhance data processing capabilities and implement AI-driven insights more effectively. This shift is expected to accelerate NOAA’s progress in understanding climate impacts on weather patterns.
“We can’t overstate how AI is reshaping everything,” Estep emphasized. “By integrating AI into weather resiliency efforts, we’re creating a competitive edge for the region. The research, development, and investment surrounding this technology are substantial, and I believe we’re in a prime position to capitalize on it. If we can fully embrace this opportunity, the impact could be transformative.”
For years, Estep and the West Virginia High Technology Foundation have worked to upgrade the I-79 High Tech Park’s infrastructure to attract investments like NOAA’s. With these efforts now yielding results, he envisions North Central West Virginia emerging as a knowledge-sector powerhouse, particularly with continued state support.
“Every major step forward is built on a solid foundation,” Estep said. “When a leading agency like NOAA chooses Fairmont as the site for cutting-edge technology to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, it signals that we’ve created something truly valuable for our nation and the world.”
Rhea is expected to be installed at NOAA’s Fairmont facility within a year, with additional technological advancements likely to follow in the coming years.
“We’re actively working on building an innovation ecosystem around this development,” Estep added. “I anticipate seeing tangible progress by mid-2026. While growth will be gradual, I’m hopeful we’ll start to see meaningful advancements take shape soon.”
