Statehouse beat: Data centers and the final decimation of West Virginia

The Charleston Gazette-Mail's Phil Kabler expresses deep concern over what he views as the "final decimation of West Virginia" through the state government's aggressive promotion of data center development. Governor Patrick Morrisey and the Republican legislative supermajority have enacted legislation designed to fast-track data center projects, overriding local government's ability to regulate or restrict locations and keeping project information confidential. This stance contrasts sharply with other states and localities that are imposing moratoriums or bans due to concerns about pollution, water consumption, escalating utility bills, and community impact. Further ethical questions have emerged surrounding House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, who, after shepherding the pro-data center legislation through the House of Delegates, is privately representing two data center developers, MGS CNP 1, LLC and Fundamental Data. Hanshaw is defending these companies against community and environmental groups challenging state air quality permits. Critics, including Kabler, suggest a conflict of interest, especially given Hanshaw's active campaigning for Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Dan Greear, who served as Hanshaw's chief counsel and will likely hear future legal challenges to data center projects. Kabler highlights that bills aimed at imposing limits on water usage, increasing transparency, restoring local control, and creating buffer zones for data centers failed to advance this legislative session. He predicts that the state's aggressive push for data centers will lead to a "boom and bust cycle" similar to coal, leaving communities exploited and abandoned once the profitability for out-of-state operators diminishes. This controversial legislative approach and the ethical implications are fueling fears of widespread negative consequences for West Virginia residents.