Tax analysis report released for two high-profile data center projects in West Virginia

West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack has released a tax analysis report focusing on two significant data center projects in the state, aiming to clarify their expected tax contributions. The report details the financial impact of a Penzance Management project in Berkeley County and a Google project in Putnam County.

According to the analysis, these two projects combined are projected to generate over $100 million in annual tax income. Specifically, the Berkeley County project is estimated to contribute around $60 million annually in property taxes, while the Putnam County project is expected to generate approximately $40 million. Treasurer Pack emphasized the importance of transparency for communities to understand the financial implications, especially following the passage of House Bill 2014, or the Power Generation and Consumption Act of 2025, which alters the standard allocation of taxable property income for high-impact data centers.

The report indicates that the Berkeley County Commission is expected to receive $10.5 million annually, and the Putnam County Commission $8.3 million. School districts in these areas are projected to gain $28.3 million and $17.4 million, respectively. Additionally, the Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund would receive over $27.9 million, with other counties sharing $5.6 million. Pack stressed that as more data centers are considered, it's crucial to ensure benefits outweigh drawbacks and that West Virginia citizens' needs remain central to discussions.