Capito urges early community engagement from data centers

Senator Shelley Moore Capito has emphasized the critical need for early and strong community engagement from data center companies planning to operate in West Virginia. Her comments follow the passage of a state bill designed to attract data centers by allowing them to develop their own microgrids, which sparked numerous proposals across the state. Concerns have been particularly heightened by the recent announcement of a Google data center slated for Buffalo in Putnam County. Residents have voiced worries about potential water pollution, citing that large data centers can consume vast amounts of water, comparable to a small town. Capito addressed these fears, stating that data centers building their own power sources should not strain the existing grid and might even generate excess power. Regarding water, she highlighted Google's commitment to replenish and clean any water taken from the Ohio River for its Putnam County facility. Community members are planning a public meeting at the Buffalo town hall to share their concerns about the Google project.