Putnam County Commission confident in data center resolution; resident group “appreciative” of concerns addressed
The Putnam County Commission unanimously approved a resolution establishing requirements for hyperscale data centers, including water-feasibility studies, pollution safeguards, and developer-funded infrastructure upgrades. The resolution follows months of resident opposition and concerns about Google’s planned data center in Buffalo, although the resident group Putnam United said the measure was a positive step but did not give communities enough control over siting decisions.
The Putnam County Commission in West Virginia unanimously approved a resolution governing future hyperscale data centers after months of discussions with residents following Google’s announcement of plans to build a facility in Buffalo. The resolution requires water-feasibility studies, safeguards addressing sound and light pollution, and developers to cover the full cost of related water, sewer and power upgrades. It also calls for community input and requires developers to follow county rules despite the state’s Power Generation and Consumption Act.
Commission President Andy Skidmore said Google has worked with county officials and is complying with the resolution, while praising the company’s transparency and efforts to address construction impacts. Putnam United spokesperson Heather Ransom said the group appreciated provisions on water studies and infrastructure costs but remained concerned about the project’s power and water sources, grid impacts, and the community’s limited ability to decide whether a data center is built near residents’ homes.