West Virginia Governor Outlines Plan to Attract Data Centers While Expanding Energy Capacity
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey discussed the state’s effort to attract data centers while expanding energy production and protecting residents from higher electricity costs. He said the state will emphasize closed-loop water systems and environmental safeguards as it seeks to increase generating capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey told Fox Business that the state is promoting what he called responsible data center development as it seeks to become a hyperscale technology hub. He said West Virginia wants to avoid shifting costs to households, require or encourage closed-circuit water systems, and protect the environment while supporting consumer, manufacturing and data center demand.
Morrisey said the state aims to expand energy capacity from roughly 15 gigawatts to 50 gigawatts by 2050, citing nearly 10 gigawatts of announcements in the past year and another 10 gigawatts in the pipeline. He also discussed an executive order intended to reduce diesel prices and a settlement involving Meta, but those topics were separate from the data center discussion.