Details scarce, advocate concerns many on Google's Putnam County data center plans

On March 24, 2026, Google submitted an application to the state of West Virginia seeking "High-Impact" data center certification for a planned project in Putnam County. This certification, if granted, would exempt the data center from numerous local regulations. Just 72 hours later, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that Google had not only secured land in Putnam County but also received state approval for the multibillion-dollar development. Governor Morrisey championed the rapid approval as "speed to power," emphasizing the state's initiative to attract data center development to bolster artificial intelligence infrastructure, which he views as crucial for global competitiveness. The property designated for the Google data center is situated along Charleston Road, north of Buffalo, within Putnam County. While the governor lauded the swift process, community and environmental advocates have expressed concerns that this accelerated approach may leave local populations without sufficient power to influence such large-scale developments.