West Virginia data center boom draws criticism over costs, resources

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced a $4 billion private investment to establish eight data centers throughout the state. This initiative, facilitated by a 2023 state law, aims to position West Virginia as a leading location for data center development, with a commitment that 30% of the funds will benefit the host counties and ensure benefits for consumers. Despite the Governor's assurances, the plan is facing considerable opposition from residents and critics. Concerns are primarily centered on the potential environmental and economic impacts, including significant daily water consumption, estimated at 1 to 5 million gallons per data center, and the limited number of jobs each facility is expected to create, often fewer than a dozen. A key point of contention is the projected rise in electricity costs. Although Governor Morrisey states the law prevents these costs from being passed to consumers, a Carnegie Mellon report anticipates electricity prices in communities near data centers could increase by nearly 25% by 2030. The report also projects an average 8% increase in electricity bills nationwide due to the overall growth of data centers. Governor Morrisey has indicated he is engaging with community feedback regarding these developments.