Residents want 'meaningful voice,' share data center concerns with Putnam commissioners
Putnam County residents, organized as Putnam United, presented a resolution to county commissioners seeking a "meaningful voice" regarding hyperscale data center development, specifically a Google project in the area. Residents expressed concerns about environmental and health impacts, while commissioners stated that state law (House Bill 2014) limits their local authority to regulate data centers. The commission plans to consider the resolution and work with legislators for greater accountability.
Residents of Putnam County, West Virginia, voiced strong concerns about hyperscale data center development, particularly a Google project, during a recent Putnam County Commission meeting in Winfield. The group Putnam United, led by organizer Jessica Lacy, presented a resolution urging commissioners to ensure residents have a "meaningful voice" in decisions affecting the county's future, citing issues with transparency, public participation, and potential environmental and health impacts.
Commission President Andy Skidmore acknowledged residents' concerns but stated that West Virginia's House Bill 2014, known as the Power Generation and Consumption Act (passed in 2025), has stripped local commissions of the authority to regulate or deny data center projects, including zoning and permitting. Skidmore encouraged residents to direct their passion toward the state Legislature to seek changes to the law. He noted that Google's data center site was chosen due to its proximity to a 756-kilovolt transmission line and is intended to be a closed-loop system, not drawing from the local grid.
Despite the commission's limited power, Skidmore confirmed that Google is proceeding with permitting requests through the Putnam County Planning Commission, and information will be publicly available as part of that process. He also mentioned an issue with a comment submission form on the buffalowvdatacenter.com website, managed by Google, which has since been addressed. Putnam County Development Authority Executive Director Morganne Tenney stated that Google is adhering to federal and state guidelines and has been receptive to local feedback, aiming to be a good corporate partner.