Morrisey unveils 20-Year Responsible Data Center Development Plan
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and legislative leaders unveiled a new 20-year plan for responsible data center development across the state. The plan, built on the recently passed House Bill 2014, aims to attract investment while ensuring environmental protection, grid stability, and local input. It also includes tax relief measures and mandates developers cover their own energy and infrastructure costs.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, alongside Senate President Randy Smith and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, announced a new 20-year Responsible Data Center Development Plan for the state. Unveiled at a joint press conference with the West Virginia Department of Commerce, the initiative seeks to proactively guide large-scale data center growth over the next two decades.
The framework is based on House Bill 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act, which now grants the state authority to oversee and set standards for hyperscale data centers. This legislation empowers counties, many of which previously lacked the means to approve or reject large data center projects, with new regulatory capabilities. Key components of the plan include comprehensive state planning managed by the Data Economy Office, requiring developers to demonstrate financial resources before approval, and significant tax relief measures diverting half of certified project revenue to reduce the State Personal Income Tax.
Additional provisions ensure that utility customers will not bear the cost of data center energy and infrastructure, with developers mandated to pay for their own. The plan also emphasizes environmental protections, maintaining existing water and environmental regulations while encouraging efficient cooling technologies. Local input is secured through a Data Center Advisory Council, which will establish standards for noise, setbacks, site security, and proximity to sensitive areas. Furthermore, data centers must operate within existing power grid frameworks and reduce consumption during peak demand periods to maintain grid stability and support national security.