Berkeley County comes out in force against planned Bedington data center

A public meeting in Spring Mills, West Virginia, drew over 400 residents who vehemently opposed a proposed 600-megawatt data center campus in the Bedington area of Berkeley County. The project, announced by Governor Patrick Morrisey, is a $4 billion development by Penzance Management, planned for 548 acres near Bedington Road and a new Potomac Edison electrical substation. It is the first "high-impact" data center designated under House Bill 2014, a state law passed last year that allows such projects to bypass local zoning regulations, with tax proceeds distributed to reduce state personal income tax (50%), the host county (30%), and statewide (20%). Berkeley County Commissioners Eddie Gochenour and John Hardy, who learned of the project days before its public announcement, explained that House Bill 2014 removed local control over the development. They stated they had previously advocated against the bill in Charleston, warning Governor Morrisey and his staff about its potential negative impact on communities. Despite their intention to gather resident concerns for state officials and developers, the forum quickly became a platform for frustration and demands for answers, many of which the commissioners could not provide. Residents expressed wide-ranging concerns, including the project's effects on water usage, electrical demand, traffic, noise, air quality, and the cost of infrastructure improvements. Longtime resident Joanna Gregory questioned the impact on local wells, while David Pallente worried about obsolete buildings. Brooke Gibson reflected the sentiment that the project was not beneficial for Berkeley County. Criticism also targeted state leadership and the legislative process, with some residents alleging House Bill 2014 violated the state constitution and calling for legal action to challenge the law. Attendees were frustrated that Governor Morrisey had not addressed their concerns locally. The meeting concluded with many questions unanswered, highlighting the deep uncertainty and the feeling among residents that key decisions are made beyond local influence, with the project's scale matched by a lack of local oversight.