Public comment targets noise and water fears over proposed Putnam data centers
Residents of Putnam County, West Virginia, voiced concerns about noise and water pollution from proposed data centers during a County Commission meeting. They advocated for a moratorium on new data center development, despite a state law (House Bill 2014) that limits local regulatory power. Google has purchased land in the Buffalo area for a potential data center.
Putnam County residents expressed significant concerns about noise, water pollution, and a lack of transparency regarding proposed data center developments during a recent two-hour public comment session at the Putnam County Commission meeting in Winfield, West Virginia. Residents, including Christopher Potts, voiced desires for the commission to enact a moratorium on new data centers to allow for studies into their environmental and health impacts. Michael Mosteller highlighted that the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 2014, which he claimed strips local and county governments of their ability to regulate data centers, including noise ordinances. He suggested the bill's constitutionality could be challenged.
The discussion comes after Google's purchase of approximately 1,700 acres in the Buffalo area of Putnam County for a potential data center site. Governor Patrick Morrisey noted that Google plans to cover 100% of the facility's electricity usage and aims to replenish more water than it consumes by 2030. Despite these assurances, residents like Potts, whose property is across the river from the proposed Google site, remain worried about the environmental and ecological effects.
The Putnam County Commission indicated during the meeting that even without House Bill 2014, it would still lack the authority to prevent data centers from establishing in the area, leaving many residents with unanswered questions and ongoing concerns about future development.