Stubblefield Institute hosts public forum on West Virginia data center development

The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, hosted a public forum on March 31 titled "Data Centers in our Backyard – Jobs, Infrastructure, and Community Impact." Organized by The Stubblefield Institute, the event brought together local leaders, industry experts, and community members to discuss the economic and environmental implications of the state's burgeoning data center development. Key concerns raised during the forum included the substantial energy and water consumption associated with data centers, as well as a perceived lack of local control over large-scale industrial projects. Chris Morris, director of the Data Economy Office at the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, expressed interest in forming an advisory group comprising government, industry, and community stakeholders to develop a structured application and review process for future data center initiatives. The discussion highlighted varying data center needs across different regions of West Virginia, specifically differentiating between proposed projects in Tucker County and those in the Eastern Panhandle's Jefferson and Berkeley counties. A recurring theme was the tension between state-driven industrial growth and the demand for greater local community input and oversight. Dr. Bill Stubblefield, a co-founder of the institute, lauded the forum's success in fostering a civil and productive dialogue. He specifically recognized Jefferson County Commissioner Cara Keys and Dr. Amy Margolies of Tucker United for articulating community concerns, and noted the receptiveness of Dado Slezak, executive vice president of utility innovation at QTS, to integrating local feedback into industry plans.