Data Centers in West Virginia

West Virginia state officials are actively courting technology companies to build large-scale data centers across the state as part of an economic development strategy. There are currently 8 data centers, additional projects have been publicly proposed, and state leaders have signaled interest in attracting many more. These projects are being promoted as economic opportunities, but they raise significant environmental, public health, and local governance concerns.

Data centers are industrial facilities that house vast numbers of computers used to process and store digital information. As demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence grows, so does the need for electricity and water to operate and cool these facilities. In response, many proposed projects in West Virginia include privately operated, off-grid power plants—often fueled by natural gas—built specifically to supply energy to data centers. This has led to proposals for new power generation facilities that are not connected to the existing electric grid.

In 2025, state lawmakers passed the Power Generation and Consumption Act to encourage data center development. The law limits local and county authority over these projects by exempting them from zoning, noise, lighting, and land-use regulations. It also redirects most tax revenue generated by data centers to state funds, leaving host counties with a reduced share. Local officials have raised concerns about lost revenue, diminished oversight, and the long-term impacts on their communities.

Proposed data center projects are located in multiple regions of the state, including Tucker, Mingo, Mason, Jefferson, and Berkeley counties. In some communities, residents have already organized in opposition, citing concerns about water consumption, air pollution, noise, and the lack of transparency from developers. Data centers can use millions of gallons of water per day, consume large amounts of electricity, and generate continuous noise from cooling systems and backup generators. When powered by fossil fuels, they also introduce new sources of air pollution.

Many key questions remain unanswered, including where water supplies will come from, how many facilities each site will ultimately host, and how long-term environmental and public health risks will be managed. Limited public disclosure, heavily redacted permit applications, and reduced local authority have further heightened concern among affected communities.