What was said about data centers in West Virginia
48 statements from 26 speakers, grouped by who spoke. Each appears as said, with the date and the source. No verdict is attached.
From August 11, 2026 to September 26, 2026. Statements from every state are on Statements.
Data center companies 2
Developers, operators and builders of data centers and the technology companies that fill them, speaking through their staff and spokespeople. Every state.
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Anthropic discovered five cases in recent months in which scientists in unspecified foreign nations used Anthropic models to study dangerous pathogens
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Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon stated AI could kill all humans by end of decade
Government 26
Officials in office, lawmakers, regulators, public agencies and courts, federal, state, tribal and local. Every state.
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R-W.Va.
Senator Jim Justice announced at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Summit that we have nothing to worry about when it comes to data centers.
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Vice Chair, House Energy and Public Works Committee
Del. Mark Zatezalo noted that a data center in McDowell County could bring in substantial revenue but water supply in the area may not support it.
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Director of West Virginia's Office of Energy
Preservati stated that water issues in West Virginia are primarily a quality issue, not a quantity issue, and that data centers can be utilized to improve quality.
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R-Hanocock, Vice Chair of House Energy and Public Works Committee
Representative Mark Zatezalo asked about water impacts of a proposed power plant and data center in Mingo County, raising concerns about water supply availability.
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West Virginia Office of Energy director
Preservati said data centers in West Virginia will use a closed loop system that will not use a tremendous amount of water, and could generate tens of millions of dollars every year in tax revenue for counties to upgrade water infrastructure.
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West Virginia Office of Energy director
Nicholas Preservati, director of West Virginia's Office of Energy, told lawmakers at the Joint Committee on Energy and Public Works that data centers can improve water quality and generate revenue for water infrastructure in southern coalfields.
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Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia Governor, has argued data centers are an opportunity to help the U.S. win an AI race against China
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Rick Handley, Mason County Commission President, says county officials have no control over when and where data centers come
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West Virginia Department of Commerce (via Governor's plan)
Department of Commerce will engage directly with local leadership to align private sector investments with municipal needs
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Governor
Gov. Patrick Morrisey unveiled a 20 year plan for data center development in West Virginia with collaboration and local community involvement as pillars
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Senator, R-W.Va.
Sen. Jim Justice stated data center developers need to take care of the environment, water, electricity bills and noise
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Governor
Gov. Patrick Morrisey highlights economic development with hyperscale data centers
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Patrick Morrisey, Governor of West Virginia
One project is to be developed by Nscale, a United Kingdom headquartered artificial intelligence infrastructure firm.
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West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack issued a report showing data centers will be taxed at much lower rates than their actual value.
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Patrick Morrisey, Governor of West Virginia
One project is to be developed by Starwood Digital Ventures, a data center investment platform of Starwood Capital Group.
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West Virginia Governor
Governor Morrisey announced plans to triple West Virginia's electric production by mid century to support AI data centers
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West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced plan to dedicate 50% of revenue from approved hyperscale data center projects to reducing and eliminating state personal income tax
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Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia Governor
West Virginia plan directs 30% of data center revenue to counties for schools and local government, 10% to all 55 counties, and 10% to infrastructure upgrades
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West Virginia House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle said law should be amended to allow some local control over data center development
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West Virginia Department of Commerce
Before the law passed, more than 50 West Virginia counties had no way to approve, reject, or place conditions on large data center projects
Candidates and campaigns 2
People running for office, their campaigns and their parties. A candidate who does not hold the office is not an official. Every state.
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Ace Parsi, congressional candidate, West Virginia District 2
Proposed moratorium would impose fine of up to $1 million per day for developers breaking the pause
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congressional candidate, West Virginia District 2
Ace Parsi proposes Neighbors, Not Servers Act establishing two year moratorium on data centres using 20 megawatts or more
Advocates and residents 11
Advocacy and community groups on every side, residents, neighbors and people speaking at public meetings. Every state.
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West Virginia Rivers Coalition policy specialist
Maria Russo, policy specialist at West Virginia Rivers Coalition, said data center projects can create significant challenges and risks for water quality, water quantity and flooding, citing issues in Mason County.
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Environmental Protection Network report found unprecedented electricity demand for AI data centers carries risks to Americans' health
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West Virginia Data Center Accountability Project formed to oppose unchecked expansion of data centers
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Amanda McWhorter, Ohio County resident
Residents frustrated over lack of communication from Wheeling city officials on data center project
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President, West Virginia State Conference of the NAACP
Loretta Young stated that local chapters in West Virginia and across the nation are worried about how data center projects could affect the cost of utilities for families, noting water and sewer bills in West Virginia are already among the highest in the country and electricity bills have been increasing due to higher demands on the power grid.
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Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health and National Resources Defense Council
Hyperscale data centers drive substantial demand for fossil fuel fired power and resulting greenhouse gas emissions that worsen air quality and raise health costs
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interim executive director, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
Olivia Miller stated concerns that permit was redacted preventing public meaningful opportunity to review or critique it.
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Tucker United, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Sierra Club
Environmental groups argue state Department of Environmental Protection wrongly classified the massive facility as a minor pollution source.
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climate and energy program manager, West Virginia Citizen Action Group
Morgan King of West Virginia Citizen Action Group expressed grave concerns about air pollutants from the natural gas plant and generators
Researchers and analysts 2
Universities, research institutes, think tanks, pollsters, economists and consultants. Every state.
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founder of Live and Carnegie Mellon University professor
Po Shen Loh is founder of Live and a Carnegie Mellon University professor
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A September 2026 poll by Associated General Contractors of America and National Center for Construction Education and Research found more than four in ten contractors said labor shortages had delayed a project, and over half of those who worked a data center job said it increased competition for workers
Other voices 5
Journalists, lawyers, former officials, and speakers the source describes in words that name none of the groups above. Every state.
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Representative, West Virginia District 2
Rep. Riley Moore cosponsored Ratepayer Protection Act requiring state utility commissions ensure data centres pay full incremental costs for upgrades
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guest columnist
Allen advocates for repealing HB 2011 and codifying requirements that data centers report on environmental impact, local hiring, and water and electricity use
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guest columnist
Kelly Allen argues West Virginia should eliminate all tax breaks for data centers to ensure the state sees real benefit and retain local community control
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Morrisey has a data center plan that includes local involvement
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Donald Beightol
West Virginia elected officials wondering why tax and regulatory advantaged push for economic development through data centers has hit severe roadblocks in certain locations
The group comes from the words the source gives for the speaker; how the groups are read. Every statement on the record is in CSV and JSON, with its group and its state.
