West Virginia is reworking its microgrids and data center law after realizing the fast‑track incentives overrode local zoning, noise, and siting rules.
The original bill, pitched as a top economic development tool by the governor, effectively stripped municipalities of legal authority over where and how data centers are built.
New bills aim to restore local control and add transparency requirements, especially around how much water data centers use and where it comes from.
Legislators are now explicitly weighing the impact of high‑density compute and cooling loads on groundwater, small streams, and nearby communities, not just tax revenue.
For AI infrastructure operators, this signals that water‑intensive GPU data centers in West Virginia will face tighter siting, reporting, and community engagement requirements.
Developers should expect more scrutiny on cooling design, water sourcing, and noise profiles, particularly outside major river corridors.
The article is worth a read for anyone planning AI or HPC builds in emerging “pro‑data center” states that may be rebalancing incentives with local control.
Source: Delegate says upcoming session will include new data center bills – WV MetroNews
