CHARLESTON, W.Va.– West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is calling on lawmakers to approve legislation aimed at making West Virginia more attractive for data center development. Flanked by House Speaker Roger Hanshaw and Senate President Randy Smith, the Governor on Tuesday said the Power Generation and Consumption Act would clear the way for West Virginia to again power the nation.
“I think it’s a once in a generation opportunity for West Virginia to power the future of data and help America compete with China on an international level. This is about our national security and West Virginia will lead the way,” said Morrisey during an afternoon press conference.
The data centers need extraordinary power. The Governor indicated the facilities could use five or six times the electricity normal manufacturing required. The facilities use micro-grids to generate the power which is a power source separate for the normal electrical grid. But currently state code places limits on micro-grids. Only two are authorized under West Virginia law and those must be powered by renewable energy. Morrisey’s legislation calls for those restrictions and others to be removed.
“It allows these new micro-grids to burn coal, gas, and all types of energy resources rather than just being limited to certain types of renewables,” he said.
According to the Administration’s release the legislation would carry the following authorizations for development of micro-grids:
- –Allows any plant or facility to participate in the business expansion development program.
- –Removes the requirement that microgrid development districts be located on certain lands.
- –Eliminates the requirement that electrical service to business development districts be generated from renewable sources.
- –Regulates the production of electricity within microgrid districts to foster new energy production while protecting longstanding utilities.
- –Provides for the certification and regulation of high impact data centers.
- –Reapportions tax revenue to reinvest in West Virginia.
- –Establishes the Electronic Grid Stabilization and Security Fund.
- –Establishes the Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund.
- –Requires the Public Service Commission to take steps to future-proof West Virginia’s grid.
“Right now we have a lot of data centers knocking on our doors and they’re anxious to come to West Virginia and start using our natural resources as a main source of power. Under our proposal, we’re going to make it easier for these data centers to do that,” said Morrisey.