WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito says she’s seen some encouraging signs in recent weeks concerning companies hoping to develop data centers in West Virginia.
Capito, answering a question during her Thursday media call with West Virginia reporters, it’s important for the developers to begin a conversation with the local community.
“I think that we have to absolutely make sure that the interplay between the local community and whoever the entities are with the data center have early and strong engagement,” Capito said.
She cited recent reports of data centers planning to produce their own power and putting it onto the electric grid.
“In other words, they are going to build their own power resources. So, the first fear was, ‘How is this going to impact my power?’ I think the answer to that it won’t impact and may actually improve the situation because there will be excess power created in those data centers,” Capito said.
Capito said she’s also pleased with what she’s heard about Google’s plans for a data center in Putnam County when it comes to water.
“They’ve guaranteed that whatever they take out of the Ohio (River) they are going to replenish that water in the same amounts and more and they are going to clean it at the same time,” Capito said.
Several residents expressed concern about the Google plans earlier this week at the Putnam County Commission meeting.
Heather Ransom, who said she was raised nearby Buffalo in Pliny, mentioned concerns about water quality.
“We are already afraid to drink the water, we have already been poisoned by C8 from growing up in Pliny,” Ransom said. “This is only going to make it worse. It is because we are afraid of breathing the air, it’s because of the trucks that are going to be going past these data centers, the light pollution, the soundscape, all of that.”
Capito said communication with residents is the key.
“Early engagement, I think truth-telling is very important. I think you see wild accusations of what the downside could be on something like this and I think transparency is the word that needs to go to communities and I think community members should be heard,” Capito said. “I think they need to be heard early to remedy this situation and be part of the solution.”
Capito said Thursday she doesn’t believe data centers will create a lot of jobs but they will create a lot of tax revenue.
“The property tax aspects can be used to build new schools and senior centers, improved roads and improved water systems,” Capito said.