PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. –Google launched a new platform Wednesday as part of its efforts to support the development of a data center in Putnam County near Buffalo.
The data center project was announced in late March when Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Google had purchased 1,700 acres on both sides of Route 62.
Putnam County Development Authority Executive Director Morganne Tenney appeared on MetroNews Midday on Wednesday to discuss the new platform and the data center project as a whole.
“We’ve been working on this for quite some time, they approached me about transparency and how they could get connected to the community,” Tenney said. “This is not uncommon for Google; they typically do this in different locations that they have around the country in order to engage at the local level.”
In April, Putnam County residents addressed the commission about concerns surrounding the data center, including its potential impacts. Residents also said Google has not been transparent enough.
Tenney said she has heard concerns about the environmental and utility costs.
She explained that the platform addresses what a data center is, what is inside it, how it could help energy affordability and reliability, and shares Google’s commitment to clean energy and water replenishment. It also includes information on job and workforce development, local sentiment regarding the site and Buffalo, and the company’s proposed site plan.
Tenney said the platform shows that Google wants to educate the community but also hear from residents.
“That’s really why Google wants to make sure they’re being a good partner and they’re coming forth, listening to what people have concerns about, because it’s different in every location that they enter, and also try to answer any questions that people in the community have,” she said.
She also said that including the proposed site plans on the website is something new for Google.
Tenney said the company typically releases those plans after all permits are secured and groundbreaking begins.
She said they want to be transparent with the public about those plans.
“There just being as transparent as possible and saying here’s a conceptual plan on what we’re looking at, and I’ve never seen another industry do that, especially ahead of permitting and groundbreaking,” Tenney said.
She said that while the plans have only now been released to the public, the company has been open and transparent with Putnam County leaders since the day it acquired the land in Buffalo.
Tenney said she believes this is part of the company’s culture.
“They have from day one have been open and receptive with the interactions they’ve had with Putnam County Development Authority on local sentiment and any concerns,” she said.
You check out the website here.