One Year After HB 2014: Data Center Development in West Virginia Faces Environmental and Transparency Challenges
One year post-HB 2014, West Virginia's data center development has reduced local regulatory control, impacting environmental protections. The law allows developers to bypass public transparency requirements, raising concerns among residents.

One year after the enactment of House Bill 2014, West Virginia has seen significant changes in data center development, particularly in Mason and Putnam counties. This law has eliminated local zoning authority, enabling faster project approvals while limiting environmental safeguards and public access to project information.
The Point Pleasant data center project is notable for its three buildings and nearly 1,000 natural gas and diesel engines. The reduction in local control may pose risks to community interests and environmental standards, as out-of-state developers capitalize on the pro-data center regulatory environment.

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