Shepherd University Hosts Panel On Effects Of Data Centers

West Virginians wondering about the rapid expansion of data center projects in the state can get some answers.  

The Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communication at Shepherd University is hosting the panel discussion “Data Centers in our Backyard – Jobs, Infrastructure, and Community Impact” Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. 

The discussion aims to highlight diverse perspectives on West Virginia data center construction to help the public better understand community and statewide impacts. Steve Pearson, editor of The Observer Weekly, will moderate the discussion. 

The panelists are: 

• Cara Keys, Jefferson County Commissioner and commercial real estate appraiser 

• Amy Margolies, executive director of grassroots coalition Tucker United 

• Chris Morris, state data economy liaison and director of the Data Economy Office of the Department of Economic Development 

• Dado Slezak, executive vice president of utility innovation for QTS Data Centers 

MetroNews TV will broadcast the discussion on air, on radio and online via YouTube. 

Data center development has accelerated across the country in recent years. The West Virginia Legislature and Gov. Patrick Morrisey have focused on data center development as a unique opportunity to drive economic growth and bring high-skilled jobs to the state. 

The passage of House Bill 2014 last year created the Certified Microgrid Program to allow data centers to establish microgrids — self-contained sites that generate their own power. 

Projects in Tucker, Mingo and Mason counties have already started receiving state permits for construction. More recently, Morrisey announced investments from Penzance Management for a data center in Berkeley County and from Google for a data center in Putnam County. 

A transmission line project approved by regional transmission operator PJM is awaiting state regulatory approval to connect data centers in northern Virginia to power plants in Pennsylvania through four counties in northern West Virginia.