West Virginia now has a certified microgrid program.
At a bill signing ceremony in Point Pleasant on Wednesday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act, into law.
It expands the number of small electrical grids, or microgrids, allowed in the state – a move designed to attract Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies that need massive amounts of energy.
“West Virginia is America’s energy state, and this law is going to demonstrate to the whole country, that we are ready for action,” Morrisey said. “We’re going to be leveraging our natural resources in a way you’ve never seen before, and it’s going to lead to the betterment of our citizens, higher standards of living, more take home pay, broader educational attainment, and West Virginia will be better positioned to compete compared to all the states that we touch.”
Supporters say the new law will bring both jobs and economic development.
“When it comes to time to build, West Virginia is going to be out in front and faster than every state in America. So if you’re thinking about a data center, got to look at West Virginia. Come while the getting is good,” Morrisey said to applause.
The bill signing ceremony took place near the future Fidelis Monarch AI Data Center Campus – a development project the new law is designed to attract.
Morrisey also signed House Bill 2002 which creates a One-Stop Shop permitting program for doing business in West Virginia. The two bills, he said, are designed to work together and will spur advanced manufacturing, data engineering and good-paying vo-tech jobs.
“When Fidelis begins, it’s going to be a haven for how many electrician jobs? A lot. And these are jobs that’ll last 15, 20 years. You can make a career off them. These are jobs that pay really good wages. West Virginia is going to be America’s factory for vo-tech,” Morrisey said.