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West Virginia Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across West Virginia — updated daily.
Recent West Virginia data center news
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Data center capacity soaring, along with investment and land use
The report from Wood Mackenzie revealed that U.S. data centers exceeded 92 GW of capacity by the end of 2024, with a monthly addition of 7 GW in the fourth quarter. Virginia and Texas are leading markets. Meta committed to 100% renewable energy usage with the construction of the 505 MWdc Hanson solar facility. Amazon secured capacity for the 100 MW Ragsdale Solar Park in Mississippi, part of the burgeoning infrastructure in data centers associated with growing electricity demand and AI workloads.
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Long-Term Load Forecast Update | Data Centers Lead the Way
Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR) updated its long-term load forecast, now predicting a 30% increase in U.S. power demand by 2050. This is a revision from the previous estimate of 39%. The report highlights that the reshoring trend will contribute less than 3% to average load growth, while forecasts for data centers show an average load increase of 41 GW through 2035. Key regions identified for load growth are ERCOT Far West, PJM Dominion, with factors such as oil field electrification and the expansion of data centers driving demand.
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Data center capacity is soaring, along with investment and land use
Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google have significantly increased their electricity demand with the rise of data centers amid AI adoption. Meta signed an agreement with Cypress Creek Renewables for a 505 MWdc solar facility in Texas. They aim to match 100% of electricity needs with renewable sources. The average data center size grew over 23% from 2023 to 2024, indicating a shift towards larger AI-driven workloads. Notably, 13 projects exceed $4 billion in costs, contributing to overall capex of $195 billion, with major markets in Virginia and Texas.
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Diversified Energy, FuelCell Energy, and TESIAC Collaborate to Form an Acquisition and Development Company to Leverage Coal Mine Methane and Natural Gas for Off-Grid Data Center Power Projects
The United States-based Diversified Energy, FuelCell Energy, and TESIAC announced a partnership targeting data center energy needs by leveraging coal mine methane (CMM) and natural gas to provide as much as 360 megawatts of electricity across Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This initiative aims to develop an Acquisition and Development Company focused on delivering reliable, net-zero power generation solutions. The partnership emphasizes fast deployment and economic growth, while aiming for a reduction in carbon emissions through efficient energy generation methods. The strategy anticipates the creation of numerous jobs and supports the growth of sustainable energy infrastructure.
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Diversified Energy, FuelCell Energy, and TESIAC Collaborate to Form an Acquisition and Development Company to Leverage Coal Mine Methane and Natural Gas for Off-Grid Data Center Power Projects
US-based Diversified Energy, FuelCell Energy, and TESIAC have entered into a strategic partnership to create an Acquisition and Development Company focused on delivering reliable, cost-efficient, net-zero power from natural gas and captured coal mine methane (CMM) to data centers. The collaboration aims to supply up to 360 megawatts of electricity to data centers across Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This innovative approach leverages in-basin natural gas production and advanced fuel cell technology to generate on-site, continuous power, enhancing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions while supporting local economic growth.
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Forging sustainable steel and more: A talk with Nucor CEO Leon Topalian
US-based Nucor Steel has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable steel production by utilizing electric arc furnaces and recycling over 20 million metric tons of steel annually. The company announced a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and has partnered with ExxonMobil for a carbon capture and storage initiative that aims to significantly reduce the embedded carbon of its products. Nucor is also investing in advanced nuclear technologies and collaborating with tech giants like Google and Microsoft to explore new energy solutions.
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Indiana Michigan Power Receives Order in Large Load Settlement
US-based Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) received an order from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission regarding its large load tariff settlement filed in 2024. This settlement includes commitments from large load customers, such as data centers and industrial clients, to ensure their energy needs are met while also maintaining affordable rates for existing customers. The agreement reflects the energy demands stemming from significant investments in local data center projects by companies like Amazon Web Services and Google, totaling over $13 billion.
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Energy Transfer Will Provide Natural Gas to Texas Data Center Project
Texas-based Energy Transfer has entered into a long-term agreement with Colorado-based CloudBurst Data Centers to supply up to 450,000 MMBtu per day of natural gas for a data center development in Texas. This supply is projected to generate approximately 1.2 GW of electric power for at least ten years. The deal marks Energy Transfer’s first commercial arrangement to directly supply natural gas to a data center, reflecting the rising demand for natural gas in the energy-intensive data center sector.
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Watt’s New: January 2025
US-based Powin has highlighted its commitment to creating a smarter and cleaner energy grid through various initiatives. The company emphasizes ethical sourcing and a sustainable supply chain as part of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. In partnership with BHE Renewables, Powin is developing one of the world’s largest solar and storage microgrids in Ravenswood, West Virginia, featuring a 106 MW solar array combined with their 50 MW Centipede™ Stack800 energy storage system. Additionally, they are dedicated to responsible battery recycling to support a cleaner energy future.
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MHI Group Presents "Best Innovation 2024" Awards for Products and Activities that Contribute to Solving Social Issues
Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) awarded its “Best Innovation 2024” awards to 21 products and technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact. Notable innovations include a retrofitting service for gas turbines to enable hydrogen mixed combustion, and the development of large-capacity centrifugal chillers utilizing refrigerants with an extremely low environmental impact. Projects like high-efficiency biomass power plants and CO2 capturing ammonia production plants in Bangladesh further contribute to a sustainable society, targeting a reduction of CO2 emissions by approximately 2 million tons annually across these initiatives.