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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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Episode for April 3, 2026
The Allegheny Front released a podcast episode on April 3, 2026 covering air pollution and lung cancer alongside related environmental stories.
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The episode focuses on a February report finding energy generated in Pennsylvania will power data centers both in-state and out-of-state, a new study attempting to separate smoking from lung cancer risk (with surprising results in areas with poor air quality), and includes an interview with the author of a birding guide.
- Date: April 3, 2026
- Duration: 29:49
- Format/location: Podcast episode available online (audio mp3 and streaming platforms)
- Agenda/subject: air pollution & lung cancer study; data center energy demand impacts on Pennsylvania; steel industry climate ranking; earlier allergy season; wildlife/fish kill report; birding guide interview
- The episode also reports that Nippon Steel (U.S. Steel’s new owner) scored near the bottom in a climate ranking due to increased coal usage and a recent reinvestment in coal at a U.S. Steel plant in Indiana; other segments note a fish kill in Centre County (Pine Creek) documenting dead fish, crayfish, and frogs, and that allergy season is starting earlier due to changing temperature and precipitation patterns.
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The episode focuses on a February report finding energy generated in Pennsylvania will power data centers both in-state and out-of-state, a new study attempting to separate smoking from lung cancer risk (with surprising results in areas with poor air quality), and includes an interview with the author of a birding guide.
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Panel discusses how energy demand from data centers nationwide will impact Pennsylvania
The Clean Energy Group, Clean Air Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania released a report titled “The High Cost of AI: How Data Centers are Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Energy Landscape.”
- Main finding: The report finds Pennsylvania will export electricity to surrounding PJM states to meet growing data center demand, with PJM relying on Pennsylvania to supply energy to high-demand importers like Virginia (35% of hyperscale data centers); it projects an additional 24 to 44 million metric tons of CO2 by the end of the decade and an estimated $20 billion public health burden in 2028.
- Background & local context: The report was discussed at a University of Scranton event with local officials and residents; Archbald has six proposed data center campuses under local opposition, the groups support Sen. Katie Muth’s three-year moratorium (co-sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Brown), and utilities such as PPL Electric Utilities perform system upgrade studies that can socialize costs across ratepayers.
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New Data Center Developments: April 2026
Data Center Knowledge published a monthly roundup of global data center developments and investments.
- Key highlights and announced projects: The roundup summarizes multiple announced projects and financing moves, including Moody’s projection of ~$700 billion hyperscaler capex in 2026, Crusoe’s 900 MW AI data center in Abilene, West Texas (to support Microsoft workloads), Meta’s revised $10 billion investment targeting 1 GW capacity in El Paso with a planned 2028 launch, Penzance Management’s planned $4 billion investment for a 600 MW High Impact Intelligence Center in West Virginia, Aligned Data Centers’ $2.58 billion credit facility for US expansion, Digital Edge’s $665 million green loan for phase I of a 500 MW Bekasi campus, Pure DC’s 110 MW microgrid in Dublin, Prime Data Centers’ €6 billion campus plan for 550 MW, and Datagrid’s approval for a 280 MW hyperscale campus in New Zealand.
- Context and supporting details: The article emphasizes energy and grid constraints and on-site/clean power solutions (e.g., Google + AES onsite clean energy, Concord New Energy + Bridge Data Centers barge-based hydrogen plant, Pure DC microgrid), highlights subsector partnerships (EdgeConneX + Kilimo water-efficiency program; MANTA consortium selecting MDC Data Centers for two cable landing hubs in Mexico), notes regional regulatory shifts (Australia’s new approval framework tying data center approvals to energy/resource commitments), and provides firm-level capital and timeline details where stated (e.g., Meta 2028 launch; Vietnam 200 MW AI data center construction starting end of April).
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100-hour LDES battery technologies from Form, Noon and Ore: how do they compare?
This article analyses and compares commercial 100-hour batteries from Form Energy, Ore Energy and Noon Energy.
Main action: The article compares technical and commercial metrics for three commercial 100-hour LDES systems — Form Energy, Ore Energy (both iron-air) and Noon Energy (SOFC-flow). It highlights a major deployment reference: Form Energy’s 300MW / 30GWh iron-air project announced with Google to be installed alongside 1.6GW of renewable capacity for a Minnesota data centre. Cost targets are stated (Form: US$15–20/kWh, Ore: €16 / ~US$18.50/kWh, Noon: <US$20/kWh).
Background and technical details: The article summarises RTE ranges (iron-air ~35–50%, Noon 60–80%), operating temperatures (iron-air -40°C–50°C, Noon SOFC ~600–800°C likely), and system life estimates (iron-air ~20 years; Ore assumed similar; Noon undisclosed). It collates published references (Form Energy presentations, OSTI and IOP reports, Fraunhofer analysis) and notes gaps where companies have not publicly disclosed full data.
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Morrissey Announces Massive Google Data Center Project in West Virginia
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that Google purchased land for a “multibillion-dollar High Impact Data Center Project” to be located in Putnam County.
- Main announcement:Google purchased land in Putnam County for a “multibillion-dollar High Impact Data Center Project”; Governor Morrisey said Google will cover costs for electrical, water and sewer upgrades (including water replenishment and onsite power generation) and will cover 100% of the electricity used to power the facility to avoid energy rate increases.
- Background and context:State policy and local response: West Virginia has been pursuing data center investment via legislation House Bill 2014 which redirects property taxes from data centers to a state-managed fund (with 30% returned to the host county, 10% distributed per capita to all counties, and the remaining 10% split between an economic enhancement grant fund and an electric credit stabilization fund).
- Event: Community meeting on March 20, 2026, Berkeley County (hosted by Commissioners Eddie Gochenour and John Hardy) attended by over 400 residents; agenda/concerns: water usage, traffic, noise, air quality, and approval processes for large data center projects (relating to a separate $4 billion project announced in Berkeley County).
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Episode for March 27, 2026
PennFuture has called for a moratorium on data center development in Pennsylvania until stricter laws can be passed.
- PennFuture moratorium call: PennFuture has requested a statewide moratorium on data center development in Pennsylvania citing concerns about water use, electricity prices, and increased pollution; the call seeks a pause until stricter laws can be passed.
- Related, verifiable developments: The central Pennsylvania electric utility settlement would shield average residential customers from data center-related rate increases and requires data centers to pay $11 million for low-income rate relief; the Pennsylvania DEP is considering a proposed Shell ethane cracker permit with higher emission limits; Governor Josh Shapiro is among plaintiffs suing to block the EPA repeal of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding; a Lackawanna County commissioner has proposed an air quality ordinance to address data center emissions and diesel backup generators.
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Form Energy signs 12GWh agreement to supply multi-day iron-air batteries to new US AI data centres
Form Energy has signed a 12GWh supply agreement with Crusoe for iron-air batteries, announced at CERAWeek 2026.
- Main announcement: The agreement secures 12GWh of iron-air battery capacity for Crusoe with secured volumes, pricing and delivery terms beginning in 2027; Form Energy said the batteries will be manufactured at its Form 1 factory in West Virginia.
- Background and details: The article references Form Energy’s other 2026 commitments including a 30GWh element in the Google–Xcel Energy multi-technology supply deal (enabling 100-hour dispatch of 300MW) and a planned 10MW / 1,000MWh project with FuturEnergy Ireland expected online in 2029; the Crusoe agreement is significant but prospective until first projects are underway, and questions remain about round-trip efficiency (RTE) of iron-air technology.
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Climate Change Solutions - March 24, 2026
EESI published its “Climate Change Solutions” newsletter summarizing recent analysis, events, and legislative activity related to energy grid upgrades, data center impacts, and climate information integrity.
- Main announcement: EESI highlights solutions including reconductoring to expand U.S. grid capacity, coverage of data center noise and water use issues, and a podcast on climate data integrity; the newsletter also notes EESI hosted a Rapid Readout on the repeal of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding (readout available via EESI).
- Additional details and timeline: Congressional actions noted include passage/introduction of bills: H.R.2709 (Save Our Sequoias Act) passed House, H.R.528 (Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025) passed House, reintroduction of S.4096 / H.R.7921 (Rural Decentralized Water Systems Reauthorization Act), and introduction of H.R.7977 (Energy Bills Relief Act). Upcoming EESI events: Tracking Down Data on April 23, Water Infrastructure briefing on May 7, and EXPO 2026 on June 24.
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Episode for March 13, 2026
Penn State has launched Prepare PA, a statewide initiative to help communities build climate resiliency against increased extreme weather and flooding.
- Prepare PA launched by Penn State: Penn State is hosting a new state-wide initiative called Prepare PA to help Pennsylvania communities prepare for the climate crisis (focused on extreme weather and flooding) and build local climate resiliency.
- Additional verified actions and details from the episode: Pasa Sustainable Agriculture renegotiated and had a $59 million federal contract with the USDA reinstated after funding was clawed back last spring; a state House committee is advancing measures to help towns set guidelines on data center construction; Allegheny Land Trust partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a Pittsburgh-based natural gas company to purchase local forest carbon credits; Pennsylvania agencies will coordinate recommendations on wildlife corridors.
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Landowners and Locals are Fighting AI Expansion of High-Voltage Power Lines
PPL has announced plans to build a 500-kilovolt transmission line (the 12-mile “Sugarloaf” project) that could cross John Zola’s 40-acre property in eastern Pennsylvania.
- Project details and local action: The 12-mile Sugarloaf project would reuse and expand an existing corridor, involve 240-foot metal towers and require a wide corridor (up to 200-foot-wide in some projects); PPL serves more than 1.5 million customers, projects peak electricity demand to more than triple by 2030, has offered landowners cash payments (offers reported rising from $17,000 to $85,000 for one owner) and may pursue eminent domain if landowners refuse.
- Background and national context: The article places the Sugarloaf dispute in a broader national trend driven by AI-era data center demand: a $1.7 billion proposed Pennsylvania-spanning line, a $22 billion Midwest transmission package under dispute, and utilities forecasting transmission spending to nearly $50 billion a year by 2028; opponents include landowners, conservationists, state regulators and regional stakeholders.