West Virginia Data Center Moratorium Tracker
West Virginia has 1 state-level data-center restriction in force. No city or county measure is on record here yet. Every entry below links to its primary source: a legislature page, a governor's office, a local government, or the reporting of record.
State-level measures in West Virginia
Every statewide moratorium, pause, siting restriction, or tax-incentive rollback in West Virginia we can verify against a primary source. Strongest status first.
| Measure | Status | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4983West Virginia: Governor Patrick Morrisey signed HB 4983 on March 27, 2026, cementing rulemaking that deems confidential all petitions seeking certification | In force 2026-03 | Governor Patrick Morrisey signed HB 4983 on March 27, 2026, cementing rulemaking that deems confidential all petitions seeking certification of a high-impact data center and all letters of intent seeking certification of a microgrid district. The bill passed the House 78-16 and the Senate 28-6, despite opposition from environmental and transparency advocates including WV Rivers, League of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club. Seven Republicans joined all nine House Democrats in voting against it. The legislature voted down amendments that would have required developers to disclose water sources, usage projections, and community impact; another rejected amendment would have created 500-foot buffer zones and allowed residents within 10 miles to petition proposals. Critics call HB 4983 an extension of the controversial HB 2014 (Power Generation and Consumption Act) that stripped local governments of authority over data center siting. Large data centers can consume 3-5 million gallons of water per day, roughly 5-8% of West Virginia's total 2023 public water withdrawals. | |
| SB 658West Virginia: Would restore local government control over data center siting in West Virginia, reversing HB 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act | Failed / vetoed 2026-02 | Would restore local government control over data center siting in West Virginia, reversing HB 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act signed by Gov. Morrisey, which allows data centers to operate on independent microgrids and strips counties of jurisdiction over siting and size. Tucker County residents pushed for the bill amid growing backlash over development in their communities. Never received a committee hearing during the session that ended March 14, 2026. |
City and county moratoria in West Virginia
Where West Virginia stands
Across the whole tracker we hold 334 state-level measures in 49 states and 1253 city and county measures, against 1419 primary sources. West Virginia accounts for 2 of the state-level measures and 0 of the local ones.
By total measures on record it is #49 of the 50 states and DC carrying any tracked action. Ranking is by count of sourced entries in this dataset, so it measures documented activity, not the size of the buildout.
Sources for West Virginia
2 citations behind the entries above. Each opens in a new tab.
- Statewide · HB 4983 — West Virginia: Governor Patrick Morrisey signed HB 4983 on March 27, 2026, cementing rulemaking that deems confidential all petitions seeking certification wvgazettemail.com →
- Statewide · SB 658 — West Virginia: Would restore local government control over data center siting in West Virginia, reversing HB 2014, the Power Generation and Consumption Act mountainstatespotlight.org →
What does bind large loads in West Virginia
A moratorium is only one way a data center gets stopped. The grid operator decides whether it can connect at all, and on what terms. West Virginia sits in 1 footprint.
Entire state in PJM (AEP, FirstEnergy).
States next door
5 of the 5 states bordering West Virginia have at least one data-center measure on record. Restrictions tend to travel between neighbors, so this is usually where the next one comes from.
Data centers in West Virginia
The US Data Center Map identifies 5 facilities run by 3 operators in West Virginia, each one placed from primary sources and listed by city and by operator, with the measures on this page beside them.
Open the West Virginia data center map → · The US Data Center Map →
How to read this page
In force = a moratorium, siting restriction, or tax-incentive rollback that is currently enacted, by statute or executive order. Paused = a temporary hold on new incentives or applications. Proposed = introduced and still pending. Failed / vetoed = died in committee, was voted down, or was vetoed.
This page is generated from the same primary-sourced dataset as the national U.S. Data Center Moratorium Tracker and is re-checked on the same weekly cycle, whether or not anything changed. Legislative status changes quickly; it is informational, not legal advice. Spot something out of date in West Virginia? Tell us.
Companion references: the Data Center Grid Operator Watchlist for the interconnection and curtailment rules that bind here, the Data Center Water Tracker for water mandates, and the Data Center Delay Watchlist for named projects.
Why West Virginia is pushing back
The objections repeat from state to state: strain on the electric grid, water drawn for cooling, and the sense that a facility takes local resources without giving much back. SAVRN builds AI factories designed around those three objections: on-site power that does not lean on the public grid, direct-to-chip cooling that does not consume municipal water, and a training institute that puts local people to work inside the building.
See how a SAVRN factory works Talk to us about a West Virginia site