📣Make Some Noise!📣 Demand Transparency and Accountability for Data Centers
Rules proposed by the West Virginia Department of Commerce related to a 2025 bill encouraging the development of data centers are now before the Legislature for final approval. Authority for the proposed rules is now included in HB 4983 https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=4983&year=2026&sessiontype=RS .
As written, these rules give the public almost no notice, no real way to weigh in, and very little information about what the companies are proposing. The public is thus limited in its ability to weigh in. An amendment to address the lack of transparency and provide the public with more information about proposed data centers was rejected https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/01/30/wv-lawmakers-approve-changes-to-microgrid-data-center-rules-vote-down-public-transparency-measure/ by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The Legislature can still amend the proposed rules before they become law.
Tell members of the House Energy and Public Works Committee https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house-energy-committee/ that they must amend the rules to require more transparency from big data centers.
West Virginians deserve to know the basic facts about what is being proposed in order to make their voices heard and protect their communities from negative consequences. This includes full disclosure regarding environmental and community impacts such as expected air emissions, water usage and discharge, noise levels, traffic impacts, operating schedule, emergency-service needs, and land-use conflicts.
Status: The House Energy and Public Works Committee held a hearing on HB 4983 on Feb. 4, advancing the rules to mark up and passage stage. This means they will vote on the rules at their next meeting early this coming week, as early as Feb. 9.
Make Some Noise! Contact committee members to demand transparency and accountability for data centers. Click here https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/house-energy-committee/ to find their phone numbers and a copy-and-paste email list for sending a personal email to all committee members.
To leave a public comment on the Legislature’s webpage click here https://bills.wvlegislature.gov/public-comment/?bill=4983&billtype=HB&abbrev=EPW&comid=3813&yr=2026&pubcom=YES&session=RS .