Scope
The West Virginia Department of Commerce "Responsible Data Center Development Plan", dated 11 August 2026, is a plan submitted to the Governor that recommends adoption of seven principles for data center development under House Bill 2014, covering a comprehensive state plan, distribution of high impact data center revenue, ratepayer protection, water protection, community oversight through an advisory council, grid reliability and national security. It is a recommendation, not a rule or statute.
- Geographic scope
- West Virginia
- Jurisdiction
- State
- Authority type
- Government agency
- Issuing authority
- West Virginia Department of Commerce
Dates
- Adopted
- No adoption day is recorded
- Effective
- Not a binding measure
- Scheduled expiration
- None scheduled
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- None stated
- Source document
- 11 August 2026
- Last checked
- 23 September 2026 (earlier than tracker date 5 October 2026; not an automatic status change)
Summary
On 11 August 2026 the West Virginia Department of Commerce published a Responsible Data Center Development Plan, addressed to the Governor, recommending seven principles for data center development under the 2025 House Bill 2014 program, and the Governor announced it the same day with legislative leaders. The plan describes revenue distribution, ratepayer protection, water and grid expectations and a proposed advisory council. It creates no binding requirement by itself.
What this does not establish
- The plan text says it is submitted for consideration and that the Department proposes formal adoption of the principles; no executive order or rule adopting them was found.
- Statements in the plan about what developers "must" do restate or anticipate other instruments; this record does not treat them as enforceable requirements.
- The advisory council's recommendations on setbacks and noise had not been issued in any source opened.
Unresolved questions
- Whether the Governor formally adopted the principles by any instrument was not established.
Relationships
Supersession means a later instrument replaces the earlier legal effect. Repeal links identify the repeal instrument and the measure it ends. A later implementation or related letter is not treated as a replacement unless the record says so.
- No related action is recorded.
Sources
https://westvirginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Data-Center-Principles-August-2026-FINAL-8-26.pdf
- Governor of West Virginia news release, 11 August 2026 Announcement of the plan by the Governor and legislative leaders · 11 August 2026