Signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes the Certified Industrial Business Expansion Microgrid Development Programs and the High-Impact Data Center Program in West Virginia.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Certified Industrial Business Expansion Microgrid Development Programs and the High-Impact Data Center Program in West Virginia (Ch. 5B).

• Establishes programs to attract high-impact industrial projects and create designated microgrid districts (Ch. 5B).

• Exempts eligible projects from certain regulatory and zoning requirements and offers a new property tax structure for data centers (Ch. 5B).

• Specifies that Microgrid districts would serve data centers that consume at least 70% of locally generated electricity (Ch. 5B).

• Specifies that counties and cities be barred from imposing zoning or permitting restrictions within those zones, and participating companies must negotiate with local utilities in good faith for 120 days before proceeding (Ch. 5B).

• Prohibits regulated utilities from passing costs related to microgrid districts onto other customers (Ch. 5B).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and further amend a bill that establishes the Certified Industrial Business Expansion Microgrid Development Programs and the High-Impact Data Center Program in West Virginia.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Certified Industrial Business Expansion Microgrid Development Programs and the High-Impact Data Center Program in West Virginia (Ch. 5B).

• Establishes programs to attract high-impact industrial projects and create designated microgrid districts (Ch. 5B).

• Exempts eligible projects from certain regulatory and zoning requirements and offers a new property tax structure for data centers (Ch. 5B).

• Specifies that Microgrid districts would serve data centers that consume at least 70% of locally generated electricity (Ch. 5B).

• Specifies that counties and cities be barred from imposing zoning or permitting restrictions within those zones, and participating companies must negotiate with local utilities in good faith for 120 days before proceeding (Ch. 5B).

• Prohibits regulated utilities from passing costs related to microgrid districts onto other customers (Ch. 5B).

Full Bill Text