The bill proposes extensive amendments to the Code of West Virginia, primarily focusing on the establishment of a Certified Microgrid Development Program within the Division of Economic Development. It renames the existing Industrial Business Expansion Program to the Microgrid Development Program, allowing any plant or facility to participate while removing previous location and renewable energy generation requirements for high-impact business development districts. The legislation introduces provisions for certifying high-impact data centers, prohibits certain tax incentives under specific conditions, and establishes a specialized property tax formula for these centers. Additionally, it creates new sections defining terms related to microgrids and data centers, outlines eligibility criteria for microgrid customers, and specifies the responsibilities of electric service providers.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the High Impact Data Center Program, recognizing West Virginia's strategic advantages for data center development. It mandates that local governments cannot enact regulations that hinder certified microgrid districts and high-impact data centers, ensuring a uniform regulatory environment. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of data centers for national security and economic growth, introduces provisions for the distribution of property tax revenues from these centers, and includes a sunset provision for the article expiring on December 31, 2055. Additionally, the bill enhances electric power generation reliability by requiring utilities to source deficient capacity from in-state coal or gas and mandates the maintenance of a minimum coal supply at power plants, promoting a sustainable energy landscape in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5B-2-21, 24-2-1d, 24-2-1q, 24-2-15, 24-2-19, 5B-2-21a, 5B-2-21b, 5B-2N-2a, 11B-2-33, 11-6N-1, 11-6N-2, 11-6N-3, 11-6N-4, 11-6N-5