This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by prohibiting the state and any political subdivision from providing subsidies to data centers located within the state. The legislation recognizes the importance of data centers as a growing sector of the economy, contributing to job creation, infrastructure investments, and technological innovation. It highlights West Virginia's strategic advantages for data center development, including proximity to Washington, D.C., low tax rates, and abundant energy resources.

In addition to the subsidy prohibition, the bill establishes the High Impact Data Center Program, which will be administered by the Division of Economic Development. This program is designed to encourage the development and expansion of high-impact data centers in West Virginia. The bill outlines the notification and certification process for data centers that meet specific criteria, ensuring that relevant information is kept confidential while maintaining a list of certified high-impact data centers for governmental oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5B-2-21a