Fact: Water use is technology-driven and small compared to existing industries. Many facilities use little or no water:

• Air-cooling systems use ZERO water.

• Closed-loop systems reuse the same water.

• Some use recycled or non-potable water sources.

Even high-end estimates are small in context:

• 1-GW evaporative facility ≈ 1.09 billion gallons per year.

• Thermoelectric industry: 375.7 billion gallons annually.

• Chemical industry: 131.7 billion gallons annually.

• Mining: 13.5 billion gallons annually.

Real-world comparison:

• A mid-sized intelligence center using roughly 300,000 gallons per day uses LESS water than a typical 18-hole golf course.

Bottom Line:

Water impact is manageable and far smaller than major legacy industries already operating in WV.

Fact: Nothing in HB 2014 or its rules exempts data centers from state or federal environmental laws.

• Air quality standards still apply.

• Water discharge permits are still required.

• Federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act standards still apply.

• State environmental permitting and enforcement remain in place.

Bottom Line:

Zoning certainty is not environmental deregulation. Environmental laws still apply.

Fact: HB 2014 provides siting certainty because billion-dollar projects will not come to a state where the mix of overlapping and different local ordinances can delay or hinder development.

Large-scale investments require predictable rules. If approvals can be overturned by shifting local politics, companies invest elsewhere. And that’s been happening.

• Other states are capturing billions in private investment.

• Expanding their tax bases and strengthening schools.

• Upgrading infrastructure while less competitive states fall behind.

Why this provision exists:

• Many communities want the statewide tax relief and shared revenue.

• State-level siting authority provides consistency and certainty that is needed for large-scale investment that benefit the entire state.

This is not deregulation:

• Environmental standards still apply.

• Air and water laws still apply.

• Utility cost protections still apply.

Bottom Line:

Without regulatory certainty, these projects do not come — and neither do the jobs, revenue, tax relief, or infrastructure investment.

Fact: Large, stable customers can help stabilize or lower costs — and must pay for their own build-out.

When fixed costs get spread out:

• Utilities recover grid costs regardless of demand.

• More electricity sold = costs spread over more kilowatt-hours.

• Per-unit cost pressure can decline.

HB 2014 protects ratepayers:

• Utilities cannot pass microgrid construction costs to existing customers.

• Transmission upgrades must be borne by the intelligence center.

• Generation infrastructure must be funded by the project.

• Grid interconnection costs cannot be shifted to households.

If new electricity infrastructure is required, the project pays — not families or small businesses.

24/7 demand helps finance new power generation:

• Predictable load supports investment.

• Economies of scale reduce long-term costs.

• Strengthens grid stability.

Bottom Line:

When big customers pay their fair share and fund needed upgrades, they help carry the cost of the grid — instead of families carrying it alone.

Fact: The revenue is broadly distributed and reinvested.

• 50% → Personal Income Tax Reduction (benefits ALL taxpayers statewide).

• 30% → Host County.

• 10% → All Other Counties.

• 5% each → Economic Enhancement Grants and Electric Grid Stabilization Fund.

What this means:

• 40% goes directly to counties.

• 50% goes back to taxpayers.

• 10% reinvested in infrastructure and economic development.

Economic Enhancement Grants help fund:

• Water and sewer upgrades.

• Industrial site development.

• Community infrastructure projects.

Electric Grid Stabilization Fund supports:

• Grid planning and reliability.

• Infrastructure upgrades.

• Long-term system resilience.

Bottom Line:

This is a reinvestment strategy — not a revenue hoard. Counties benefit, taxpayers’ benefit, and infrastructure statewide is strengthened.

Pathway to eliminate the personal income tax.

• Hundreds of permanent high-wage jobs (~$100,000 average).

• Thousands of construction jobs lasting years.

• Economic diversification beyond legacy industries.

• Modernized grid and infrastructure investment.

West Virginia can compete nationally — but only if decisions are based on facts, not fear.