The Senate passed an amended bill on Friday that encourages the development of data centers in West Virginia, some of which could be powered by microgrids.
House Bill 2014 would create a Certified Microgrid Program in the Division of Economic Development to attract high-impact data centers to the state and localized power generation for microgrids.
The body approved an amendment on how to allocate the property tax base generated under the terms of the bill as follows:
50 percent to the state’s Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund
40 percent to the county where a data center is located
5 percent to all counties on a per capita basis
3 percent to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program administered by Department of Human Services
2 percent to a power grid stabilization fund
The legislation offers a possibility for data center developers who might want their own microgrid. The bill would the permit the secretary of the Department of Commerce to identify and certify the microgrid districts following conclusions that there would be a significant, positive economic impact for the state.
Under the bill, an industrial plant or facility choosing to locate and operate within a certified district must represent a new electric generating load to take advantage of the program’s provisions.
The bill now returns to the House of Delegates for final consideration.
Also, on Friday, the Senate concurred in House amendments to complete action on House Bill 2026, the Budget Bill.
The fiscal year 2026 budget comes in at $5,317,557,000 with a surplus of $210,250,000. The compromised budget is $5,000,000 less than the Governor’s introduced budget. The General Revenue breakdown is:
- Legislative Branch: $31,377,663
- Judicial Branch: $168,226,450
- Executive Branch
- Governor’s Office: $16,940,401
- Auditor’s Office: $2,784,484
- Treasurer’s Office: $3,764,435
- Department of Agriculture: $27,986,674
- Attorney General: $5,986,622
- Secretary of State: $1,024,648
- Department of Administration: $102,657,122
- Department of Commerce: $83,673,866
- Department of Tourism: $36,515,705
- Department of Education: $2,274,594854
- Department of Environmental Protection: $7,915,309
- Department of Health: $110,920,051
- Department of Human Services: $791,025,664
- Department of Health Facilities: $219,135,015
- Department of Homeland Security: $576,549,322
- Department of Revenue: $68,574,248
- Department of Transportation: $9,108,595
- Department of Veterans Affairs: $17,843,754
- Bureau of Senior Services: $6,580,366
- WV Council for Career and Technical Colleges: $88,141,984
- Higher Education Policy Commission: $392,534,525
- Adjutant General: $17,289,059
The State Road Fund is $2,129,082,658, while “Other Funds” (special revenue) total $2,315,143,753. The Lottery Revenue Fund is $157,392,000, with a surplus of $16,750,000. The Excess Lottery Revenue is $335,008,512 with a surplus of $21,345,488. The expected Federal Funds total is $8,224,744,008 with Federal Block Grants totaling $730,395,275.
A $12,000,000 special revenue appropriation was made and to be used as follows: $1,000,000 for Division of General Services’ Capitol Complex Parking Garage Fund, $1,000,000 for the Division of Labor’s Bedding and Upholstery Fund, $2,000,000 for the Division of Natural Resources Planning and Development Division, $4,000,000 for the Fire Commission’s Fire Marshal Fees, and $4,000,000 for the Public Service Commission’s Motor Carrier Division.
The total funding for the Hope Scholarship is $24,000,000 from General Revenue and $9,000,000 from the Lottery Revenue Fund.
The budget now heads to the Governor’s desk to await his signature.
The body also passed and completed action on a number of other bills Friday. A list of completed bills so far in session can be found here.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, April, at 11 a.m.
