At the recent Paden City Labor Day Parade, our Secretary of State, Kris Warner participated in the day’s events. Upon the conclusion of the parade I caught up with him to ask a couple important questions state citizens are now asking.

First, his thoughts on the state and incoming data centers. He began by stating that two years ago, the footprint of incoming data centers was much different than it is today. He pointed out that in the beginning centers were using local water supplied from creeks, and rivers to cool the heat generated by the massive electronics within the centers. Mr. Warner now indicated that newer centers are using closed loop cooling systems. Thus, reducing environmental impact on our valuable natural resource, water.

Generators that are necessary for data centers create noise pollution for those living near the centers. Warner explained new generator stations now are being designed with barriers to deflect sound up and away.

When he was asked about increased electrical costs to state residences. Warner said, “power companies must increase generation capacity and transmission lines to accommodate the center.” What he failed to say was the cost is passed onto customers of the utility companies. Companies go before the PSC requesting increases to offset cost. Most often the increase is granted. Lawsuits delay and sometimes prevent increases, but in the end, they generally are applied to your monthly bill.

Mr. Warner explained it’s an issue that will be brought before the legislature during the next session. At the present time, it should be up to the county as to how cost is disseminated. But, Mr. Warner did say, one of the issues he has is the loss of control at the local levels, which was taken away by Charleston. That means in the business offices of companies and state offices, the details of costs are worked out away from the people who should be deciding how cost should be applied.

In the state of Georgia it is mandated that any cost associated with a data center coming into an area is paid by the company, not local citizens. Charleston has taken away local governments ability to protect local businesses and homeowners from runaway electrical costs.

Mr. Warner did however say, “At the present time, when a data center comes into a county in West Virginia, it will pay one hundred million dollars in taxes. Half goes to the county, and one million goes to every county in the state.” That is how it is today, according to Mr. Warner.

Data centers have rapidly come to the forefront in the last few years due to their massive growth to respond to the AI boom. At present time there are several major projects that have been announced. Berkeley County, a $4 Billion dollar investment. It will take 1,000 construction workers to complete the project. Once it is up and running it could provide 125 permanent jobs. Putnam County an estimated $7 Billion dollar project. It is estimated to pay $8.5 million in taxes each year. Mason County, First Phase of the project estimated at $69 Billion, providing 4,300 construction jobs and 645 permanent jobs. Mason County, $12 Billion investment being built with a closed loop cooling system. Anthropic, plans to lease one-third of the Monarch Campus with a $45 Billion deal.

Near Point Pleasant’s data center there are three large buildings housing the electronics. In order to guarantee a continuous power supply, the center will have on-site 1,000 natural gas and diesel engines that will support the generators.

The future of our country is inching ever closer to being operated and controlled by thousands of data centers. Each center, once started, can never lose electricity. The loss would be catastrophic in the amount of data lost. Therefore, thousands of locations have standby generators. Those same data centers will be in control of the power grid. In an emergency when only so much power is available during a heat wave, will it choose your home or the data center? Keep a hospital operating, or the data center?

Those companies operating AI centers, recently sounded the alarm on their own systems. Some even predicted humans will soon lose control of this emerging technology to our demise. Some refer to our heading into a Terminator future. I think that’s a little over the top, but not impossible.

Mr. Warner in his words made it clear, he is only allowed to do his job by using the direction and policies of the legislature. He points out that on local levels we have no control. On the state level, even he has to do what he is directed to do. Data centers and their financial backers are about Billions upon Billions, and heading for the trillion-dollar number. Fearing AI is important, especially when people with trillions of dollars invested can buy whatever they want. But money cannot stop what may be coming, only people with good sense to evaluate how fast we move toward the AI age, can prevent a future that even the terminator could not imagine looking Through the Lens.