May 29th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

West Virginia Delegate Gary Howell chairs the Economic Development Committee in the West Virginia legislature. He is using recent tax and fee hikes in Maryland to attract business to Mineral County and other areas of his state. A targeted letter sent to data companies inviting them to his state is having success – even with companies who didn’t receive a letter…

   

“One company immediately got a hold of us that we had not sent a letter and they said one of the companies we deal with sent us the letter and let us know and we’ve talked with them, had several zoom meetings with them.”

West Virginia has also passed legislation that would make prices for energy more affordable over Maryland …

  

“My guess is if there were companies looking at Maryland to build a data center, they’re now having second thoughts because of the tax that Maryland put in and West Virginia – we have passed the microgrid bill to help attract data centers  – they’re going to say that West Virginia is more attractive now.”