West Virginia’s Microgrid Certification Rules
On November 24, 2025, West Virginia officially released the site-certification rules for the state’s new data center and microgrid law. This is one of the most consequential policy moves the state has made for the digital-infrastructure economy — and it directly impacts opportunities for Bitcoin mining, AI computing, and DePIN networks across the Northern Panhandle.
As a consultancy advising on energy-intensive and decentralized infrastructure deployments, Steel Valley Bitcoin (SVB) sees this as a major unlock for West Virginia’s next era of growth.
What the New Rules Actually Do
The rule package clarifies how companies can be certified to build either a microgrid district or a high-impact data center. A few highlights:
1. High-Impact Data Centers Must Be 90 MW+
The state defines “high-impact” as 90 megawatts of critical IT load placed in service after July 1, 2025. This threshold makes it clear: West Virginia is targeting large-scale compute — the kind that powers:
AI model training
Bitcoin mining at industrial scale
High-performance computing
Cloud data storage and edge networks
2. Fast-Track Certification
The Department of Commerce now has:
14 days to certify data-center petitions
60 days to certify microgrid districts
This is unusually fast compared to other states and signals that West Virginia wants shovels in the ground now, not three years from now.
3. Regulatory Exemptions for Microgrids
Certified microgrid districts receive significant relief:
Exemption from certain Public Service Commission oversight
Flexibility around interconnection
Reduced regulatory burdens typically placed on utilities
This matters for Bitcoin mining and AI compute — both rely on predictable timelines and predictable power.
4. Tax Advantages
Site certification comes with special property-tax treatment and a structured revenue stream into a new state “Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund.”
This can substantially improve a project’s financial profile.
Why This Is a Big Deal for West Virginia — and for SVB Clients
1. The 90 MW threshold aligns perfectly with modern Bitcoin and AI deployments
Many Bitcoin miners operate in the 50–200 MW range. AI clusters often run even higher.
The state is essentially saying: “If you want to build hyperscale compute, build it here.”
This aligns with what companies like Cipher, Compass, BlackRock-funded developers, and independent operators are actively seeking.
2. Microgrid districts open the door for energy-flexible Bitcoin mining
Microgrids allow:
Direct power purchase agreements
Islanded or semi-islanded operations
Co-location with renewable or gas-to-power generation
Dynamic load management for grid stability
Bitcoin miners are uniquely good at absorbing excess power — and microgrids benefit tremendously from flexible loads.
3. DePIN and edge-compute networks can piggyback on large-scale sites
Even a 90 MW site has room for:
Low-power decentralized networks
Sensors
Edge-compute gateways
5G or private LTE nodes
Environmental monitoring
Blockchain/IoT infrastructure
SVB is already deploying testbeds across Hancock and Brooke Counties. These new rules create an ideal environment to expand pilots into long-term commercial integrations.
4. Economic upside for the Northern Panhandle
This policy could:
Pull new investment into Brooke, Hancock, and Ohio Counties
Revitalize former industrial lands
Leverage existing power and distribution networks
Diversify the economy into digital infrastructure
Communities along the river — Weirton, Follansbee, Beech Bottom, Wellsburg — all sit on corridors with unused industrial land, substations, and gas infrastructure. SVB is already scouting sites along these exact pathways.
Where SVB Fits In
Steel Valley Bitcoin provides:
Site scouting for Bitcoin, AI, and HPC developers
Power-availability assessments
Microgrid and modular data-center advisory
DePIN integration strategy
Local regulatory navigation
Community-education and workforce-awareness components
The release of these rules makes West Virginia one of the most attractive emerging states in the U.S. for next-generation compute infrastructure. SVB is positioning the Northern Panhandle to compete — and win — in that landscape.
If your company is evaluating developments in the 50–400 MW range, or if you want to explore microgrid partnerships, co-location, gas-to-power, or modular deployments:
👉 Email us at info@steelvalleybitcoin.org
Now is the window to move.
West Virginia just opened the door — SVB is here to help you walk through it.