Aerial view of Putnam County land
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Putnam County, West Virginia

Putnam United

who we are

The people of Buffalo and surrounding communities.

Putnam United is made up of residents of Buffalo and the surrounding area, who are raising awareness of Google’s proposed hyperscale AI data center in Buffalo, West Virginia.

Aerial view of fields, river, and wooded hills in Putnam County

Why we’re organizing

We deserve transparency. We deserve a say.

On March 27, 2026, Governor Morrisey announced Google’s planned hyperscale AI data center in Buffalo. Concerned residents immediately demanded more information, but project details are not being disclosed. In response to public outcry, Google launched a web site that’s full of platitudes, but fails to answer even basic questions about this project specifically. House Bill 2014 allows Google and elected officials to conceal details from the public. It also removes our ability to enforce local laws and ordinances.

We believe that the presence of hyperscale data centers in our communities should be evaluated on more than the financial impacts alone.

We believe that decisions about the presence of hyperscale data centers should reside with the people of the communities in which they’ve been proposed.

Take action

Raise your voice. Sign the petition.

Hyperscale data centers are massive facilities that can have the geographic footprint of a small city; and

The increased energy demand from the presence of hyperscale data centers could impact grid reliability and energy costs for all ratepayers while increasing CO2 emissions; and 

Hyperscale data centers can consume immense amounts of water per day, depleting resources and risking contamination for other local users and native ecosystems; and 

The presence of hyperscale data centers puts community members at risk of decreased property values, altered character and function of property, or loss of private property to eminent domain; and 

The presence of a hyperscale data center changes the fabric of a community with noise and light pollution, and the loss of large tracts of potential farmland or reconstruction of the natural terrain;

THEREFORE, it is our position that the presence of hyperscale data centers in West Virginia communities should be evaluated on more than the financial impacts alone. And, it is our position that decisions about the presence of hyperscale data centers should reside with the people of the communities in which they’ve been proposed.

Petition

Numbers matter. If you agree with the points made here, please join us in speaking up. Click to sign the petition now!

other actions

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Please use our contact form to sign up for updates and news. For all other inquiries, please email info@putnamwvunited.com