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Resident urges Putnam County commissioners to demand permits, timelines for proposed data center
Summary
A resident told Putnam County commissioners the public has not been given timelines, permits or milestone information for a planned data-processing center and asked the commission to press state-appointed officials to release that information; commissioners described limits on local authority under House Bill 2014 and said they are monitoring related state tax inquiries.
A resident during public comment urged the Putnam County Commission to press state officials for project permits, timelines and milestones related to a proposed data-processing center near Buffalo.
"Because of the lack of transparency on this project to the citizens of Buffalo and Putnam County ... I'm asking you as our county commissioners ... have him make available to the public the permits, the project dates, and the milestones for this project," the resident said.
The commenter said they had sought information from the governor's office and their state representative and had attempted to contact Chris Morris, director of the state's data economy office, but received no substantive reply. The speaker also cited a March 27 letter from the Commerce secretary, Dr. Matthew Herage, saying the petitioner, identified in the transcript as Commulus, had provided estimated project dates and milestones to the Department of Commerce.
Commissioners and staff described limits on local authority. One commissioner said that under House Bill 2014 the county "would have no decision-making" authority over whether a data center locates in the county, though the commission can consider symbolic or legal steps. The commission discussed two possible actions mentioned in the meeting: a nonbinding resolution expressing local concerns and the potential for a legal challenge over tax apportionment, noting Berkeley County had filed an inquiry with the state tax department.
Commissioners and staff summarized information reportedly provided by the petitioner: about 400 full-time employees and roughly 1,000 construction jobs over 12–15 years, and a plan to connect to a nearby transmission line. Commissioners said that some project details were being processed through county planning even if state statute limits formal county decision-making.
Members of the public at the meeting expressed skepticism about job and energy claims and cited examples from other regions, such as northern Virginia's "Data Center Alley," where residents reported higher electricity bills after centers opened. Commissioners said they would continue to track tax-inquiry developments and noted the Putnam County Development Authority (PCDA) had been engaged with the petitioner before some commissioners learned of the project; the PCDA is a separate entity whose board members the commission appoints.
The resident's request to press state officials for permits and project milestones is a public-record request made at the meeting; the commission did not vote on any formal action specifically directing staff to seek those documents during the session.
Next steps: commissioners said they would continue to monitor the state-level process and related tax inquiries; no formal directive to county staff to compel additional public disclosure was adopted at the meeting.
