Google data center campus in Buffalo
Google bought land near Buffalo for a data center campus, reported at about 1,700 acres. Google has not said how big it will be, how much power or water it will use, or when it will be built. Google says it will pay for its power and upgrades.
Where things stand: Governor said Google got state high impact approval in March 2026; Google says it is early in the process.
🕒 Latest update (Sept 29, 2026): Putnam County Commission passed a resolution on hyperscale data centers. Officials said Google is going through the county planning office and following county rules.
What we know
- 📍 Where22272 Charleston Road (Route 62), north end of Buffalo, on both sides of Route 62, Buffalo, Putnam County
- 🏢 CompanyGoogle
- 🏛️ Owned byAlphabet
- 👤 Built forGoogle
- 🌳 Size1,700 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromGrid power from Appalachian Power (AEP). Google says it will pay for 100% of its power and needed upgrades.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many acres did Google buy, and is the site inside Buffalo town limits? 🙋 I'll find out
- How many megawatts will the campus use? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will it use per day? 🙋 I'll find out
- When will construction start? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- March 24, 2026Google applied to the state for high impact data center certification.
- March 27, 2026Gov. Morrisey announced Google bought land in Putnam County and received approval as a high impact data center project.
- Sept 29, 2026Putnam County Commission passed a resolution on hyperscale data centers. Officials said Google is going through the county planning office and following county rules.
Local votes and rules
📌 Other
The county commission adopted a resolution on data centers. It says developers should pay for all water, sewer and power upgrades, fund water studies, protect wells, use quiet equipment and shielded lighting, and listen to nearby residents. State law (HB 2014) limits what the county can enforce on state-certified data centers, so the resolution mostly states the county's position.
📌 Other
Residents asked the county commission to pass a non-binding resolution raising health, air and light pollution worries about Google's planned data center near Buffalo. No commissioner backed it that day; they said they needed more information.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Governor Morrisey announces Google data center project in Putnam County · Office of the Governor of West Virginia · March 27, 2026
- Possible Google data center property location in Buffalo identified · The Herald-Dispatch · March 27, 2026
- 10 data centers have been proposed in W.Va., but only two are state-certified so far · WCHS · June 23, 2026
- Putnam County Commission approves data center resolution; developers must comply with county rules going forward · WV MetroNews · Sept 29, 2026
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