Project Tamarack
West Columbia, Mason County, WV[1][3]Developer: Starwood Digital Ventures[1][3]
- Rumored
- Proposed
- Approved
- Under construction
- Operating
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Starwood Digital Ventures plans a $12 billion data center complex, dubbed Project Tamarack, in West Columbia, Mason County, which Gov. Patrick Morrisey said will require 2.16 gigawatts of power from the existing grid. The project received state high-impact data center certification, announced September 3, 2026, and will use a closed-loop cooling system and existing Appalachian Power/AEP infrastructure at the property. Some residents say they were surprised the state approved the project without local notice, as state law limits local control over certified data centers.
- Permanent jobs (promised)
- 300
Key facts
Size & schedule
| Planned capacity | 2.16 GW [5] power requirement as stated by Gov. Morrisey (2.16 gigawatts); WVPB reported 'two gigawatts' Source excerpt“In West Virginia, Morrisey said the Starwood project (dubbed "Project Tamarack") will require 2.16 gigawatts of power to operate, which it will receive from the existing grid.” |
|---|---|
| Stated investment | $12 billion [1] company plan announced by the governor Source excerpt“Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday that Starwood Digital Ventures has plans for a $12 billion data center.” |
| Permanent jobs (promised) | 300 [3]Source excerpt“The project is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and 300 permanent jobs once completed.” |
| Construction jobs | 1,000 [3] more than 1,000 during construction Source excerpt“The project is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and 300 permanent jobs once completed.” |
Power
| Utility | Appalachian Power (AEP) [1] Utility pages: Appalachian Power · data centers and bills Source excerpt“Project Tamarack will use the existing Appalachian Power/AEP infrastructure at the property.” |
|---|---|
| Power supply | Existing grid via existing Appalachian Power/AEP infrastructure at the property [1]Source excerpt“Project Tamarack will use the existing Appalachian Power/AEP infrastructure at the property.” |
Water
| Cooling | closed-loop [2]Source excerpt“Tamarack will boast a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water use and addressed another of the public's concerns over data center development in the state.” |
|---|
Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.
Water and power
Water
Not disclosed. No source reviewed gives a water figure for this site. The Census does not estimate one.
Disclosed figures only, each as the cited source states it. Many are projections or permit limits, not metered use. How data center water and power use is measured, and every disclosed figure →
Timeline
Gov. Morrisey announces at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce business summit that Starwood Digital Ventures received high-impact data center certification for Project Tamarack [2]
Project Tamarack says it is forming a Community Advisory Group of Mason County residents and leaders [3]
Governor announces a $12 billion Starwood Digital Ventures data center in Mason County. [1]
Issues raised
- Mason County United said residents were not told of the plan before the state approved the certification [4]
- Under HB 2014, localities cannot enforce or create ordinances affecting certified data center developments; a county commissioner said local government has limited control [4][5]
- Residents cite environmental concerns, noting homes flooded during construction at the nearby Nscale Monarch site about 20 miles south [5]
- The governor and company say Starwood will fund infrastructure costs rather than pass them to ratepayers [1][3]
Issues are concerns and claims raised by the parties, officials or residents named in the cited sources. They are reported as attributed, not as findings by the Census.
Sources
- Morrisey announces $12 billion data center project in Mason CountyWV MetroNews · Sep 3, 2026 · news
- Second Certified Data Center Announced For Mason CountyWest Virginia Public Broadcasting · Sep 3, 2026 · news
- Starwood Digital Ventures announces data center for Mason CountyWDTV · Sep 3, 2026 · news
- 'Total shocker': Residents react to second data center coming to Mason CountyWSAZ · Sep 4, 2026 · news
- New data center project coming to Mason County, WV spearheaded by Florida-based real estate groupWest Virginia Watch · Sep 8, 2026 · news
Cite this page
Last updated Sep 23, 2026. Figures may change as records are updated — include the date you retrieved them.
| APA | Data Center Census. (2026). Project Tamarack. Retrieved from https://datacentercensus.com/dc/project-tamarack-west-columbia-wv |
|---|---|
| MLA | “Project Tamarack.” Data Center Census, Sep 23, 2026, https://datacentercensus.com/dc/project-tamarack-west-columbia-wv. |
| Link | https://datacentercensus.com/dc/project-tamarack-west-columbia-wv |
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