December was an active month for policy advocacy at the state and federal level for the West Virginia Blockchain Foundation, in coordination with the Stand With Crypto West Virginia chapter. As energy and digital asset rules continue to be shaped, it is important to participate while public input still matters.

West Virginia released new rules for certifying large data centers and microgrids, fast-tracking approvals and opening the door for major investment in AI, digital infrastructure, and blockchain technology. The move positions the state for new jobs, modern energy systems, and tech-driven economic growth.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are becoming major topics across the country — from banking to energy, from small business tools to high-tech infrastructure. But where does West Virginia actually stand?

West Virginia’s coal-mining heritage has left behind a large footprint of abandoned mines, methane emissions, and environmental burdens. But today that legacy also presents one of the most compelling opportunities for the digital age: capturing coal-mine methane to power high-performance computing (HPC), AI training farms, and Bitcoin mining operations — in other words, turning a stranded energy asset into a value-generating, low-marginal-cost compute infrastructure.

A recent regulatory decision by the West Virginia PSC signals a turning point, and emerging blockchain-driven infrastructure models (DePINs) offer a powerful complement to the public policy push.

BHE Renewables is building what is reported to be the state’s first large-scale microgrid in Jackson County, West Virginia. This facility will cover 2,000 acres and produce enough solar+storage capacity to supply approximately 70 % of the plant’s electricity needs.

The race for large-scale compute, AI infrastructure, blockchain/mining operations and hyperscale data centers is heating up. With demand for power, cooling, interconnection and scale increasing rapidly, West Virginia legislators are responding.