By Damian Phillips, The Exponent Telegram
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — During the West Virginia Manufacturers Association’s winter conference, business owners, legislators and economic development advocates discussed the state’s challenges in attracting and retaining businesses.
Energy production, access to child care and housing are among the chief issues that impact the business environment in West Virginia.
“One NVIDIA chip, the size of your little finger, consumes the same amount of power as your average household in America. We’re talking about putting billions of these chips into the marketplace for data centers,” said Mike Graney, acting secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and a panelist at the conference held Thursday at the Bridgeport Conference Center.
During a panel discussion, officials spoke about the need for West Virginia to diversify its energy production catalogue in order to meet the demands of the future.
Coal and natural gas should continue to be West Virginia’s primary source of energy production, but some businesses the Department of Economic Development has looked to attract have made using renewable energy a part of their business model, said state Sen. Glenn Jeffries, R-Putnam.
Four years ago, renewable energy was a request; two years ago, it was a requirement; and today it is a demand, Graney said.