Report Shows More Than $150 Million Annually for Local Governments
State Treasurer Larry Pack today released a tax analysis report on two prominent data center projects in Mason County: The Nscale Monarch project and the Starwood Tamarack project. Following the passage of the Power Generation and Consumption Act of 2025 (HB2014), taxable property income was redirected away from standard allocations for high-impact data centers. The two projects are estimated to generate more than $231 million annually in property tax revenue.
“It is crucial that citizens and policymakers understand the impact these projects have on their communities. That is why we continue to put our best estimates out as these projects are announced across the state,” Treasurer Pack said. “Once these projects are completed, there will be a huge increase in local revenues for schools, the Mason County Commission, and local EMS. These projections underscore the importance of transparency and thoughtful discussions about how these revenues can be used to strengthen these communities for generations to come.”
The report looked at two announced projects in Mason County: Nscale Monarch, with an estimated taxable appraised value of $12.48 billion (1), and Starwood Tamarack, with an estimated taxable appraised value of $3.925 billion, after accounting for applicable tax treatment of certain high-tech tangible personal property. Nscale Monarch also includes an associated power plant, increasing the project's taxable value and projected tax revenue generated by the development.
The companies’ announced planned investments total $64.9 billion for Nscale Phase One and $12 billion for Tamarack.
The expected government revenue gained is $47.5 million for the Mason County Commission and $90.3 million for Mason County Schools, annually. The Personal Income Tax (PIT) Reduction Fund would receive more than $66.8 million. An extra $7.2 million goes to the County Commission’s Fire and EMS Program, a nearly 9.5-fold increase in such funding. Other counties would share approximately $13.3 million, averaging roughly $240,000 per county.
“As state and local governments consider adding more data centers, we must ensure the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. West Virginia citizens and their needs must stay front and center in these discussions,” Treasurer Pack said. “Economic growth and diversification must be our top priority if we are to move our state forward. Careful analysis and pro-growth policies can help ensure these investments creating lasting opportunities for West Virginians.”
The report findings can be attributed to Mark Muchow, West Virginia Treasury Strategic Analyst and former state Deputy Revenue Secretary.
(1) Source: Ernest & Young (EY). (August 2026). Economic and Tax Contributions of Monarch Compute Campus in Mason County and West Virginia. Prepared for Nscale.
For a full analysis, visit: https://wvtreasury.gov/Portals/wvtreasury/Content/Research/WVSTODataCenterAnalysisMason.pdf?ver=_O2xLkjA8KV7HfVYFVIgNQ%3d%3d