Data centers are a political third rail. West Virginia is grabbing it anyway.
Published . Updated .
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West Virginia wants more data centers, even as other states slam the brakes on them.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- QQQ Invesco QQQ-3.3% 30d
Invesco QQQ: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- AIQ Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF-0.0% 18d
Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF: it holds the big tech and AI names. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- IYT iShares U.S. Transportation ETF
iShares U.S. Transportation ETF: it holds transport and logistics firms. Linked by “rail” (transport and logistics) in this story.
- GOOGL Alphabet-20.6% 30d
Alphabet (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- MSFT Microsoft+1.8% 30d
Microsoft (prepackaged software): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- META Meta Platforms-17.6% 30d
Meta Platforms (computer programming, data processing, etc.): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- AMZN Amazon.com-3.6% 30d
Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): big tech's AI spending and demand drive its shares. Linked by “data center” (AI and big tech) in this story.
- UPS United Parcel Service+7.2% 17d
United Parcel Service (trucking and courier services (no air)): freight and delivery firms move with trade volumes. Linked by “rail” (transport and logistics) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QQQ | -1.57% | +0.81% | base | -3.48% | -4.74% | -4.32% | after close |
| AIQ | -1.03% | +1.19% | base | -4.53% | -6.12% | -5.91% | after close |
| IYT | -1.72% | +0.71% | base | +0.07% | +1.84% | +1.42% | after close |
| GOOGL | +12.93% | +13.06% | base | -1.29% | -1.59% | -1.62% | after close |
| MSFT | -1.13% | +0.22% | base | -1.59% | -4.41% | -3.93% | after close |
| META | +2.84% | -0.70% | base | -1.54% | -2.86% | -2.14% | after close |
| AMZN | +1.73% | +3.85% | base | -1.40% | +0.81% | +1.38% | after close |
| UPS | -5.83% | -1.09% | base | +0.89% | +2.23% | +1.43% | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
West Virginia wants more data centers, even as other states slam the brakes on them.
Source: MarketWatch
This story
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ | that day | -4.53% | final price |
| AIQ | the next day | -6.12% | final price |
| AIQ | two days later | -5.91% | still updating |
| AIQ | three days earlier | +1.19% | final price |
| AIQ | five days earlier | -1.03% | final price |
| AMZN | that day | -1.40% | final price |
| AMZN | the next day | +0.81% | final price |
| AMZN | two days later | +1.38% | still updating |
| AMZN | three days earlier | +3.85% | final price |
| AMZN | five days earlier | +1.73% | final price |
| GOOGL | that day | -1.29% | final price |
| GOOGL | the next day | -1.59% | final price |
| GOOGL | two days later | -1.62% | still updating |
| GOOGL | three days earlier | +13.06% | final price |
| GOOGL | five days earlier | +12.93% | final price |
| IYT | that day | +0.07% | final price |
| IYT | the next day | +1.84% | final price |
| IYT | two days later | +1.42% | still updating |
| IYT | three days earlier | +0.71% | final price |
| IYT | five days earlier | -1.72% | final price |
| META | that day | -1.54% | final price |
| META | the next day | -2.86% | final price |
| META | two days later | -2.14% | still updating |
| META | three days earlier | -0.70% | final price |
| META | five days earlier | +2.84% | final price |
| MSFT | that day | -1.59% | final price |
| MSFT | the next day | -4.41% | final price |
| MSFT | two days later | -3.93% | still updating |
| MSFT | three days earlier | +0.22% | final price |
| MSFT | five days earlier | -1.13% | final price |
| QQQ | that day | -3.48% | final price |
| QQQ | the next day | -4.74% | final price |
| QQQ | two days later | -4.32% | still updating |
| QQQ | three days earlier | +0.81% | final price |
| QQQ | five days earlier | -1.57% | final price |
| UPS | that day | +0.89% | final price |
| UPS | the next day | +2.23% | final price |
| UPS | two days later | +1.43% | still updating |
| UPS | three days earlier | -1.09% | final price |
| UPS | five days earlier | -5.83% | final price |
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Alphabet (GOOGL), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Sep 2026. That is 46 days before publication. Filed 18 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Alphabet (GOOGL) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 56 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr sold Alphabet (GOOGL), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 12 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 28 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Lisa McClain bought Microsoft (MSFT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 30 Sep 2026. That is 30 days before publication. Filed 12 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael Rulli sold Microsoft (MSFT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Sep 2026. That is 32 days before publication. Filed 2 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Meta Platforms (META), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 36 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Meta Platforms (META) (held by a dependent child), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 37 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Meta Platforms (META), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 22 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Oct 2026. That is 3 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 28 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
This story
12 out of 100Price not final
“Data centers are a political third rail. West Virginia is grabbing it anyway.” scores 12 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources. The price is not final yet.