CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rockwool announced Tuesday it has hired a state lawmaker as its public affairs manager in the Eastern Panhandle.
House Majority Whip Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, will serve as a representation of the company to the public. The decision comes as Rockwool continues to build an insulation facility in the Eastern Panhandle, a move that has gained much controversy.
“I’ve been a long-time advocate for economic development not only in Jefferson County but West Virginia, and just felt I could play a productive role in helping members of the community obtain the information they need in order to make an informed decision on the Rockwool facility but also help Rockwool deliver on their commitment to being a good corporate citizen here in Jefferson County,” Espinosa told MetroNews this afternoon.
The Danish company is in the process of building the facility, which has received negative attention because of its proximity to local schools.
Espinosa said he knew little about Rockwool when plans for the facility were first announced in July 2017, adding he was also concerned about the plant’s impact until speaking to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
“Essentially, what I was told by West Virginia DEP officials was that no state in the country would have denied the permit that they’ve been awarded,” he said. “Frankly, the more I did my due diligence, the more I concluded that many of the assertions that are being put forth by some of the opponents of the project did not match the facts.”
The facility is not in Espinosa’s district, House District 66.
According to Espinosa, the plant is on track to open in the fall of 2020.