ST. MARYS, W.Va. – Pleasants County Senator Donna Boley is more than excited with the news that a ethane cracker facility is being considered in her district.
“It’s great,” said the Republican shortly after hearing the news.
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is set to make a major economic announcement Thursday afternoon at WVU-Parkersburg’s Caperton Center for Applied Technology.
MetroNews has learned Brazilian company, Odebrecht, has purchased a large tract of land along the Ohio River at Washington. The company is interested in building a multi-billion dollar cracker facility on that site.
Boley’s district, which covers Pleasants, Wood, Wirt and part of Roane County, would benefit greatly from the project. She said she hasn’t been given the details but, from what she’s heard, it’s a game changer.
“It’s going to mean a lot for Wood County and surrounding counties,” she explained.
She has high hopes the facility will open up new opportunities for a state with many young people heading elsewhere to find work.
“I can hope it would mean keeping our kids here in West Virginia,” said Boley.
An ethane cracker would employ thousands of workers. Those jobs tend to be high paying. Boley stressed, at a time when West Virginia is struggling, this is amazing news.