MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The chairman of the House of Delegates Energy Committee on Wednesday said West Virginia needs to move forward with embracing other sources of energy.
The comments by Delegate Bill Anderson, R-Wood, on “MetroNews Talkline” came in light of First Energy’s announcement this week it will go carbon neutral by 2050. The company’s first goal is a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
“If we want to be in competition for those kinds of investments by these kinds of corporations, we’re going to have to offer what they seem to be looking for,” Anderson said.
The Wood County delegate said the transition has to be gradual to lessen the impact on people in the coal industry and prevent interruptions.
Anderson cited rolling blackouts in California over the summer, in which experts have noted reliance on renewable energy and natural gas as factors.
“Coal is by far the baseload generator at this time,” he added.
First Energy is the parent company of Potomac Edison Company and Monongahela Power Company, also known as Mon Power.