CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s recently announced energy plan continues to garner reaction.
The “50 by 50” plan would increase the energy generation capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050, up from the current 15 gigawatts.
Coal Association President Chris Hamilton said the initiative and policy direction from the White House has been a 180-degree turn from the previous administration.
“Everybody knows what happened here under former President Joe Biden in his goal and objective of eliminating coal-fired electricity from the nation’s electric grid,” Hamilton said.
West Virginia Office of Energy Director Nick Preservati said the initiative is a necessity.
“In The PJM transmission area alone, that 13 state area it’s over 110 gigawatts that we need just to stay where we’re at and meet our standard of living,” Preservati said last week on MetroNews “Talkline.” ” So, if we don’t act as a state, not just for West Virginia but for the country there’s real concern moving forward.”
An executive order signed by President Trump in April says in part, “Coal is abundant and cost-effective and can be used in any weather condition. Moreover, the industry has historically employed hundreds of thousands of Americans. America’s coal resources are vast, with a current estimated value in the trillions of dollars, and are more than capable of substantially contributing to American energy independence with excess to export to support allies and our economic competitiveness.”
Preservati said this is an opportunity for West Virginia that we haven’t seen in decades.
“In what’s going on in energy right now, West Virginia I think is the number one state in the country that could benefit from this,” he said.
The language from the White House and Morrisey has coal producers and electricity generators taking a second and third look at previous projections.
“Every single utility and every generator of electricity is revising their production and demand forecasts over the next 10 to 15 years,” Hamilton said. “It’s a remarkable phenomenon we are experiencing with this increased electrical demand.”
Hamilton said they are talking to veteran coal miners who left the industry about returning and talking to vocational institutions about reestablishing programs to provide training and education for the next generation of miners.
“We’re talking to our technical and career centers trying to get those reestablished as they once were,” Hamilton said. “So, our next generation of miners can get properly trained and certified.”