CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with its counterparts in Ohio and Pennsylvania to create a space initiative.
The initiative, meant to highlight the rich resources in the region, is a collaboration among those three states’ chambers of commerce. West Virginia Chamber of Commerce President Steve Roberts said on MetroNews “Midday” Monday that the Mountain State is a perfect spot to be part of the initiative.
“We have a very vital aeronautics industry in West Virginia,” Roberts said. “Much of it is located in north-central West Virginia. We also have the energy that any space initiative needs. West Virginia is the fourth-largest energy-producing state in the nation when we put it all together, fifth-largest natural gas-producing state, we’re the second-largest coal-producing state.”
Roberts said the initiative is all about raising awareness of the resources in the region.
“The three chambers — the Ohio, the Pennsylvania, and the West Virginia chamber of commerce — have come together to work on promoting our entire region as a good place to grow the space initiative,” Roberts said.
Author and former NASA engineer Homer Hickam has been talking up West Virginia and the positives of the state, Roberts said. Hickam is known for his New York Times bestselling memoir Rocket Boys. Roberts said it’s great to have Hickam’s support.
The three states’ chambers of commerce will gather for a meeting in October. Roberts said that U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice are interested in the space initiative and could attend the meeting. As the conversations advance, Roberts said, they’re going to try and get President Donald Trump and Congress leadership on board with the region.
“We’re going to be able to talk about all the things that are connected to taking us into space and keeping us in space,” Roberts said. “What metals do we need? What technology do we need? What rare earths do we need? What kind of fuel do we need?”
Roberts said in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, there are plenty of cities who address those needs. In addition, he said with R-1 institutions such as West Virginia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Case Western Reserve University, research opportunities are boundless.
“Can we produce those things in a region that includes cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Wheeling, Morgantown?” Roberts said. “Obviously, when you start naming those places, that brings a lot of brain power and people power into the equation.”
The distinction with this space initiative is that the region would provide machinery more so than launch pads, Roberts noted. He added that a “rising tide lifts all boats;” the initiative benefits all three states, not just one.
“If we can create the components here, if we can create everything from the bodies of satellites or rockets, the fuel that might propel them, the technology that goes into them,” Roberts said, “that will bring increased prosperity to the region.”