Severance tax revenue was a large part of the budget surplus the state accumulated last year. The PSC gave the companies until March 31 to submit a report to the commission on the feasibility of purchasing Pleasants Power separate from an approved $91.9 million increase in the Expanded Net Energy Costs surcharge at the end of 2022. Ohio received four permits. Janet Kunicki/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Listen The debate over the Pleasants Power Station isnt just about the We find that when balancing the interest of the current and future customers, the general interests of the States economy and interests of the companies, the Interim Solution Proposal is in the public interest and should be approved, the order continued. We were told that it could be in the very near future that Fort Martin was going to close. As energy companies across the country retire older coal plants in favor of facilities that use cleaner, cheaper natural gas and renewables, the Pleasants Power Stations owner last month announced a goal of becoming 100% carbon free. Emmett Pepper, policy director for Energy Efficient West Virginia, says the writing has been on the wall for a while about a transition away from coal power, as the country moves towards a more carbon-neutral economy. Thursday, April 27, will mark 45 years since 51 workers died when one of the plants cooling towers collapsed due to green concrete, considered one of the worst construction accidents in U.S. history at the time. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. Weve been blessed with multiple inquiries, he said of companies that are interested in lengthening the plants life. I think they must think long and hard to the fact that we may not have the reliable capacity in all situations to retire any plants at this point.. Continue reading, Last week 24 permits were issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. Around 7 p.m. Sunday, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to 3593 Federal Ridge Road a few miles outside of St. Marys and found a mobile home engulfed in flames, Starsick said. Originally slated for closure in 2018, Pleasants has received millions in bailouts from state Republican leaders that have extended its life for years. West Virginia Methanol is working on permitting and final design details for the site. In response to our questions, he said, The only question before me was concerning the preservation of the Pleasants Power Station and the many coal jobs associated with it, and I voted yes. The costs of the proposed bailout would fall squarely on Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers, as all power plants owned by regulated utilities are paid for by customers, including the costs of purchasing, operating, and maintaining the power plants, according to the group. WebPleasants County Schools 202 Fairview Dr St. Marys, WV 26170 (304) 684-2215 (304) 684-3569. Continue reading, West Virginia Gov. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. Powell said while hes worried about the future of the plant, hes a lot more hopeful now than when Energy Harbor announced the transition in March. Proponents of keeping the plant open point to the jobs it provides, as well as to the economic support it continues PLEASANTS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - On April 27, 1978, the second cooling tower under construction for the Pleasants Power Station collapsed, killing 51 men working in and around the tower. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Representatives of two power companies have identified additional expenses and the likelihood of a more restrictive timeline for taking over the Pleasants Power Station, which is set to close in a few weeks. You can read our previous coverage of this story here. of Environmental Protections (DEP) Division of Air Quality held a virtual meeting yesterday to address public comments on the project. The plant also represents the largest taxpayer in Pleasants County and is truly the heart and soul of the community.. Douglas Soule is a Report for America corps member who covers business and economic development. Burning coal emits vast quantities of carbon dioxide, which is hastening climate change around the globe. Earl Ray Tomblin is a pro-drilling Democratan unusual occurrence. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. During the debate on whether or not Mon Power and Potomac Edison should buy Pleasants Power State and keep it running, whats not been Thursday, April 27, will mark 45 years since 51 workers died when one of the plants cooling towers collapsed due to green concrete, considered one of the worst construction accidents in U.S. history at the time. Zuri is a beagle-mix and is about 6 months old. A separate company called U.S. Methanol is building a plant in Institute, Kanawha County. ST. MARYS, W.Va. (WTAP) - A woman is behind bars Monday after Pleasants County authorities said she left the scene of Oct 18, 2022. Copyright Weirton Daily Times | https://www.weirtondailytimes.com | 114 Lee Ave., Weirton, WV 26062 | 304-748-0606. Officers returned fire but an autopsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death, said 1st Sgt. He weighs 22 pounds. But any good father, any good parent, would want to make sure their son or daughter had not necessarily the most expensive life, but be able to have a running start on life.. Pleasants County has a rich history, centered in the growth of the chemical industry, said Diane Braun, executive director of the Pleasants County Development Not on the WV DEP website. West Virginia issued 8 new shale permits last week, with five going to a company we had not previously heard of. Slow Down for the Holidays, usually conducted from October to mid-December each year, allows motorists who receive traffic citations to have those citations dismissed in exchange for the donation of a $50 gift card or the purchase of toys valued at $50 for holiday gift drives in the county. Van Nostrand said the news of the Pleasants plants possible closure seemed inevitable. ST. MARYS The West Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a Pleasants County man who reportedly shot at emergency personnel responding to a fire on his property Sunday. When the records room for a given county starts to be overrun with researchers, thats a sure sign that Marcellus (or Utica) Shale drilling is on the way. Fort Martin however, employs about 180 people, according to the FirstEnergy fact sheet on the plant, and provides Mon County $3.4 million in annual property taxes 26 more employees and just shy of double what Pleasants pays. [My dad] said, Whats going on? Rodney Sayre, owner of St. Marys Hardware, said the announcement alone has hurt his business. Two FirstEnergy subsidiaries, Monongahela Power Co. and Potomac Edison Co., have sought to enter into a letter of PLEASANTS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - The future of the Pleasants Power Station has seen much public debate since FirstEnergy announced its intentions to shut the plant down last year. According to two resolutions adopted by the House of Delegates and state Senate, the plant has a $400 million economic impact for Pleasants County and the surrounding Mid-Ohio Valley. Pleasants Power Station The next few days will highlight arguments over how far the public is willing to go in saving a 150-employee West Virginia power plant. Once the shooting investigation is completed, Starsick said the information will be turned over to the Pleasants County Prosecutors Office, which is expected to present it to a grand jury. Proposed rates from West Virginia American Water could mean more expensive water bills. We dont often see Ohio issue more permits in a week than Pennsylvania. It would be a blow to the community financially. CHARLESTON On the eve of an evidentiary hearing to decide whether ratepayers will have to shell out more money in order to keep the Pleasants Power plant idling, supporters and detractors of plan made their voices heard Thursday. To the best of our knowledge, no one personally benefited in any way other than the individual motor vehicle operator and members of the community who were identified as, or known to have, a family need or in need of assistance, Carr said. Bailey has lived in Pleasants County long enough to remember life before the power plant. His dad worked to build it: he was assigned to help erect one of its cooling towers, but was in the hospital on April 27, 1978, when the tower collapsed mid-construction. Company officials said last week those negotiations are ongoing. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. Latest trends. Jim Justice participates in an economic develop announcement with Lars Scott, executive vice president of West Virginia Methanol. The chosen site formerly housed an industrial plant. West Virginia had three new permits, one in Pleasants County and two in Marshall County. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe Beyond its 154 direct employees, the power plant employs thousands of temporary union workers during its maintenance periods, as well as coal miners in the Northern Panhandle who help supply the plant. The community level of Covid-19 in Pleasants County is low based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. The Commission determines that it would be imprudent for the Companies to sit idly by while a large base load thermal power plant in their West Virginia service area, and that they once owned a portion of, is demolished without taking all steps possible to keep the plant operative, the PSC order stated. See All Posts . If you just step back and think about it, thats 154 jobs right there in Pleasants County. And new emissions regulations have increased the expenses borne by coal-burning power plants. It is exciting to be part of an enduring partnership that can amplify our joint commitment to the manufacturing sector, Braun said. Pennsylvania issued 19 new permits in both southwest and northeast PA. Ohio issued 8 new permits, all of them to a single driller (Ascent Resources) for two well pads in two different counties. PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. To search and filter the Mugshots for Pleasants County, West Virginia simply click on the at the top of the page. The secondary schools those students attend could also take a hit. ST. MARYS, W.Va. Thursday marks the 45th anniversary of one of West Virginias darkest days and one of the most horrific construction accidents in United States history. We scoured our own MDN archives. Plus, theres the pollution. Pleasants County Schools 202 Fairview Dr St. Marys, WV 26170 (304) 684-2215 (304) 684-3569. Carr declined to comment further, only to say that the Slow Down for the Holidays program is paused pending the outcome of the various investigations. I support the ongoing effort to preserve a predictable source of electricity. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont in Pleasants County near the Wood County border, was commissioned in 1979 and fully operational in 1980. Copyright 2021 WTAP. A company spokesman denied an interview request and did not respond to emailed questions. And to answer your final question, he said, we always need all the relevant information before us to make a decision that affects our constituents, and with this information that they are putting out to the PSC I would more than likely look at this in a different view. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. The total number of permits across PA, OH and WV last week were down by about half from the week before. Mankins said Turner and Hause lived together. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. Operating under the banner of West Virginians for Energy Freedom (WV4EF), they argue it is unfair to keep the plant open on the backs of ratepayers. Our thanks to the programmers at the DEP. DEP has already decided to issue a permit for the project. From: West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. We were informed this was a possibility that could happen, so we were going with Longview 2 [Longviews new combined-cycle gas-fired plant] and hoping that would be online. Find Us . Were just trying to feed [our] family, he said. Methanol plants convert natural gas into methanol, used as a chemical feedstock (raw material) to create other things, like gasoline, antifreeze, plastic bottleseven LED and LCD screens. of Environmental Protection has gotten a signed consent order from Antero Resources assessing a fine of $93,000 on the company for pollution of waterways in several WV counties related to installing pipelines. Instead, the companies submitted a request to the PSC to approve its interim plan to keep Pleasants Power functional, along with a $36 million temporary surcharge for Mon Power/Potomac Edison residential, commercial, and industrial customers in North Central West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle. The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, said, As a member of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee, I attended a briefing this session that showed members how close our entire region came to losing power across the PJM during the very brief, but powerful cold front that moved through just prior to Christmas. WebWelcome to the Pleasants County Assessors Website Here you will find information about this office and resources on property and taxes here in Pleasants County. I'm interested in (please check all that apply). And I said, Dad, I think you just lost a lot of friends, he said. By the time he got to the hospital, the tower was down. The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. ST. MARYS The Pleasants County Solid Waste Authority will hold its annual electronics recycling collection from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Earth Day, at the Momentive Performance Materials Plant, 10851 Energy Highway, in Friendly. 1 / 3. Sheriff: Chuck Mankins 305 Barkwill Street St. Pleasants County This is a passive informational site providing organization of public data, obtainable by anyone. CHARLESTON Gov. Brewer was found deceased upstairs, Starsick said. For Doug Renner one of more than 150 people employed by the plant news of a possible closure puts not only stress and strain on him, but his entire family. Therell be a big impact on the community, Bailey said. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
Pennsylvania received just five new permits, and some of those were reissued permits. Powell said the county has continually worked to diversify its economy recently, for example, a methanol plant announced it would be coming to the area. We are committed to lifting up voices that arent always heard and spotlighting solutions that are making a difference. None of the 51 workers on the towers scaffolding at the time survived the collapse. With its local coal mine gone and its power plant soon to follow, the company owning both agreed to provide $55 million over a decade to fund an economic transition. The West Virginia Public Service Commission is authorizing power companies to continue negotiating a potential purchase of the coal-fired Pleasants Power Station, which has a scheduled retirement date of May 31, 2023. Continue reading, #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }
Now that the country is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, these plants will likely shut down even sooner. According to Wilderness Fire Chief Noah Allen, the victim was 79 years of age. But asked specifically, the companies said this week in an email exchange: As stated in the filing and in last weeks hearings, the companies are unable to make any recommendation on the purchase of the Pleasants plant and respectively whether Fort Martins status will be addressed as part of any recommendation, as we believe additional studies and analysis are required before a decision can be made., The two legislative resolutions urging Mon Power to buy Pleasants cite the economic advantages to the state. Copyright 2023. According to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation who declined to be identified, the Pleasants County Prosecutors Office got involved with the program three years ago. If were not generating that money, then were going to have to look at [cutting] anything from programs to potentially some positions, Wells said. Latest example: Barely a month ago WV officials announced they will lease the land under portions of the Ohio River, to allow Marcellus/Utica drilling (see State of WV Looks to Lease Area Under Ohio River for Drilling). But the plants long life may be nearing an end. Continue reading, Last October MDN told you that a company called West Virginia Methanol Inc. has selected a site in Pleasants County, WV to develop to build a $350 million methanol plant (see WV Announces New $350M Methanol Plant in Pleasants County). In Pleasants County, concern about what comes next is widespread. We scoured the web. City modifying lease with ballpark and upgrading a west-side intersection. Forcing ratepayers to pay even more to keep an unprofitable plant open will only add to this burden. Written comments for Case No. West Virginias House of Delegates and State Senate have both passed resolutions to keep the Pleasants Power Plant near Saint Marys up and running. WebGov. Beyond its 154 direct employees, the power plant employs thousands of temporary union workers during its maintenance periods, as well as coal miners in the Northern Panhandle who help supply the plant. Continue reading, All three M-U states received permits to drill new shale wells last week, but not a lot. Dozens of The surcharge would increase costs for residential customers by $2.67 per month, $8.44 per month for commercial customers and $4,416 for industrial customers. Coal prices have recently been over $100 a ton. As the state senator who represents the community that is home to the National Energy Technology Laboratory, if Im not willing to stand up for fossil fuel power generation who is? Energy Harbor, which owns the coal-fired power plant in Pleasants County along the Ohio River, is going carbon-free so it has targeted the plant for closure at the end of May. After the exchange of gunfire, emergency personnel noticed the cabin was on fire as well, Starsick said. All but one local legislator voted in favor of their respective resolutions which the Senate adopted unanimously and the House adopted 93-2 and a handful responded to our request for comment. One car was traveling northbound when it hit another car that was going southbound head-on. A loss of jobs whether from the plant itself or businesses like Sayres could lead to reduced support for organizations like Pleasants Community Foundation, which gives out scholarships and grants. USAFacts uses Census data to break down the population of Pleasants County by race, age,and more. In Ohio, three new shale permits were issued. Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate, Carr said in an email Wednesday morning. The PSC is accepting written and online public comments. He has served as editor-in-chief Both Nutter and Taylor resigned their magistrate positions on Aug. 13. Hes running for county commission in the upcoming election, and calls the area a modern- day Mayberry, referring to the quaint and friendly town from The Andy Griffith Show.. Authorities searching for person of interest in Huntington house fire. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont, is a 1,300-megawatt coal-fired power plant. They worry the next possible one might devastate them. Now, if the plant closes, he worries he might have to lay some of his employees off. The power plant began operations the next year, in 1979. A spokesman for the governor did not respond to a media request. I think we ought to let the PSC do their job and everything and let them dig into all the details, Justice said. Will Trump Back Justice, Mooney or None of the Above. Pleasants County Schools ; Belmont Elementary School ; He wouldnt reveal any names, but said there have been three kinds of groups interested in the plant: companies that want to repurpose the facility as a hydrogen power plant, coal companies interested in keeping the plant powered by coal, and groups interested in doing the same but using the electricity for cryptocurrency mining. The plant will no longer generate electricity, requiring new federal approvals in the future. We are a nonprofit investigative newsroom that exists to give West Virginians the information they need to make our state a better place. 22-0793-E-ENEC can be sent to P.O. For Doug Renner, leaving would be a last resort. Brewers body was taken to the state medical examiners office for an autopsy, he said. The State Public Service Commission is deciding what should be done with the Pleasants Power Station. But he says its necessary to invest other resources in areas where the coal industry has been displaced, or soon will be. This reduction in funding would come at the worst possible time, said the foundations executive director, Sheri Fleegle. Copyright Marietta Times | https://www.mariettatimes.com | 700 Channel Lane, Marietta, OH 45750 | 740-373-2121, Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate,, The Slow Down for the Holidays community service program has been in existence for many years and has been utilized on a limited number of occasions,, It was understood by law enforcement as an alternative legal mechanism to address only a narrow scope of criminal traffic offenses without any impediment to other government sanctions imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles., To the best of our knowledge, no one personally benefited in any way other than the individual motor vehicle operator and members of the community who were identified as, or known to have, a family need or in need of assistance,, Per the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure, JIC matters are confidential unless the JIC issues an admonishment or formal charges have been brought,, As of today, no admonishments have been issued by the JIC and no formal charges have been filed with the Supreme Court Clerks Office., Further comment at this time cannot be made so that the investigation can be completed without impact from any form of printed or social media comment,, I will allow my legal counsel to address any further requests for comment, and I will continue to serve the people of Pleasants County in the fair administration of justice.. Gov. Forms . With the loss of jobs, there is going to be a greater need for the kinds of funds that we provide, particularly the student scholarships, she said. Chief Justice Evan Jenkins appointed Senior Status Magistrate Teresa Robinson to serve as magistrate in the county until 3rd Circuit Court Judge Tim Sweeney appointed replacement magistrates. Speaking during his weekly virtual administration briefing from the Capitol, Justice said he was pleased that FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiaries Monongahela Power Co. and Potomac Edison Co. submitted a plan to the PSC at the end of March to operate the plant for a 12-month period while it considers a more permanent proposal. On the eve of a deadline set by two FirstEnergy subsidiaries, the West Virginia Public Service Commission gave its approval Monday for the plan that will keep the Pleasants Power Plant warmed up and its workers employed for 12 months, while ratepayers pick up the tab. Jim Justice made the announcement Monday via livestream with company and local officials.
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