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. Pennsylvania received just five new permits, and some of those were reissued permits. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
Any additional costs would have to be brought to the PSC in a new rate case. Thats sure to give the nutters in the WV Sierra Club heartburn. We have an incredible manufacturing base and a great workforce training program thats going to produce a lot of good for our beautiful state, Justice said. 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. The severance tax is 3.95 percent. Oct 18, 2022. The plant also represents the largest taxpayer in Pleasants County and is truly the heart and soul of the community.. Copyright Weirton Daily Times | https://www.weirtondailytimes.com | 114 Lee Ave., Weirton, WV 26062 | 304-748-0606. The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) heard testimony Friday from Mon Power officials about a proposal to spare the Pleasants Power Station from closure. A spokesman for the governor did not respond to a media request. Please reload the page and try again. The secondary schools those students attend could also take a hit. Burning coal emits vast quantities of carbon dioxide, which is hastening climate change around the globe. Members of the public weighed in on the fate of the Pleasants Power Station near Belmont, which is set to be closed June 1 unless an alternative comes through. Among them, Pleasants employs 154 people and provides $1.75 million annually to the county in property taxes. A request for comment from Nutter was not returned, while contact information for Taylor was not immediately available. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323. 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.. 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. 2023 An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. On April 27, 1978, 51 men climbed the scaffolding of their workplace to continue the upward construction of a cooling tower at the Willow Island Power Station in Pleasants County. After the car wreck that took Mumaw on Sunday on Route 16, Pleasants County Schools and other schools in the community are still finding ways of honoring her memory. The severance tax is 3.95 percent. A separate company called U.S. Methanol is building a plant in Institute, Kanawha County. The threat of that closing down I think has got people kind of pulling back, he said. Standing by and watching a coal-fired power plant close without trying to do anything to prevent it didnt make sense to me. Copyright 2021 WTAP. But that may change. If the Pleasants plant could compete in the free market, they wouldnt be shutting it down.. Proposed rates from West Virginia American Water could mean more expensive water bills. 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. If there was a resolution before me to keep Fort Martin open, I would have supported that as well. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. One hundred percent of our energies have got to be toward either that plant remaining open as a coal-fired power plant or it being repurposed, he said. As a result, the company plans to sell or close the plant next year. Continue reading, Last week Pennsylvania issued just 8 new permits for Marcellus/Utica drilling, down a bit from previous weeks. Explore Explore . The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. Van Nostrand said the news of the Pleasants plants possible closure seemed inevitable. They recognize that the necessity of that coal-fired power plant on a safety and security level.. We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. of Environmental Protection, which maintains the database, and they got it fixed sometime last night. 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. The PSC said the Mon Power/Potomac Edison interim temporary solution for Pleasants Power was reasonable. Pennsylvania had the lions share with 19 new permitsmost of those (10) were issued for two Chesapeake Energy well pads in Bradford County in the northeastern part of the state. 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. Find Us . Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet They are urging Mon Power to buy the facility from the current owner, First Energy. And new emissions regulations have increased the expenses borne by coal-burning power plants. Forms . Continue reading, West Virginia Gov. Sayre doesnt know what will happen to his store if the plant closes, but he knows it wont be good. The Ritchie County Sheriffs Office said the crash happened on Route 16 Sunday evening. Janet Kunicki/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Listen The debate over the Pleasants Power Station isnt just about the So were back! The plant in Pleasants County is designed to produce 900 metric tons of high-purity methanol from natural gas each day. 22-0793-E-ENEC can be sent to P.O. Weve just been so fortunate to have [the power plant] for all these years, Bailey said. But Im glad we have a delta rather than before when all we had before was were considering it. Now weve at least got a delta.. Pepper, as well as WVUs Van Nostrand, cited one out of Centralia, Washington. The average customer would see an increase of $15 on their water bill under the proposed rates. One other delegate replied but said he didnt feel familiar enough with the full issue to be able to comment. 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. Authorities searching for person of interest in Huntington house fire. The very first thing that happens is researchers must locate who owns a given property, and then landmen head into the field to get them to sign a lease. According to the direct source, the JIC determined that Nutter and Taylor acted improperly in accepting the agreements between the Prosecutors Office and defense attorneys for dismissing the misdemeanor charges. Superintendent: Michael Wells ; Schools . Not on the WV DEP website. It has been a long process for us in selecting the ideal site for our flagship project, which we plan to be the first of many across the state, the region, and the world, said Lars Scott, executive vice president of West Virginia Methanol. The Dominion Posts Ben Conley talked to Commissioner Tom Bloom, who said, The concern is, its given the appearance its one or the other, Pleasants or Fort Martin, rather than looking at both individually on its merits, and that worries us. According to sources, the ODC and JIC started investigating the Slow Down program last year. The WV Dept. The West Virginia State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the fires. Pleasants County already feels like home to us and we look forward to working with everyone to bring this project through construction and into operation.. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont, is a 1,300-megawatt coal-fired power plant. Breaking News. Now that we have the ask or the delta of where we need to go, now lets let folks dig into the weeds and see what we come back with, Justice said. However, around 10 a.m. the massive tangle of scaffolding, which was connected to the inside walls of the tower itself, pulled loose and the entire structure crashed to the ground. This reduction in funding would come at the worst possible time, said the foundations executive director, Sheri Fleegle. Severance tax revenue was a large part of the budget surplus the state accumulated last year. Brewers body was taken to the state medical examiners office for an autopsy, he said. 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. I think we ought to let the PSC do their job and everything and let them dig into all the details, Justice said. We dont often see Ohio issue more permits in a week than Pennsylvania. For the time being, Powell said all the focus has to be on making sure that doesnt happen. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. Our apologies that this latest weekly permit update is a day late. 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. 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. Continue reading, A healthy number of permits were issued to drill new shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region last week. Mon Power officials told the commission that they need approval by next week to impose a $3 million a month surcharge on ratepayers to keep the Pleasants plant from shutting down at the end of May. 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. Shortly after, Mr. Proponents cited the crucial role the plant serves in Pleasants County by providing jobs and tax revenue. None of the 51 workers on the towers scaffolding at the time survived the collapse. Methanol is an important component for industrial products and feedstock for chemical companies. WebNewsBreak provides latest and breaking Pleasants County, WV local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, 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.. It would be a blow to the community financially. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe away misdemeanors in exchange for hefty fees that some are calling Santa-Gate.. WebDiscover Pleasants County, WVs population & how it has changed over time. Will Trump Back Justice, Mooney or None of the Above. Ohio issued 10 new permits. Tomblin and Burdette want a signing bonus AND a hefty royalty to boot. 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. An economic boom followed. Sheriff: Chuck Mankins 305 Barkwill Street St. Pleasants County If you cant be here in person, you can still submit a written comment.. Douglas Soule is a Report for America corps member who covers business and economic development. Beyond the immediate expense of the bailout, $80-$120 million in improvements are needed for the plant to comply with water pollution standards.. We were told that it could be in the very near future that Fort Martin was going to close. PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. We scoured our own MDN archives. Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate, Carr said in an email Wednesday morning. City modifying lease with ballpark and upgrading a west-side intersection. The companies are seeking an order from the PSC no later than April 25 authorizing the companies to enter into a letter of intent with Texas-based Energy Transition and Environmental Management to operate the plant from June to May 2024. In 2018, residents were shook by an announcement that the plant could close. Steve Adams can be reached at sadams@newsansentinel.com. The land records room at the Wood County, WV Courthouse has not seen a lot of oil and gas lease researchyet. A spokesperson for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals could neither confirm nor deny ODC or JIC investigations in Pleasants County. The ages, races, and population density of Pleasants County, West Virginia tell 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. Now, if the plant closes, he worries he might have to lay some of his employees off. A company called West Virginia Methanol says it plans a $350-million plant in Pleasants County, resulting in 30 jobs. MOUNT LOOKOUT, W.Va. The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. Its not just plant employees and their families that would be affected by a closure. 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. There were 33 new permits issued last week vs. 61 two weeks ago. Gov. Officials said the site is also conveniently located for regional methanol customers who currently transport methanol from the U.S. Gulf Coast or from other countries. Forcing ratepayers to pay even more to keep an unprofitable plant open will only add to this burden. ST. MARYS It was an uncharacteristically calm moment for a weekday afternoon in the Bank Barber Shop. PLEASANTS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - Meet Zuri! 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.. Starsick said he did not have information at this time on why Brewer began shooting. And for the past four decades, its benefited economically from the Pleasants Power Station: a coal-fired power plant only a few miles south of Baileys downtown barber shop. Delegate Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, said, I can assure you that in any discussions I was involved in, it was never mentioned that if they were to keep Pleasants Power Station open they would need to retire another plant. 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. Methanol plants use a LOT of natural gas. Justice said now that Mon Power and Potomac Edisons cards were on the table, it was important for the PSC to review their proposal. The state Public Service Commissions Consumer Advocate Divisionrecommended both actions: run Pleasants and close Fort Martin. Theres models for this. Therell be a big impact on the community, Bailey said. On Monday, the West Virginia Public Service Commission gave Mon Power and Potomac Edison the go-ahead to negotiate a deal to keep the Pleasants plant from shutting down next month. And West Virginia just a single new permit. West Virginia issued 9 new permitsall but 2 of them were issued to Antero Resources in Tyler County. 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. We are committed to lifting up voices that arent always heard and spotlighting solutions that are making a difference. All Rights Reserved by Recently Booked, 10 people were booked in the last 30 days, (Last updated on 5/1/2023 11:22:59 AM EST). The ODC investigates lawyers in the state, while the JIC investigates justices, judges, and magistrates. Im under that stress to make sure this is successful for them and for me.. [My dad] said, Whats going on? 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. At this point, he said, the question is whether they close in the 2020s or 2030s. A company spokesman denied an interview request and did not respond to emailed questions. 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.
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