CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice’s resurrection of the Public Energy Authority is hailed by some and panned by others.
Among those who like the idea is Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association. Hamilton believes the authority will be valuable in helping to promote and revive the coal industry, particularly in the area of electric generation.
Chris Hamilton, @WV_coal1 President, joins @HoppyKercheval to discuss the reconstitution of the Public Energy Authority. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/ZJfbZONr7k
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) August 11, 2021
“We have to embrace the future and these oncoming intermittent base fuels such as wind and solar, but at the same time, we’re not prepared to totally abandon our fossil energy assets,” Hamilton said in a visit on MetroNews Talkline.
Also on Talkline, Monongalia County Delegate Evan Hansen, a Democrat and noted environmentalist, doubted the sincerity of Hamilton’s suggestion of embracing an “all of the above” energy future.
“When some people say, ‘all of the above’ they mean coal, oil , and gas and exclude the others and if you look at the authorizing legislation of the Public Energy Authority, it’s all about fossil fuel development,” Hansen said.
Justice announced the restart of the authority, after it had been mothballed for almost a decade, last weekend. He identified it as an opportunity to help the coal and natural gas industries which he believed had been unwisely dismissed by those pressing for an end to fossil fuels. Hanson acknowledged there would be a place for coal in the future in the production of steel, but said power generation from coal is rapidly fading away.
“The unfortunate reality for West Virginia is the coal fired power plants are going to shut down in the 2020’s or 2030’s. It’s just the reality,” Hanson said.
.@HansenForWV talks with @HoppyKercheval about his objection to the reconstitution of the state Public Energy Authority. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/xQVOvjRHZ6
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) August 11, 2021
Justice noted it’s premature and unwise to suddenly dismiss coal and gas as baseload fuels. The Governor claimed technology for wind, solar, and other alternative fuels is not at the level where it could fully drive the nation’s energy needs.
Some, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, worried about the possibility of the Authority actually getting into the electric business. It’s conceivable the authority could own and operate the coal fired power facilities. Hamilton denied that’s a consideration.
“I learned a long time ago never say never, but I can clearly say acquiring, operating, and the state getting into the financing of coal fired plants has not been discussed,” Hamilton said.
But for Hansen, whether it’s been discussed or not seemed irrelevant. He said the legislation was crafted to pave the way for it to happen.
“This is going to lead toward new policies and use of tax payer money to invest in an industry that is shrinking and that is not going to grow in the future,” Hansen said.