Ohio had just two new permits, both on the same Southwestern Energy well pad in Monroe County. He said, Weve known for many years that the coal-fired power plants in West Virginia will eventually shut down, and that its only a question of when. Tomblin and Burdette want a signing bonus AND a hefty royalty to boot. Pleasants County prosecutor under investigation | News, Sports, According to WV4EF, customers of Mon Power and Potomac Edison have seen their electric rates increase by 50 percent over a 15-year period. By Douglas Soule. Pleasants County Sheriff Chuck Mankins said two deputies from his office and a St. Marys Police officer were at the scene. West Virginia RV campground debate raises questions over role of state parks, How we measured the environmental cost of bankrupt mines, In the game of musical mines, environmental damage takes a back seat. 1 / 3. I support the ongoing effort to preserve a predictable source of electricity. Superintendent Michael Wells said if the plant closes, the system could lose $1.3 million of that tax revenue annually, only some of which could be made up. PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. According to Wilderness Fire Chief Noah Allen, the victim was 79 years of age. Continue reading, West Virginia Gov. The B&O tax cut will hurt West Virginia cities. But he says its necessary to invest other resources in areas where the coal industry has been displaced, or soon will be. All rights reserved. This reduction in funding would come at the worst possible time, said the foundations executive director, Sheri Fleegle. Latest trends. The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. We can find nothing about this story from another other news source than the AP. The average customer would see an increase of $15 on their water bill under the proposed rates. One car was traveling northbound when it hit another car that was going southbound head-on. Breaking News. 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. WV Pleasants Power is slated for closure on May 31. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. 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. 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. 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.. Normally we issued these updates on Wednesdays. 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 West Virginias House of Delegates and State Senate have both passed resolutions to keep the Pleasants Power Plant near Saint Marys up and running. The land records room at the Wood County, WV Courthouse has not seen a lot of oil and gas lease researchyet. Comprehensive coverage of West Virginia news. State issues, politics, and people making the news. Breaking stories from major cities and towns in West Virginia weather updates, global news, and business stories. Latest West Virginia News from West Virginia State News.Net West Virginia had three new permits, one in Pleasants County and two in Marshall County. 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. And I said, Dad, I think you just lost a lot of friends, he said. 3 were here. 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. 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. Pleasants County 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.. WELLSBURG The Wellsburg Kiwanis Club will team with local clergy and Mayor Dan STEUBENVILLE While many people dont have a lot of positive memories from the COVID pandemic, the Rev. of Environmental Protection, which maintains the database, and they got it fixed sometime last night. Sayre doesnt know what will happen to his store if the plant closes, but he knows it wont be good. 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. We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. That fire was extinguished before they entered the residence. 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. Nada. According to sources, the ODC and JIC started investigating the Slow Down program last year. The average customer would see an increase of $15 on their water bill under the proposed rates. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Filing confirms federal investigation in Pleasants County Pleasants WebNewsBreak provides latest and breaking Pleasants County, WV local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, We are located on the main floor of the Courthouse in Room 103 and our office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. County Magistrate Clerk Pam Cox confirmed the two stepped down last Thats huge. 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. 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. Earlier in the decade, it was all natural gas, and now wind and solar are catching up. Census Bureau QuickFacts Pleasants County Arrest Info; Some of the cities, towns, and places in Pleasants County are Arvilla, Calcutta, City of Belmont, City of St. Marys, Hebron, Pine Grove, Vaucluse Pleasants County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Finally, West Virginia issued just 1 permit for new shale drilling last week. I'm interested in (please check all that apply). In WVs Northern Panhandle, industrys legacy includes cancer risk hotspots, A possible new industry for West Virginia raises some old questions, Mountain State Spotlight explains: What to know about the West Virginia State Police scandal, Federal judge withdraws from West Virginia foster care lawsuit after involving lawmakers in settlement talks, West Virginia's foster care crisis: Lawyers representing children say new legislation falls short of fixing the system, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Get our in-depth reporting delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. 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. Day of Prayer to be observed One other delegate replied but said he didnt feel familiar enough with the full issue to be able to comment. Among them, Pleasants employs 154 people and provides $1.75 million annually to the county in property taxes. Originally slated for closure in 2018, Pleasants has received millions in bailouts from state Republican leaders that have extended its life for years. 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. Standing by and watching a coal-fired power plant close without trying to do anything to prevent it didnt make sense to me. In Pennsylvania, 19 new shale well permits were issued across the state. Heres an inside look at the challenges faced in tracking down who owns the mineral rights for a given piece of propertyespecially in WV where mineral rights were severed from surface rights for many landowners years ago And certainly more importantly to me those jobs, those good-paying jobs, that would be gone.. And West Virginia just a single new permit. Our thanks to the programmers at the DEP. Douglas Soule is a Report for America corps member who covers business and economic development. We were told that it could be in the very near future that Fort Martin was going to close. In the Bible, he said, it says we shouldnt worry about tomorrow. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. CHARLESTON 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 [My son] worries about my job in a way that a 15-year-old shouldnt, he said, voice cracking, in a phone interview. If were not generating that money, then were going to have to look at [cutting] anything from programs to potentially some positions, Wells said. The PSC is accepting written and online public comments. If he loses his job at the plant, Renner doesnt plan to leave the county or move away from his family farm there. WebDiscover Pleasants County, WVs population & how it has changed over time. Pleasants County Schools ; Belmont Elementary School ; 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). Okey Starsick, with the Parkersburg state police detachment. Live Feed . They just wanted the public to weigh in (to make it look good). We scoured the web. The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. In Pleasants County, concern about what comes next is widespread. Pleasants County Want more stories like this? 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. Pleasants News | Pleasants County Schools 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. Pleasants The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate, Carr said in an email Wednesday morning. 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. West Virginia PSC approves Pleasants Power Plant plan | News, ST. MARYS It was an uncharacteristically calm moment for a weekday afternoon in the Bank Barber Shop. 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. It would be a crying shame for the plant to die, Justice said. It has road, rail, and river transportation access and is near a major natural gas pipeline. Please reload the page and try again. Authorities searching for person of interest in Huntington house fire. All persons displayed here are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Woods County Clerk Mark Rhodes says hes been told researchers have descended on neighboring Pleasants County (northeast of Woods) and that the crowd of researchers in Pleasants will migrate south to Woods in about six months. 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.. In 2019, Gov. PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. 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. 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. Not on the WV DEP website. The plant in Pleasants County is designed to produce 900 metric tons of high-purity methanol from natural gas each day. Her alleged passenger, Abigail Hause, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene. MARYS, W.Va. Employees of the Pleasants Power Station are making their best pitch to save the plant and their jobs. As of today, no admonishments have been issued by the JIC and no formal charges have been filed with the Supreme Court Clerks Office.. Jim Justice said Wednesday he still wants to see the Pleasants Power Plant near St. Marys saved, but it is up to the West Virginia Public Service Commission to decide whether it should be allowed to operate for another year with ratepayers picking up the tab. At this point, he said, the question is whether they close in the 2020s or 2030s. So when a land records rooms becomes congested, you know its not long until leases are signed and drilling begins. 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. 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.. WV community worries about life after its coal-fired plant closes A company called West Virginia Methanol says it plans a $350-million plant in Pleasants County, resulting in 30 jobs. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. The companies set a deadline of Tuesday, April 25, for the PSC to approve the Pleasants Power Plan. Many arguments and little time as question of power plant's fate hits There is a tremendous amount of public interest in this case, with widely varying opinions, said PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane in a statement. Not just [to] soften the blow, but to put a plan into place to create economic activity that will help long term.. Pleasants County 911 says the accident happened just This site does not charge for viewing any of our published data, and we do not accept payments of any kind. If you cant be here in person, you can still submit a written comment.. Sheriff Chuck Mankins said Turner was not at the scene when authorities arrived. 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 discussed much is the possible accompanying closure of Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, outside Morgantown. Severance tax revenue was a large part of the budget surplus the state accumulated last year. Burning coal emits vast quantities of carbon dioxide, which is hastening climate change around the globe. 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, Carr said. Ill be getting more and more details. 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. So we polled local legislators and members of the Monongalia County Commission on the Fort Martin issue, including, for the legislators, whether knowing of the plants possible closure would have changed their vote. 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. Thats huge for Pleasants County, but not only that, 400 coal mining jobs supplying the plant with coal. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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. 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. 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 Its basically, Whats the most cost effective way to generate electricity? said James Van Nostrand, the director of West Virginia Universitys Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. Jim Justice the next year, lawmakers rushed to approve $12.5 million in annual tax breaks to help keep the plant alive. A request for comment from the ODC was not returned. Continue reading, Last week Pennsylvania issued just 8 new permits for Marcellus/Utica drilling, down a bit from previous weeks. The plant will no longer generate electricity, requiring new federal approvals in the future. Now that the country is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, these plants will likely shut down even sooner. Pleasants County has a rich history, centered in the growth of the chemical industry, said Diane Braun, executive director of the Pleasants County Development Jim Justice said Wednesday he still wants to see the Pleasants Power Plant near St. Marys saved, but it is Brewer was on the scene at the time and, as the fire was being put out, he re-entered a cabin on the property, believed to be his primary residence. Brewer was found deceased upstairs,. Discussing the future of the Pleasants Power Station 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. CHARLESTON A filing by the West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel seeking the suspension of Pleasants County Prosecutor Brian Carrs law license confirms We need to plan ahead, Pepper said. Will Trump Back Justice, Mooney or None of the Above. A request for comment from Nutter was not returned, while contact information for Taylor was not immediately available. City modifying lease with ballpark and upgrading a west-side intersection. Pleasants County, West Virginia Covid Case and Risk Tracker The chosen site formerly housed an industrial plant. And new emissions regulations have increased the expenses borne by coal-burning power plants. Next fiscal year, the Pleasants County school system is projected to collect around $6.7 million in taxes. Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. 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. They worry the next possible one might devastate them. Proposed rates from West Virginia American Water could mean more expensive water bills. They are pro-drilling, by and large, and when they get an idea, they run with it. 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? The PSC order provides that the temporary surcharge will not be placed on Mon Power/Potomac Edison customers until the companies and ETEM sign a letter of intent that must be approved by the PSC. Continue reading, All three M-U states received permits to drill new shale wells last week, but not a lot. Coal prices have recently been over $100 a ton. West Virginia West Virginia Pleasants The PSC announced Wednesday evening that it would also hold a public comment hearing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the PSC headquarters at 201 Brooks Street in Charleston. In 2018, residents were shook by an announcement that the plant could close. Continue reading. The Pleasants Power Station cranked up to 91 percent capacity during that period to help ensure the reliability of the grid. West Virginia issued 9 new permitsall but 2 of them were issued to Antero Resources in Tyler County. Im under that stress to make sure this is successful for them and for me.. Pleasants County Schools ; Belmont Elementary School ; St. Marys Elementary School ; Pleasants County Middle School ; St. Marys High School ; Stay Connected . Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Employment | Affiliates Intranet WebGov. For the time being, Powell said all the focus has to be on making sure that doesnt happen. Pleasants County 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). The state Public Service Commissions Consumer Advocate Divisionrecommended both actions: run Pleasants and close Fort Martin. Im obligated to make this a successful place so my employees can have long-term employment. And I hope that this company invests in the community as well, he said. Forms . As a result, the company plans to sell or close the plant next year. County The governor and his Commerce Secretary, Keith Burdette, have published an official notice seeking bids from drillers. Any additional costs would have to be brought to the PSC in a new rate case. 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. But that may change. But the plants long life may be nearing an end. 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. 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. 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. As a nonprofit, we rely on your help to power our journalism. But lets face it, those same people are our Boy Scout leaders, there are coaches, there are deacons in our churches.. Pepper, as well as WVUs Van Nostrand, cited one out of Centralia, Washington. They are urging Mon Power to buy the facility from the current owner, First Energy. In fact, it was one of the lowest overall number of permits issued in recent memory. 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. He joins us from the Pleasants County Humane Society!. Continue reading, The West Virginia Dept. 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. Coal prices have recently been over $100 a ton. Its already stressful, he said, owning a small hardware store and having to compete against larger chains like Home Depot and Lowes. Written comments for Case No. Today marks 45 years since 51 workers died at the plant when part of one of the cooling towers collapsed in what was once considered the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history. First, we point out that Mon Power and Potomac Edison havent committed to buying Pleasants or closing Fort Martin. 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. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). A separate company called U.S. Methanol is building a plant in Institute, Kanawha County. I think we ought to let the PSC do their job and everything and let them dig into all the details, Justice said. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. 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 power plant began operations the next year, in 1979. It is exciting to be part of an enduring partnership that can amplify our joint commitment to the manufacturing sector, Braun said. Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison submitted a new filing Friday afternoon to the state Public Service Commission A $36 million rate increase proposed by FirstEnergys West Virginia subsidiaries to keep a coal-fired Pleasants County power plant from shuttering has provoked strong reactions. The PSC said the Mon Power/Potomac Edison interim temporary solution for Pleasants Power was reasonable. Online comments can be submitted at psc.state.wv.us by clicking Submit a Comment on the PSC homepage. West Virginia Superintendent Michael Wells said if the plant closes, the The presentation reinforced in my mind how important it is to my constituents that we maintain electricity during these winter storms, he said. 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. All 51 men on the scaffold were killed. Rodney Sayre, owner of St. Marys Hardware, said the announcement alone has hurt his business. Jim Justice made the announcement Monday via livestream with company and local officials. If there was a resolution before me to keep Fort Martin open, I would have supported that as well. Shortly after, Mr. Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, voted no on the House resolution. [My dad] said, Whats going on? 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. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe 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. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.

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