WV MetroNews
The Voice of West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Appalachian Power is trying to meet its future clean energy needs.
The company says they are seeking proposals for renewable energy and battery energy storage resources. Three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were issued Friday for wind, solar, battery energy storage systems, and renewable energy certificates.
Under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), Appalachian Power must meet annual escalating Renewable Energy Portfolio (RPS) requirements in order to deliver 100% carbon-free energy to its customers in Virginia by the year 2050. The company is also looking for bids for solar and battery energy storage resources in West Virginia due to Senate Bill 583.
“The advertised RFPs play an important role in helping us meet our clean energy commitments,” said Aaron Walker, Appalachian Power President and COO. “These projects will also support local communities by generating jobs and tax base.”
The first RFP requests bids for up to 800 megawatts (MW) of wind and/or solar resources. It also mentions co-located and standalone battery energy storage systems. Appalachian Power will look to acquire completed projects or ones in the development stage through one or more purchase and sale agreements (PSAs). The company says they prefer projects located in Virginia or on eligible sites in West Virginia.
The RFP reads, “Eligible sites in West Virginia are those previously used in electric generation, industrial, manufacturing or mining operations, including, but not limited to, brownfields, closed landfills, hazardous waste sites, former industrial sites, and former mining sites. Facilities must achieve a commercial operation date of no later than Dec. 15, 2028, and be within the PJM region and/or interconnected to the Appalachian Power distribution system.”
Only resources that interconnect to PJM and are at least 50 MW in size for wind and solar and 10 MW in size for standalone battery energy storage systems qualify to be considered. Resources that interconnect to the Appalachian Power distribution system must be at least 10 MW in size.
The second RFP requests bids for up to 300 MW of solar and/or wind resources from one or more long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). Under a PPA, the company enters into an agreement for the energy, capacity, ancillary services, and environmental attributes including renewable energy certificates (RECs) from facilities located within the PJM region and/or interconnected to the Appalachian Power distribution system. Resources must be at least 50 MW in size for wind and 5 MW in size for solar and be operational by Dec. 31, 2028 to be considered.
The third RFP focuses on renewable energy certificates (RECs). A REC is a market-based instrument issued when one megawatt-hour of electricity is generated and then delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. All RECs purchased must be produced from eligible energy resources, per the RFP.
Bidders may submit proposals for contract terms between five and 30 years starting on Jan. 1, 2027. Alternative terms will also be considered.
RFP participation criteria, required forms, and other information sought by businesses can be found online at www.appalachianpower.com/rfp. Proposals must be submitted by July 16, 2024.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Public Service Commission Chair Charlotte Lane is urging a federal court to halt the application of a proposed federal air pollution control rule until it can be fully litigated.
Lane on Wednesday filed a 27-page document in support of the lawsuit. She encouraged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to grant a stay of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to implement new carbon emissions standards on July 8.
“The targets and technologies mandated by the Final Rule are an obvious pernicious effort to ensure the shutdown of coal-fired power plants in less than six years when they could otherwise operate for sixteen years or more,” Lane stated. “The Final Rule does not simply encourage, but effectively mandates, early retirement of coal-fired, baseload, dispatchable generation that is necessary to maintain the reliability and resilience of the electric power grid.”
Lane said the rule’s goals are unrealistic, it would threaten electric power reliability across the nation and would destroy West Virginia’s economy.
“I cannot imagine a worse plan for providing adequate, reliable, safe and affordable electricity service than the premature retirement of reliable base load dispatchable steam-driven power plants and substituting for that lost capacity and energy up to ten times more megawatts of less reliable intermittent power supplies as will result from the EPA Final Rule,” Lane stated.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It’s once again time to embrace the culture in the Capital City as it becomes a work of art for ten days.
FestivALL Charleston makes its return for the 20th year starting Friday, June 14. It will showcase over 90 events across the city featuring music, art, theater, dance, literature, and culinary arts.
FestivALL Executive Director Mackenzie Spencer said after two decades of holding the event in the city, it’s truly a milestone they are excited to celebrate.
“We’re so excited to see everybody come out, support artists, support entertainers, support local businesses, and really just be able to create those memories and have a great time in our city,” Spencer said.
FestivALL favorites will make their return again this year, including the Sunrise Carriage Trail Walk, Mountain Stage performances, the Shakepearoke with the Rustic Mechanicals at Short Story Brewing, the two-day Capitol Street Art Fair and the Children’s Art Fair, as well as the Youth ArtBus. This year, the Art Fair will showcase over 80 artists.
Some new and old programming this year includes a FestivALL Princess Art Exhibit showcasing costumes and props at the Kanawha County Public Library, Dance FestivALL that will feature famed-Broadway choreographer and performer James Kinney, and Recycle the Runway with Dress for Success.
In addition, the Community Keys artist-piano project will also make its return this year after not being held since 2015. Spencer explained a little bit about what the project entails and where festival-attendees will be able to find it.
“We’re going to bring in artists and actually commission them to make pianos into works of art and have them throughout our city, so we’re going to have one at the Capitol Market, we’re going to have one at GoMart Ballpark,” she said.
She said they are also excited for the Clay Center to be hosting a longtime Charleston artist in an exhibit this year, the Charly Jupiter Hamilton Retrospective exhibit, because he was a prominent contributor of FestivALL and they wanted to make sure the exhibit took place during the event.
Spencer said last year was FestivALLs’ first year fully returning to normal after the Covid-19 Pandemic forced them to take the event virtual and then hybrid for a couple of years.
She said it has felt good to be able to make the transition back into normalcy for the event.
“We are excited to be fully back in person, fully back to all of the programming that we know and that we love but also adding some new favorites in and also bringing back some old favorites that may have fallen by the wayside in years past in honor of the 20th,” she said.
A host of sponsors help put on FestivALL every year. Some of them this year include The City of Charleston, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, West Virginia Humanities Council, the State of West Virginia, Maier Foundation, Ford, Encova, Annie & Gaines Wehrle Charitable Fund, among many others.
Spencer said Charleston has such a vibrant art, music, and theatrical scene already, and to be able to condense it into one huge community event is something truly remarkable.
“To be able to showcase that local talent and to be able to bring all of our friends and neighbors together and bring that sense of community to Charleston is just so important,” said Spencer. “And to be able to bring in acts that are nationally and internationally recognized also brings the perspective of things that you may not see in Charleston otherwise.”
You can find out more about FestivALL, see the full programming and event schedule, and sign up to be a volunteer here.
Print schedules will also be available throughout the city at FestivALL event locations, restaurants and hotels.
FestivALL will take place June 14-23.
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Despite being massively outspent, Chris Rose defeated two-term state senator Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, in the May primary election by more than 2,800 votes in his first run for political office.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Rose said the campaign was won on hard work and face-to-face contact with voters in the district that covers three counties and portions of three others. Campaign finance reports show Rose spent $54,282.66, compared to $1,187,298.43 spent by Maroney.
“Hopefully this race is an example to people that you don’t have to have a lot of money; you just have to have the will and the willingness to get out there and fight to make that difference,” Rose said. “The fact that we were willing to go out and meet the voters at their homes made all the difference at the end of the day.”
The district encompasses all or portions of Monongalia, Marion, Doddridge, Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel counties, and Rose believes he has knocked on more than 4,000 doors during the campaign.
“Three gentlemen in a pickup truck are traveling this district, a very large six-county district,” Rose said. “Door knocking and having front porch conversations with voters, getting to know the people in the district, hearing their needs and concerns, and hearing what I stand for.”
Rose said he will support policies that encourage energy production and snub policies that provide subsidies for renewable energy. Energy produced from wind and solar is only competitive because of government subsidies, according to Rose.
“Free market capitalism is what built this country and made it great,” Rose said. “When we have that same approach with our energy, we have a lot of energy jobs in the state of West Virginia, and we have to get back to that—we have to do what we can to get government out of the way to let the energy sector do what it does.”
Some of the issues Rose talked with voters about were Maroney’s voting record on energy-related issues, and his campaign materials referred to Maroney as a “phony conservative” who does not have Christian values.
“He had a very poor attendance record, and when he did show up, he supported things like the Green New Deal, and we’re an energy district—we have a lot of coal, oil, and gas in the district, and they felt like they were being betrayed with their tax dollars funding the Green New Deal,” Rose said. “They definitely didn’t like some of his other votes on social issues.”
Rose does not face a challenger in the November election, but he has plans to continue the campaign pace and voter engagement through the summer.
“I don’t have a general election opponent, but I feel like I need to be out with the people, introducing myself to them and thanking them for their vote,” Rose said. “Obviously continuing to have those conversations about the wants and needs in the district because that’s what good public servants do.”
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(Photos by Teran Malone)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two of last year’s three state champions will take leads into the final day of the WVSSAC Boys Track and Field state championships. Huntington leads a tightly-bunched field in Class AAA. The defending champs scored 40 points on Day 1, putting them ten points ahead of MSAC-rival Hurricane. 23 of Huntington’s points came in the long jump. Mikey Johnson defended his title. Carmello Sheffield was second and Avonte Crawford came in fourth.
Hurricane won two events, the shuttle hurdle relay and the 3200 meter run. Ty Steorts won the final event by over ten seconds.
University is tied for third place with 26 points. The Hawks set a new state record in the 4×800 meter relay. Ethan Conroy, Jacob West, Tyler Umbright and Drew Zundell set the new mark at 7 minutes, 47.66 seconds.
Cabell Midland is tied for third with the Hawks. Cohen Jordan won the pole vault at 14 feet.
In the high jump, Woodrow Wilson’s Ryan Mutkar was the winner at 6 feet, 10 inches.
The stage is set for a pair of future WVU football players to square off in sprint finals Saturday. Jefferson’s Keyshawn Robinson and Princeton’s Dom Collins qualified for the finals in the 100 and 200 meter runs.
In Class AA, Winfield has 35 points, eight points ahead of Point Pleasant. Justin Lipscomb crossed first in the 3200 meter run and the Generals also won the 4×800 meter run.
Point checks in with 27 points. They claimed victory in the shuttle hurdle relay.
Dakota Hamrick of Berkeley Springs cleared 13 feet to win the pole vault. And Dakota Dammyer of East Fairmont won the shot put with a toss of 54 feet, 2 inches.
And the defending champion Bison from Buffalo own a 35-33 lead over Magnolia through six of 18 events in Class A. Nicholas Pitchford won the 3200 meter run and he ran the anchor leg on the victorious 4×800 meter relay.
Williamstown stands third. Aiden Corbett won the shot put with a throw of 53 feet. Josh Biggs of Petersburg won the discus. Trinity’s Chase Livengood won the long jump and Greenbrier West won the shuttle hurdle relay by nine-tenths of a second over Moorefield.
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(Photos by Teran Malone)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three state champions are in position to defend their titles at the WVSSAC Girls Track and Field Championships. In Class AAA, Morgantown shared the title with Jefferson last year. The Mohigans have a 17-point lead through six of 18 events. MHS racked up points in the two distance events. They finished second in the 4×800 meter relay. In the final event of the day, the Mohigans finished 1-3-5 in the 3,200 meter run with Madeline Gump pushing late to win by .29 seconds.
Parkersburg is second. The Big Reds won the shuttle hurdle relay for the fourth consecutive year.
In other event finals, University won the 4×800 meter relay. The Hawks stand third overall. Mya Baruwa of Parkersburg South defended her title in the high jump. Riverside’s Cianna Groom won the discus and Jazmyn Taylor of Jefferson won the long jump with a leap by 18 feet, 0.75 inches, a quarter-inch ahead of Spring Valley’s Haleigh Crum.
Winfield is well on their way to a title defense in Class AA. The Generals have a 25-point lead on Frankfort atop the field. The Generals won the shuttle hurdle relay and they finished 1-2 in the pole vault with Abbie McGhee clearing 9 feet, 4 inches to win.
Oak Glen’s Hannah Kliner won the 3200 meter run. Frankfort cruised to victory in the 4×800 meter relay by over seven seconds and Nicholas County’s Adriene Truman won the high jump.
In Class A, Williamstown is in good position to claim their fifth consecutive title. The Yellowjackets lead Doddridge County by eight points heading into Saturday. Alyssa Sauro defended her title in the 3200 meter run and she ran the anchor leg on the victorious 4×800 meter relay team.
A’Kaia Williams earned ten points for Doddridge County with a win in the shot put at 35 feet, 8 inches. The Bulldogs trail their conference rivals, 48-40 heading into Day 2.
And the other two event victories in Class A were claimed by Wetzel County schools. Hundred’s Areonna Zarco’s winning discus toss covered 111 feet, 2 inches. And Paden City crossed the line first in the shuttle hurdle relay, winning by a second over the runners-up from East Hardy.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Six elementary schools and three middle schools around the state are facing off to see who’s the fittest.
The West Virginia Department of Education held its Fit + Active Schools Face-off Friday at the State Culture Center for its third year.
WVDE Physical Education Coordinator Josh Grant said the groups of elementary and middle schools compete in an eight exercise and four round workout routine for the event.
“It puts them against other schools to see what schools are the fittest and they’re judged on their form, their rhythm, their intensity, their stamina and their transitions,” Grant said.
Trinity Hill and Kendall Long were two students competing with their team from Peterstown Middle School in Monroe County.
“It’s a pretty cool experience to be here,” said Hill.
“Yeah, we worked hard to get here,” Long added.
They explained what all they were doing as part of the face-off.
“We do pushups, butt kicks, planks, jumping jacks, plank rolls, butterfly crunches,” they said.
Grant said the competing schools were selected to participate in the event by submitting a virtual entry of them doing the exercises and they trained throughout the semester to get there.
Along with Peterstown Middle, the other schools taking part in the face-off included: Frametown Elementary School in Braxton County, Overbrook Elementary and Richmond Elementary in Kanawha County, Roosevelt Elementary in Mason, Teays Valley and West Teays elementary schools in Putnam, Roosevelt Middle School in Mason County, and Teays Valley Christian Middle School in Putnam County.
In addition, students got to watch a performance by the Village of Barboursville Magic Jump Rope Team.
Grant said the focus of the event is on promoting children’s wellness, health, and team-building initiatives.
“A neat thing about this event is that it shows students that once they compete here they can be active for life,” Grant said. “I think we need to showcase wellness in our state and just encourage students to be healthy and active, and this is just a great way to show what it takes to work as a team, and they have what it takes inside of them to be fit and healthy for life.”
Judges from SHAPEWV, CrossFit Coal, the West Virginia Grind Basketball Team and West Virginia University were scoring the team’s on their performances during the face-off.
Grant said both groups of elementary and middle schools would be receiving first, second, and third places within their categories.
He explained what was in it for the winning schools.
“It’s going to come with monetary prizes, all of the students get a t-shirt, gold, silver, bronze medals, a banner to hold in their gym and a trophy,” said Grant.
First place winners Friday were Frametown Elementary from Braxton County and Teays Valley Christian Middle School from Putnam County.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A sustainable way to fill up your water bottle has come to the busiest and largest airport in the state.
As a commitment to sustainability and passenger convenience, West Virginia International Yeager Airport partnered with West Virginia American Water to install a number of water bottle filling
stations at all passenger gates throughout the terminal.
Officials from both services came together at the airport Friday morning for an unveiling ceremony of the new filling stations.
Yeager Airport President and CEO Dominque Ranieri said when it comes to helping reduce plastic waste and support the planet’s health and well-being through the placement of these stations, CRW is happy to take the lead.
“Here at CRW we know how important it is to concentrate on the environment and sustainability, and all airports really need to focus on that moving forward to be good stewards of our planet,” Ranieri said.
West Virginia American Water President Robert Burton said the initiative to bring water bottle filling stations to organizations, schools, parks and other public places has been their focus for a few years now throughout American Water’s service areas across the state.
He said they felt they would be a significant benefit at the airport as well, as they continue to expand their sustainability efforts.
“One, it’s important to get out the message of safe, reliable drinking water at your tap, but also it’s important to protect our environment, remove plastics as much as possible by the way stream,
and this is a great partnership here at the airport in this regard,” said Burton.
Ranieri said passengers now have access to three water bottle filling stations post-security as well as one in the ticket lobby and throughout the gate areas of the airport.
She explained what to expect when coming through the terminal with the empty bottles.
“You can come to the TSA checkpoint with an empty water bottle and once you pass through security you can fill your water bottle at any of the West Virginia American Water refill stations, also at each station is some beautiful artwork by a renowned photographer here in West Virginia,” she said.
Ranieri said at each filling station there is a counter which keeps track of exactly how many plastic water bottles they are avoiding by having passengers utilize the stations.
Burton said ecotourism was a driving factor that also led them to bring the filling stations to the airport as people seek out ways for a more sustainable life and eco-friendlier travel options.
He said the ultimate goal– decrease the usage of plastic water bottles that potentially leave long-term, damaging affects on the environment.
“The majority of plastics take many years, decades, sometimes centuries to bio-degrade, there’s a major issue of plastic in our water streams, within our rivers, within our lakes and within our oceans, so anything we can do collectively together to remove plastics out of our way stream is really important and this is a very sustainable way to do that,” Burton said.
Ranieri said as American Water aims to expand its sustainability efforts by providing the filling stations to its partners around the state, it only made sense for them to come to CRW as the initiative will reach a lot of people there.
“We know that we have half a million people passing through our airport each year, and it’s a great opportunity to share their initiatives and help people have drinking water wherever they are,” Ranieri said.
Yeager Airport’s Wildlife Patrol Dog, Hercules and American Water’s mascot Puddles the Duck were both on hand for Friday’s ceremony as well. They helped greet passengers and distribute reusable water bottles and pilot-themed rubber ducks as people were leaving or coming in.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Commission will meet Monday to discuss next steps on filling a vacant seat created by the departure of former longtime Commissioner Kent Carper.
Carper, a Democrat, resigned last week after a series of medical issues and an investigation that involved allegations of lewd behavior at Daniel Boone Park in Charleston.
The commission will begin canvassing votes from Tuesday’s election at the Voter’s Registration Office. It will be followed by a special meeting of the commission beginning at 12 p.m.
Commission President Lance Wheeler and Commissioner Ben Salango will discuss the application process.
“We’re going to announce the deadline to submit application and resumes to fill the spot,” Salango said on Friday’s “580 Live” with Dave Allen heard on MetroNews affiliate station 580-WCHS in Charleston.
Salango said candidates must meet certain qualifications to apply. The applicant must be a registered Democrat and must live in District 1 or 4. Salango represents District 2 and Wheeler represents District 3.
If Salango, a Democrat, and Wheeler, a Republican, cannot reach a decision, the Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee will step in and submit names.
“The Democratic Executive Committee, since that is the party where the vacancy is, they submit three names. Now, since I’m the senior commissioner, I would strike out a name and then Lance would strike out a name and whoever is left is the commissioner,” Salango explained.
Salango said he would like it to be a closed interview process. He said filling Carper’s position won’t be an easy task and that he’s looking for stability on the commission more than anything.
“I want someone with a level head. I don’t want it to be political,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot, and I want things to be calm for a while.”
Carper underwent quadruple bypass surgery in May 2023. The allegation that Carper exposed himself to a woman at the park came the same week as his strokes and heart attack.
Carper’s name still appeared on Tuesday’s Primary Election ballot even though he dropped out of the race against former Secretary of State Natalie Tennant days before that. Tennant won the Democratic nomination for county commissioner and will face Republican nominee Chris Walters in November.
Whoever is elected in the General Election will assume office in Jan. 2025. Salango said they need someone to fill Carper’s seat until then. He said it won’t be an easy task given Carper’s legacy in Kanawha County.
“It’s some big shoes to fill,” Salango said. “He was an advocate for law enforcement, for public safety, many of the things that we now see in routine Kent had worked on for years and decades. He had really done a wonderful job.”
Carper served on the commission since 1996, many of those years as president. Earlier this year, he stepped aside from the president’s role.
The commission will hold a special meeting on May 30 to fill the vacancy.
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It’s been a storybook season for West Virginia University golf team and head coach Sean Covich.
The Mississippi native, hired to restart the Mountaineer program nine years ago, has guided his squad to the championship round of the NCAA tournament.
It’s just the second time in school history that a Mountaineer golf team has reached this round. The only other time it happened was 1947. So, yeah, it’s a big deal.
In this episode, Covich reflects on building the WVU program and the significance of this season’s accomplishments.
Listener questions and comments complete the show.
Three Guys Before The Game is sponsored by — Komax Business Systems —- GoMart — – and Lou Wendell Marine Sales.
Don’t forget to check out Three Guys merchandise.
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