Natalea Mumaw, 18, of Belmont, was struck and killed in the wreck on Route 16 near the intersection of Whaley Road in Ellenboro just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Ritchie County Sheriffs Office. A company called West Virginia Methanol says it plans a $350-million plant in Pleasants County, resulting in 30 jobs. 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. We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. 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. All persons displayed here are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He began firing a gun from an upstairs window of the cabin in the direction of the emergency personnel, Starsick said. View today. 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. 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. WV Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get accurate, non-partisan reporting on the politics and policies shaping our state. We scoured our own MDN archives. Pennsylvania received just five new permits, and some of those were reissued permits. 2023 An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. 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. We are committed to lifting up voices that arent always heard and spotlighting solutions that are making a difference. Responders at the scene indicated he had set both fires, but its still under investigation, he said. We should be putting money aside.. The B&O tax cut will hurt West Virginia cities. It would be a crying shame for the plant to die, Justice 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. The ages, races, and population density of Pleasants County, West Virginia tell 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. Finally, West Virginia issued just 1 permit for new shale drilling last week. We want to try with all in us to find a methodology and a way to be able to keep that plant open.. CHARLESTON Two magistrates in Pleasants County have resigned and the county prosecutors office is under investigation over a holiday program designed to wipe He has served as editor-in-chief Pleasants 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. Dozens of Jim Justice the next year, lawmakers rushed to approve $12.5 million in annual tax breaks to help keep the plant alive. 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. The presentation reinforced in my mind how important it is to my constituents that we maintain electricity during these winter storms, he said. Im not surprised at all; its been on the chopping block for years, he said. Rodney Sayre, owner of St. Marys Hardware, said the announcement alone has hurt his business. Although a target per-acre bonus amount has not been specified, Tomblin has publicly stated hed like to see a 20% royalty on any such under-the-river leases In the Bible, he said, it says we shouldnt worry about tomorrow. Superintendent Michael Wells said if the plant closes, the 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. 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. The chosen site formerly housed an industrial plant. The state passed millions in subsidies four years ago to keep the plant running. The WV Dept. PARKERSBURG National Day of Prayer observances are planned around the Mid-Ohio Valley Thursday. One other delegate replied but said he didnt feel familiar enough with the full issue to be able to comment. 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. The Pleasants Power Station cranked up to 91 percent capacity during that period to help ensure the reliability of the grid. 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. Ill be getting more and more details. Natalea Mumaw, a senior ST. MARYS, W.Va. A candlelight vigil will be held Tuesday night for a Pleasants County high school senior who died in a head-on crash in Ritchie County over the weekend. It has road, rail, and river transportation access and is near a major natural gas pipeline. We can find nothing about this story from another other news source than the AP. Officers on scene returned fire at Mr. Brewer, he said. 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. I think West Virginia is at the forefront, said Jay Powell, Pleasants County Commissioner. CHARLESTON, WV Gov. Jim Justice announces historic state revenues for April 2023, Wood County Commission hears update on Parkersburg Home Consortium Program. The severance tax is 3.95 percent. And I said, Dad, I think you just lost a lot of friends, he said. Plus, theres the pollution. 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. Oct 18, 2022. 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. 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. Continue reading, West Virginia doesnt let any grass grow under their feet when it comes to the drilling industry. 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). Idling Pleasants will cost the state millions of dollars in severance tax. The governor and his Commerce Secretary, Keith Burdette, have published an official notice seeking bids from drillers. A surveillance video captured an image of the person of interest. Were just trying to feed [our] family, he said. Continue reading. Not on the WV DEP website. 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. One confirmed dead in Pleasants County accident - WTAP 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 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. Pleasants County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Carr confirmed Wednesday his office is under investigation by the West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel for its participation into the Slow Down for the Holidays program operated by the St. Marys Police Department and Pleasants County Sheriffs Department. Pleasants County Solid Waste Authority announces electronics Pleasants County, WV News | NewsBreak Pleasants If you just step back and think about it, thats 154 jobs right there in Pleasants County. Bailey has lived in Pleasants County long enough to remember life before the power plant. 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. Normally we issued these updates on Wednesdays. But it would certainly be tragic. 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. White steam billows from one of the concrete cooling towers at the Pleasants Power Station in Pleasants County. The West Virginia Public Service Commission held a public comment PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - The West Virginia Public Service Commission held a public hearing on April 20 to discuss the future of the Pleasants Power Station. Pleasants Continue reading, There was a decent number of new permits issued across all three actively drilling Marcellus/Utica states cumulatively last week. At this point, he said, the question is whether they close in the 2020s or 2030s. And West Virginia just a single new permit. That is standard procedure for fatalities involving law enforcement officers, he said. Electric bills for West Virginia customers have gone up faster than in any other state in the country because our regulators have doubled down on coal when they should have been diversifying our fuel mix. Pleasants County, WV News - Local News for Pleasants County, Thats huge. A separate company called U.S. Methanol is building a plant in Institute, Kanawha County. Earlier in the decade, it was all natural gas, and now wind and solar are catching up. 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.. See All Posts . Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate, Carr said in an email Wednesday morning. Last Friday they opened bids from four different drillers. Pleasants County West Virginia Theyre not going out starting big projects.. Zuri is very sweet and loves to be pet. And coal is a distant fourth.. 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. 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. ST. MARYS It was an uncharacteristically calm moment for a weekday afternoon in the Bank Barber Shop. 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. 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. Continue reading, Last week Pennsylvania issued just 8 new permits for Marcellus/Utica drilling, down a bit from previous weeks. 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. 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. Shortly after, Mr. If you cant be here in person, you can still submit a written comment.. The state Public Service Commissions Consumer Advocate Divisionrecommended both actions: run Pleasants and close Fort Martin. Jim Justice made the announcement Monday via livestream with company and local officials. Day of Prayer to be observed Pleasants County Will Trump Back Justice, Mooney or None of the Above. 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. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
Pleasants County Schools 202 Fairview Dr St. Marys, WV 26170 (304) 684-2215 (304) 684-3569. This is a passive informational site providing organization of public data, obtainable by anyone. Pleasants County magistrates resign - WTAP We are a nonprofit investigative newsroom that exists to give West Virginians the information they need to make our state a better place. Copyright Marietta Times | https://www.mariettatimes.com | 700 Channel Lane, Marietta, OH 45750 | 740-373-2121, Responders at the scene indicated he had set both fires, but its still under investigation,, Shortly after, Mr. WebPleasants County Schools 202 Fairview Dr St. Marys, WV 26170 (304) 684-2215 (304) 684-3569. Pleasants Sayre doesnt know what will happen to his store if the plant closes, but he knows it wont be good. All 51 men on the scaffold were killed. Lets give FirstEnergy/Mon Power the time necessary to complete their review and I will monitor the progress going forward.. In 2018, residents were shook by an announcement that the plant could close. More by Douglas Soule. 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. Coal prices have recently been over $100 a ton. So were back! I think we ought to let the PSC do their job and everything and let them dig into all the details, Justice said. For Doug Renner, leaving would be a last resort. Pleasants County to get methanol plant - News and Sentinel The average customer would see an increase of $15 on their water bill under the proposed rates. The involvement of the Pleasants County Prosecutors Office and the countys two magistrates Randy Nutter and Lisa Taylor triggered an investigation by the ODC and the Judicial Investigation Commission.