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. Mankins said Turner and Hause lived together. 22-0793-E-ENEC can be sent to P.O. CHARLESTON On the eve of an evidentiary hearing to decide whether ratepayers will have to shell out more money in order to keep the Pleasants Power plant idling, supporters and detractors of plan made their voices heard Thursday. They are urging Mon Power to buy the facility from the current owner, First Energy. 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. According to WDTV, an area high school student died in a Ritchie County crash Sunday evening. 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? 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. Okey Starsick, with the Parkersburg state police detachment. 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. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont, is a 1,300-megawatt coal-fired power plant. We scoured the web. Published: Sep. 20, 2021 at 12:04 PM PDT. Any additional costs would have to be brought to the PSC in a new rate case. The state Public Service Commissions Consumer Advocate Divisionrecommended both actions: run Pleasants and close Fort Martin. Proponents of keeping the plant open point to the jobs it provides, as well as to the economic support it continues PLEASANTS COUNTY, W.Va. (WTAP) - On April 27, 1978, the second cooling tower under construction for the Pleasants Power Station collapsed, killing 51 men working in and around the tower. The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. 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. ST. MARYS, W.Va. (WTAP) - A woman is behind bars Monday after Pleasants County authorities said she left the scene of a fatal wreck on Friday. Next fiscal year, the Pleasants County school system is projected to collect around $6.7 million in taxes. 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. Oct 18, 2022. The PSC said the Mon Power/Potomac Edison interim temporary solution for Pleasants Power was reasonable. Gov. Next fiscal year, the Pleasants County school system is projected to collect around $6.7 million in taxes. By Douglas Soule. They are pro-drilling, by and large, and when they get an idea, they run with it. All persons displayed here are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The plant will no longer generate electricity, requiring new federal approvals in the future. 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. 2023 An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. WebDiscover Pleasants County, WVs population & how it has changed over time. Superintendent: Michael Wells ; Schools . 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. 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. Just a single AP story currently running in dozens of newspapers and in other media outlets/websites across the country. WebNewsBreak provides latest and breaking Pleasants County, WV local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, Pleasants Power is slated for closure on May 31. WebGov. 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.. 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. It would be a crying shame for the plant to die, Justice said. He joins us from the Pleasants County Humane Society!. A company called West Virginia Methanol Inc. has selected a site in Pleasants County, WV to develop to build a $350 million methanol plant. In 2019, Gov. Written comments for Case No. During a special session called by Gov. Shortly after, Mr. Authorities searching for person of interest in Huntington house fire. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! Will Trump Back Justice, Mooney or None of the Above. WebPleasants County Schools . Pleasants County Schools ; Belmont Elementary School ; St. Marys Elementary School ; Pleasants County Middle School ; St. Marys High School ; Stay Connected . The plant also represents the largest taxpayer in Pleasants County and is truly the heart and soul of the community.. A loss of jobs whether from the plant itself or businesses like Sayres could lead to reduced support for organizations like Pleasants Community Foundation, which gives out scholarships and grants. 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. 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. And I hope that this company invests in the community as well, he said. When the records room for a given county starts to be overrun with researchers, thats a sure sign that Marcellus (or Utica) Shale drilling is on the way. In 2018, residents were shook by an announcement that the plant could close. Burning coal emits vast quantities of carbon dioxide, which is hastening climate change around the globe. Proposed rates from West Virginia American Water could mean more expensive water bills. Sheriff Chuck Mankins said Turner was not at the scene when authorities arrived. 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.. From: West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. Copyright 2023 West Virginia MetroNews Network. View today. 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. [My son] worries about my job in a way that a 15-year-old shouldnt, he said, voice cracking, in a phone interview. Get our in-depth reporting delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. If there was a resolution before me to keep Fort Martin open, I would have supported that as well. Pleasants Power, located south of St. Marys and Belmont, is a 1,300-megawatt coal-fired power plant. I think we ought to let the PSC do their job and everything and let them dig into all the details, Justice said. In the Bible, he said, it says we shouldnt worry about tomorrow. 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. We alerted the PA Dept. City modifying lease with ballpark and upgrading a west-side intersection. The chosen site formerly housed an industrial plant. The State Public Service Commission is deciding what should be done with the Pleasants Power Station. 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. 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.. The victim of a fatal fire in Nicholas County was an elderly woman who lived alone. I cannot envision myself living anywhere else, he said. UPDATE: Arrest made following fatal Pleasants County wreck, Local man sentenced to 2-3 years in prison after pleading guilty to four charges, Belpre City Council holds special meeting, Tuesday fundraising campaign aims to uplift Mid-Ohio Valley nonprofits, Belpre Volunteer Fire Department files lawsuit against City of Belpre and fire chief, Gov. 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 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. 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. He began firing a gun from an upstairs window of the cabin in the direction of the emergency personnel, Starsick said. For the time being, Powell said all the focus has to be on making sure that doesnt happen. None of the 51 workers on the towers scaffolding at the time survived the collapse. West Virginia Methanol is working on permitting and final design details for the site. If the Pleasants plant could compete in the free market, they wouldnt be shutting it down.. In Ohio, three new shale permits were issued. Theres models for this. West Virginia issued 8 new shale permits last week, with five going to a company we had not previously heard of. And I said, Dad, I think you just lost a lot of friends, he said. of Environmental Protections (DEP) Division of Air Quality held a virtual meeting yesterday to address public comments on the project. As of today, no admonishments have been issued by the JIC and no formal charges have been filed with the Supreme Court Clerks Office.. The state passed millions in subsidies four years ago to keep the plant running. Bailey drove by the tower minutes before the disaster, on his way to visit his dad. 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. 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. 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. Severance tax revenue was a large part of the budget surplus the state accumulated last year. West Virginia had three new permits, one in Pleasants County and two in Marshall County. The company expects to make a final investment decision in the first half of 2021 with operations expected to commence as early as mid-2023. I would question why they feel they would need to do this, considering the fact that during the cold snap in December of 2022 they were close to mandatory rolling blackouts, from my understanding. Sayre doesnt know what will happen to his store if the plant closes, but he knows it wont be good. 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 One car was traveling northbound when it hit another car that was going southbound head-on. The Pleasants Power Station cranked up to 91 percent capacity during that period to help ensure the reliability of the grid. The Knowns and Unknowns of the WV Senate Race, The EPA Prepares To Go After Fossil Fuel Power Plants Again. Pennsylvania received just five new permits, and some of those were reissued permits. County Magistrate Clerk Pam Cox confirmed the two stepped down last Its already stressful, he said, owning a small hardware store and having to compete against larger chains like Home Depot and Lowes. According to Wilderness Fire Chief Noah Allen, the victim was 79 years of age. Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, voted no on the House resolution. The companies set a deadline of Tuesday, April 25, for the PSC to approve the Pleasants Power Plan. Obviously, youve got engineers, technicians and mechanics and all these specialty jobs down there [in the plant], said Pleasants County Commission President Jay Powell. 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. The average customer would see an increase of $15 on their water bill under the proposed rates. 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. As a result, the company plans to sell or close the plant next year. Continue reading, Last week 24 permits were issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. Bailey has lived in St. Marys since third grade. Now that the country is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change, these plants will likely shut down even sooner. We are especially pleased to welcome West Virginia Methanol to our commercial community. Pleasants County Schools 202 Fairview Dr St. Marys, WV 26170 (304) 684-2215 (304) 684-3569. Copyright 2023. 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. An independent, civic news organization for West Virginia. Pleasants County has a rich history centered in the growth of the chemical industry, Braun said in a press release. Copyright Marietta Times | https://www.mariettatimes.com | 700 Channel Lane, Marietta, OH 45750 | 740-373-2121, Your information regarding an ODC investigation of me is accurate,, 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,, 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., 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,, Per the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure, JIC matters are confidential unless the JIC issues an admonishment or formal charges have been brought,, As of today, no admonishments have been issued by the JIC and no formal charges have been filed with the Supreme Court Clerks Office., Further comment at this time cannot be made so that the investigation can be completed without impact from any form of printed or social media comment,, I will allow my legal counsel to address any further requests for comment, and I will continue to serve the people of Pleasants County in the fair administration of justice..