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Despite Public Concern, State and Federal Agencies Continue to Shield Details from the Public
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the past month, 304 West Virginians have submitted comments to Governor Patrick Morrisey expressing concerns over a $1.44 billion U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan to West Virginia utilities to refurbish six unnamed coal-fired power plants, extending their lives by up to 20 years. Regardless of how long the plants manage to continue operating, payments on the DOE loan will be passed on to West Virginians’ electric bills for decades.
At the time of the announcement, no information was given to the public on what plants and utilities would receive funds or how energy bills would be impacted. In an effort to obtain a detailed list of the six plants set to receive loans, as well as information on the cost and the specific upgrades proposed at each plant, Sierra Club submitted FOIA requests to the West Virginia Office of Energy and the Governor’s Office. According to both offices, most of the “public records within the scope” of the Sierra Club’s FOIA request are “exempt from disclosure.”
In addition to being expected to blindly fund the loan repayments, West Virginians will also shoulder the health burdens of extended air and water pollution.
