West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Woody Thrasher had some harsh words when he gave a speech to House and Senate legislators about his own state. Thrasher said one of the reasons why WV is trailing both OH and PA economically is because WV treats natural gas-fired electric plant projects so poorly. Thrasher had data to back up his claim. In Ohio, 19 natgas-fired plants have been built. In PA? Some 22 natgas-fired plants! Although there’s been plenty of talk–for years–that such plants are coming in WV–the number of gas-fired plants that has actually broken ground to date in WV is…ZERO. Nada. None. Thrasher says power plant owners have concluded it’s just easier, due to regulations and fewer hoops to jump through, to avoid WV and build their projects in OH or PA. Thrasher’s comments were some verbal cold water splashed on the faces of WV’s legislators, in an attempt to get them to address the situation, or risk forever being behind the eight ball…
