MDN had a call from a good friend yesterday sharing some earth-shattering news–at least earth-shattering for West Virginia (and possibly the entire region). WV Secretary of Commerce Woody Thrasher has been fired. Thrasher took over as Commerce Secretary in January 2017 as part of the new Gov. Jim Justice Administration. Thrasher is “the guy” most responsible for putting together the massive $83.7 billion deal for China to invest in WV shale and petrochemicals (see China Agrees to Invest Amazing $83.7 BILLION in WV Shale, Petchem). It was the relationships established by Thrasher that led to that deal. So what happened to Thrasher? Why was he fired? It has nothing to do with the China deal (more on why he was fired below). However, we have to ask the tough question that no one else is asking out loud: With Thrasher gone, is the China deal now in jeopardy? The Justice Administration currently appears to be in disarray…
