U.S. EPA head tours West Virginia, advocating for coal and industry deregulation
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — The head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency traveled to West Virginia during the government shutdown to learn more about the state’s energy issues.
U.S. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin met with West Virginia manufacturing and energy leaders, Gov. Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito in a closed-door Charleston roundtable Wednesday.
Afterwards, Zeldin pushed coal and cutting red tape before touring a power plant and other industries.
Coal faces serious competition from natural gas along with wind and solar, but it’s unclear if West Virginia will see another coal-fired plant built.
“As I have seen traveling the country, I have continued to see coal plants that were about to close staying open,” Zeldin said. “Not only are they staying open, they're investing new money into their sites."
He went on the say the Biden EPA was out to destroy the coal industry in its efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trump EPA plans a much different approach, encouraging fossil fuels and nuclear power.
“We don't make the investment at the EPA for that particular business,” Zeldin continued. “What we can do is make sure we aren't tying their hands behind their backs an making it impossible to invest in their company and in their community."
The U.S. Department of Energy just issued a funding notice for up to $100 million to modernize existing plants and has indicated a $625 million boost to help coal and natural gas.
The Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuel posture is seen as a positive thing for West Virginia’s coal and natural gas industries, but they also raise questions about the impact on the environment and the cost of electricity residential customers might end up paying.
West Virginia is the 49th state Zeldin visited on a trip he hopes will give a perspective not limited to the Washington beltway.
