The coal industry received some fantastic news this past week. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Feb. 11 that three West Virginia coal-fired power plants would be among six modernized to provide energy to military installations.
Locally, the coal industry has long driven the economies of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. The domino effect for other businesses is obvious. Railroad workers, truck drivers, mining supply companies and many other businesses benefit when the coal business is booming.
So hopefully this is just the start of a comeback for coal mining.
The $175 million effort, according to the DOE, will “modernize, retrofit, and extend the useful life of coal-fired power plants that serve rural and remote communities across the United States, keeping dependable energy sources online, strengthening grid reliability, and helping keep electricity costs low for American families and businesses.”
The DOE said the projects include three in West Virginia:
• Appalachian Power Company will upgrade two coal-fired plants in West Virginia – the Mountaineer Power Plant in Letart and the John E. Amos Power Plant in Winfield.
• Monongahela Power Company will upgrade the Fort Martin Power Station in Monongalia County, which consists of two coal-fired generating units.
The projects are part of a $525 million effort to expand and reinvigorate America’s coal fleet through targeted upgrades that increase efficiency, extend plant life, and add dependable capacity using infrastructure that is already built and connected to the grid, the DOE said in its Feb. 11 press release.
The department said modernizing existing plants is the fastest and most cost-effective way to deliver reliable power.
Regardless of political beliefs, this is good news for Appalachia.
Short stuff
Something I have asked for years is why gas prices are so different only a few miles from Williamson. Currently, unleaded gas in the Williamson area is $2.89. But if you drive a few short miles to Kermit, it is $2.64 a gallon, 25 cents cheaper. Drive across the bridge into Martin County to Warfield and it is $2.59, which is 30 cents lower on the gallon. Of course you can make the drive to Pikeville and it is always cheaper over there.
It just does not make sense.
However, a good source told me that the Food City in South Williamson will be installing gas pumps in the near future. I certainly hope so, especially if they sell it for the same price as they do in Pikeville.
… It is hard to believe but the postseason for high school basketball teams in the area is right around the corner. Local schools are hoping to advance to the state tournaments in both West Virginia and Kentucky. Best of luck to all local teams.
… If you are a baseball and softball fan like me, you will be glad to know that high school teams will start practice in the near future. On a bigger scale, spring training for Major League teams is starting in Florida and Arizona. Many of you are probably like me—a longtime Cincinnati Reds fan. Let us wish for a good season.
… It is officially pothole season, so be careful when driving. The recent cold temperatures, snow, ice and salt put down to treat the roads take a toll on our highways. Potholes can burst tires, bend rims and do other damage to your vehicle if you hit them too hard.
Sometimes they are difficult to see and just look like puddles of water. So be careful as they pop up in the coming weeks.
… Why would anyone argue the fact that persons should show their picture ID to be able to vote? If they are legal U.S. citizens there should not be an issue. If a person is not a legal citizen of the country, they should not be able to cast a vote until they become a legal citizen.
Until next time.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)
Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed in the Mountain Citizen Op-Ed section are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the newspaper’s management, staff or ownership. We encourage a diversity of perspectives and foster open dialogue on important issues, but these opinions are solely the responsibility of the contributors.