This week, Public Service Commission Chair Charlotte Lane provided clarity on an issue that has generated unnecessary speculation: West Virginia has no plans to shut down its coal-fired power plants. As she stated directly, no utility has filed any request to close any plant, and the PSC has no intention of initiating such a process.
Her remarks offer an important reminder that coal-fired generation remains essential to the stability, reliability, and economic health of West Virginia’s power system.
Lane emphasized the fact that energy professionals widely acknowledge coal provides the baseload generation required to keep electricity available in all conditions. Renewable sources such as wind and solar have a role to play, but they cannot independently sustain a reliable grid. Their output is intermittent by nature. The PSC chair put it simply — you cannot rely on solar when the sun isn’t shining or on wind when conditions are calm.
That point matters. West Virginia’s industrial customers, hospitals, manufacturers, small businesses, and households depend on uninterrupted electricity. Coal plants deliver that service every day, regardless of weather or season. Maintaining that reliability is not optional. It is the foundation of public safety, economic development, and responsible governance.
Lane also highlighted the broader economic impacts that accompany the closure of coal-fired facilities. These plants support thousands of direct and indirect jobs. They generate significant tax revenue for state and local governments. They anchor communities across the state. Closing them would have immediate and long-lasting consequences for employment, local budgets, and regional stability.
Her message was clear: shutting down coal plants would not be in West Virginia’s best interest. The PSC has an obligation to ensure affordable, dependable power for West Virginians, and coal continues to be a central part of fulfilling that obligation.
The discussion surrounding energy policy is often shaped by national narratives that overlook the practical realities faced by states like West Virginia. Some advocate for rapid transitions to renewable energy regardless of the cost, technological limitations, or impacts on workers and communities. But Lane’s comments reflect a more grounded approach — one that prioritizes reliability, affordability, and the well-being of the citizens who depend on the grid.
Coal-fired power plants in West Virginia have decades of useful life ahead of them when properly maintained and upgraded. They remain among the most resilient and dependable assets on the regional grid. Prematurely retiring these facilities before viable, equally reliable alternatives exist would be a mistake with far-reaching consequences.
The State Legislature recognized coal’s superior generation when passing HB 2014 earlier this year by providing the road map for our coal plants to run at optimum capacity beyond their current run schedule.
Moving forward, the state must continue to take a level-headed, fact-based approach to energy planning. That includes:
- Keeping existing coal plants in operation as long as they can continue to provide safe, affordable, reliable power.
- Recognizing the economic and social importance of coal-related employment and tax revenue.
- Ensuring that any long-term planning for diversification of energy resources does not compromise grid reliability or impose unnecessary costs on ratepayers.
- Insisting that any future alternatives to coal meet the same reliability standards that coal has provided for generations.
West Virginia has built an energy system that serves its people well. Our coal plants provide consistent power, support thousands of jobs, and contribute to strong local economies. That value should not be dismissed or diminished by policy pressures that fail to account for on-the-ground realities.
Chair Lane’s statement reinforces a simple truth: maintaining coal-fired generation is essential to the state’s energy security. The West Virginia Coal Association supports that position and will continue to advocate for policies that protect the reliability of our grid, the affordability of electric service, and the economic health of our communities.
West Virginians deserve clear information and sound decision-making on issues as vital as electric generation. This week, they received exactly that.
