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October 5, 2022 - 5:00 p.m.
Logan Country Club

Topics Discussed will include:
An Update on John Amos Power Plant Before the PSC proposed EPA rules

Questions please contact: 304-205-4120

Most people do not realize that for more than 40 years the federal government has been subsidizing the development of wind and solar energy to produce electricity. So far, federal subsidies for renewable energy total more than $100 billion. This is almost five times the size of the budget for the state of West Virginia.

These subsidies tilt the energy playing field by giving special tax breaks to companies that build and operate wind and solar facilities. One of these is called a production tax credit, which is used mostly by wind developers, and the other is an investment tax credit, which subsidizes mostly solar installations. These tax credits make wind and solar less expensive to build and operate than they would be without subsidies.

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Coal Forum, an organization representing coal industry workers and mine management, applauds Governor Jim Justice for his remarks in the annual State of the State Address focusing on initiatives to sustain and grow state coal utilization, representatives announced. 

“Governor Justice is right on target in calling on researchers and companies to look for new and innovative uses for West Virginia coal, like what’s being done at Ramaco Carbon,” said Chris Hamilton, Co-Chairman of the West Virginia Coal Forum and Senior Vice President of the West Virginia Coal Association. “It’s a no-brainer to use the world class and plentiful coal reserves we have in West Virginia to develop new and environmentally friendly process to create higher-value products and materials.”

Invitation to Tuesday Pleasants Power Station Bill Signing

Governor Jim Justice and First Energy Solutions have invited BIC members to join them and others for a bill signing ceremony for HB 207, legislation to exempt merchant power plants from B&O tax. 

The event will take place at 1:00pm on Tuesday (July 30) at the Pleasants Power Station in Pleasants County. Lunch will be served at noon.

To help speed the plant entry process on the day of the event, reservations are required. Please email Bryan Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 9am on Monday if you plan to attend Tuesday’s event. 

Directions to the Pleasant Power Station are outlined below:

Pleasants Power Station
2 Power Station Drive
Willow Island, WV 26134

Directions from Charleston, WV:

  • Follow I-77 N to WV-2 N/Emerson Ave
  • Take exit 179 from I-77 N
  • Turn right onto WV-2 N/Emerson Ave (signs for St Marys/Airport)
  • Continue to follow WV-2 N for 11 miles
  • Pleasants Power Station will be on the left

Should you have questions or need additional information, please contact us at (304) 342-4153 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The West Virginia Coal Forum expresses its gratitude and sincere appreciation to Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Legislature for passing HB 207, legislation to exempt merchant power plants from B&O tax, which unfairly penalizes the Pleasants Plant.

“This is incredible news, and we are so grateful to the efforts by Governor Jim Justice and our legislative leaders for acting quickly to keep this facility in operation,” said Coal Forum Co-chairman Chris Hamilton. “This legislation will also support a plant that is environmentally compliant that has invested $650 million (funded by ratepayers) in scrubber, SCR and SBS systems that surpasses current standards.

The Pleasants Power Station is a 1,300-megawatt plant employs 160 people in Pleasants County. Another 300 to 400 coal miners supply the plant’s base fuel. It had previously been slated for deactivation and was recently rendered too expensive to continue to operate by its new owner — First Energy Solutions, which would have been a major blow to the community. But thankfully HB 207 provides a path forward that allows for continued operation at Pleasants.