Input Solicited for the 2013 West Virginia State Energy Plan

Jeff Herholdt, WV D.O.E.

The State of West Virginia is beginning the process to develop the 2013-2017 West Virginia State Energy Plan. This plan will include analyses and policy guidelines for WV in reliably meeting its future energy needs in a cost-effective and sustainable manner while fostering an innovative clean energy economy. The plan is updated every five years.

A series of hearings will be held to invite public comment on a new state energy plan. If you would like for your voice to be heard, you may register to speak at one of these meetings. You may register online or call 304-957-9363 or 304-957-9332. Registration is also available at the meeting location on the day of the meeting, 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. If you are unable to attend a public meeting, you may post your comments online.

See the 27 page WV State Energy Plan for 2008 – 2012 at this Internet location: 

http://www.wvcommerce.org/app_media/assets/pdf/energy/publications/StateEnergyPlan.pdf

The West Virginia Division of Energy invites public comments for the 2013 State Energy Plan. The topic areas to be developed in the plan are based on and guided by the requirements specified in WV State Code, §5B-2F-2.  A “comment submission form” is provided on the web-site. Then, you must agree to follow the “public comment rules.”

Following is a list of the public hearings, in Huntington, Morgantown, and Martinsburg:

September 5, 2012, Huntington, WV

Azalea Room, Big Sandy Superstore Arena-Convention Center, Huntington, WV 25701

September 6, 2012, Morgantown, WV

Grand Hall AB, WVU Erickson Alumni Center, One Alumni Drive,  
Morgantown, WV

September 7, 2012, Martinsburg, WV

Foxcroft Ballroom, Martinsburg Holiday Inn, 301 Foxcroft Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25401

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WVU Coal & Biomass Development Conference,

Morgantown, WV. September 19, 2012

The Appalachian Hardwood Center, Bio-based Materials Center and National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University and the West Virginia Division of Energy are hosting a conference on coal and biomass opportunities on September 19th 2012 at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown, WV. West Virginia is the nation’s second largest coal-producing and third most heavily forested state in the nation. Opportunities exist for the co-development of biomass and coal energy which combine the sustainable qualities of woody biomass and the fuel density of WV coal.

Topics at the one-day event include biomass and coal development opportunities, bioenergy research and development, torrefied biomass and coal blends, energy policy and environmental impacts, and the technical and financial feasibility of coal and biomass as feedstocks for liquid transportation fuels.

The meeting will consist of a number of presentations as well as detailed question and comment sessions with the goal of developing coal and biomass opportunities in region. Speakers include scientists from West Virginia University, University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Lab (NETL), and Agri-Tech Producers. The meeting will be held between 8 am and 3 pm and will include a light breakfast networking session as well as a luncheon for those attending. There is no registration fee.

For more information and to register, visit http://ahc.wvu.edu and follow the conference link. Please register early – space is limited and registration will close on September 12, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Shawn Grushecky – sgrushec@wvu.edu, (304) 293-9417.