Pablo Willis, pablo.willis@sierraclub.org
Charleston, WV -- Today, the West Virginia Public Service Commission approved a settlement involving the West Virginia Energy Users Group, West Virginia Citizens Action Group, Solar United Neighbors, and the Sierra Club with Monongahela Power Company (MonPower) that will compel the utility to provide transparent accounting of their uneconomic coal plants and justification for continuing plant operations. The settlement requires MonPower to track net revenues and operational costs at their two coal plants and provide an economic analysis of their Fort Martin and Harrison coal plants if they plan to invest in major plant improvements. The Sierra Club’s expert testimony exposed the utility for needlessly burning coal which resulted in significant financial losses that likely cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars.
Karan Ireland, West Virginia Sierra Club’s Senior Campaign Representative, released the following statement:
“The approval of our settlement will allow consumer advocates to gain a clearer picture of the costs associated with the utility’s uneconomic coal plants. By both requiring a forward-looking analysis of its coal-fired generation and by being fully transparent about uneconomic and unnecessary operation of its Ft. Martin plant the public will be given an accurate understanding of how MonPower is burning expensive dirty coal needlessly in order to charge consumers more money”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.