Launched in early 2017, West Virginians For Energy Freedom – a coalition formed by Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia, Energy Efficient West Virginia, and West Virginia Citizen Action Group – fights for energy rights in West Virginia.
West Virginians For Energy Freedom beat Ohio-based FirstEnergy’s effort to put us on the hook for its unprofitable power plant.
West Virginia residents speak out against FirstEnergy's bid for corporate welfare at the PSC's Public Hearings in Parkersburg, Martinsburg and Morgantown. More than 100 people spoke at the Public Comment Hearings. Of those, 71 opposed FirstEnergy's bailout attempt.
Ohio-based FirstEnergy sought to transfer the Pleasants plant, owned by FirstEnergy’s unregulated subsidiary Allegheny Energy Supply, to Mon Power and Potomac Edison, FirstEnergy’s West Virginia subsidiaries that are regulated. FirstEnergy pursued the deal even though the company did not need the plant to meet the needs of customers. Had this scheme succeeded, Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers would have assumed all of the plant’s costs and financial risks. Meanwhile, FirstEnergy and its shareholders would receive a guaranteed revenue stream.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied FirstEnergy’s request, and the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia approved deal but with several conditions aimed at protecting customers from financial and legal risks that FirstEnergy would have to meet if the transfer went forward. Eventually, FirstEnergy threw in the towel.
The West Virginians For Energy Freedom (WV4EF) coalition and supporters made this possible. Launched in early 2017, the coalition, formed by Solar United Neighbors of West Virginia, Energy Efficient West Virginia, and West Virginia Citizen Action Group, came out swinging against FirstEnergy’s bad deal. Coalition members included homeowners, renters, business owners, elected officials, and nonprofit leaders.
West Virginians rallied to make FirstEnergy’s ploy a major public issue with petitions, letters to the editor, a “Fax The PSC” campaign, and more. More than 2,500 letters of protest and petitions were posted to the PSC docket. Only 51 letters of support were registered.
The campaign reached out to key stakeholders including residents, business owners, elected officials, and nonprofit leaders in FirstEnergy and Potomac Edison’s coverage area to build support for the Energy Freedom campaign. The cities of Lewisburg and Morgantown passed resolutions opposing FirstEnergy’s plan.
WV4EF used a superhero dubbed the Energy Freedom Fighter to drop off petitions to the PSC and to greet the Commissioners during the hearing in Charleston.
One of the campaign’s first victories was calling on the PSC to hold public hearings outside of Charleston. This enabled Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers who would be impacted by the transfer to make their voices heard. The PSC listened and held public hearings in Parkersburg, Martinsburg, and Morgantown. Each hearing was packed, with the ones in Martinsburg and Morgantown being close to standing room only. The majority of the speakers at all three ardently opposed FirstEnergy’s bad deal.
Coverage in the media kept the issue in the spotlight with news stories in the state’s major dailies, along with television and radio reports. PSC chairman Mike Albert mentioned the media coverage during its public hearings in Parkersburg and Morgantown and during the hearing in Charleston. WV4EF’s Facebook and Twitter feeds and emails kept supporters up to date and engaged.
While WV4EF won the battle against corporate greed, despite claims that the plant was profitable and necessary, FirstEnergy announced it would sell or deactivate the Pleasants plant near Parkersburg in 2019. The energy monopoly cited the FERC and PSC decisions.
West Virginians For Energy Freedom hopes to continue the fight for energy choice and to help people and communities find a way to thrive after corporations shut down operations.
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West Virginians For Energy Freedom helps the Mountaineer State become the 29th with Power Purchase Agreements
The passage of House Bill 3310 wraps up our three-year #PPAs4WV campaign. Supporters across the state have worked diligently to educate lawmakers about the benefits of expanding solar access. The bill received broad support in both legislative chambers and passed 83-16 in the state House of Delegates and 33-1 in the state Senate.
Under a PPA, a third party owns and operates a solar installation. The host customer buys the electricity the system generates at a fixed rate. This rate is typically lower than what the customer pays to their utility for electricity.
PPAs allow customers to benefit from distributed energy with minimal upfront costs. Customers see electric bill savings from day one. They are able to lock in long-term energy rates. This allows them to stabilize their monthly budget expenditures and protect themselves against utility rate increases.
West Virginia joins 28 other states — including Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia — in making available on-site PPAs.
PPAs broaden access to affordable energy. States that allow third-party PPAs account for 93% of the increase in American solar capacity since 2015. They expand economic development. More than 800,000 American workers are employed in renewable energy industries.
This creates good local jobs in rapidly growing energy sectors. Solar PV installer and wind turbine technician are among the Top 5 fastest-growing occupations in the nation
It will attract employers to locate and invest in West Virginia. Hundreds of major global corporations have made corporate commitments to use 100% renewable energy.
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Thank you to the many partners who helped make this victory possible!
