Gridlocked
A West Virginia utility’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) demonstrates the need for a more flexible electric grid.
West Virginia and the Base Load Model of Grid Management Versus the Flexible Grid
As West Virginia and other states grapple with data center-driven electricity demand growth and rate hikes, transitioning to a “flexible grid” model could lower rates, boost reliability, and slash carbon emissions. West Virginia’s traditional “base load” model of electricity generation depends heavily on coal, and has accelerated the state’s electricity affordability crisis amidst soaring demand […]
Appalachianization Update: How The Data Center Boom is Making America’s Economy Look Like Appalachia’s
Last December, I wrote a blog post titled, “The Appalachianization of America’s Economy”, in which I observed that the AI and data center boom, which has recently been a principal driver of overall GDP growth, seems to be giving rise to a recurrence of a phenomenon previously seen in Appalachia’s natural gas regions – a […]
The PSC Must Do What’s Right for West Virginia
Do you know the old advice to investors – “Buy low and sell high”? Well, building a new gas-fired power plant right now is doing exactly the opposite. This is the worst time in history to be paying for construction of a new natural gas-fired power plant. It’s buying when the cost of buying has […]
West Virginia regulators should deny Mon Power’s gas plant proposal in Monongalia County.
Due to the project’s exorbitant cost, the disinterest shown by FirstEnergy in seeking a special tariff to insulate existing customers from data center-driven rate increases, and the utilities’ failure to adequately explore less costly alternative means of ensuring reliable and cost effective service, the Commission should not approve the companies’ plan to construct a new 1.2 GW gas-fired power plant.
Statement on Pennsylvania House Bill 1834
House Bill 1834 helps protect against the direct costs of data centers, but it doesn’t fully insulate consumers against indirect costs.
Whoops Again?
A pair of Ohio River Valley gas plant projects would be the largest, most expensive energy developments in US history. But as the price of gas power soars and demand remains uncertain, there’s a chance that taxpayers and utility customers could get stuck with a big bill.
The Appalachianization of America’s Economy
AI-driven economic growth is exposing investment and GDP growth as misleading measures of prosperity and as misguided goals for local economic development strategies.
Why Data Centers Will Be Economic Development Duds
Data centers are highly capital intensive, non-labor intensive enterprises that create few jobs & inject little money into host communities.
Frackalachia Update 2025
New gas development for data centers and LNG is “destined to disappoint” as Appalachia’s fracking counties continue their economic spiral.