Chairman Charlotte Lane
Commissioner Renee Larrick
Commissioner William Raney
West Virginia Public Service Commission
201 Brooks Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Support for Solar Energy in West Virginia
Dear Chairman Lane and Commissioners,
We, the undersigned members of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, are writing to express our opposition to FirstEnergy’s proposal to reduce the value of solar energy for West Virginians. We collectively support the continued growth and development of solar energy within the state of West Virginia. We believe that solar energy holds tremendous economic promise for our state, and we urge you to consider its substantial benefits to our constituents and local communities.
1. Job Creation: The solar energy sector currently employs nearly 400 West Virginians. It has the potential to become a significant source of employment in West Virginia and combat the brain drain we’ve been experiencing for decades. By fostering an environment that encourages solar investments, we can create jobs for our residents in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and related fields. These employment opportunities will be a boon to our local workforce.
2. Economic Development: Solar energy plays a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth and development within our state. Encouraging investments in solar projects can attract businesses, boost local economies, and increase tax revenues. Investing in solar energy strengthens the financial health of our communities.
3. Energy Independence: Embracing solar energy allows West Virginia to reduce its reliance on external energy sources. Harnessing our abundant solar resources enhances our energy independence, making our state more resilient to external energy market fluctuations and disruptions.
4. Consumer Savings: Electricity costs make up a sizable portion of household and business expenses for West Virginians. Solar energy empowers our constituents to reduce their energy costs. By generating their own electricity through solar panels, residents and businesses can achieve long-term savings on their energy bills, contributing to greater financial stability for West Virginians.
5. Economy-wide Savings: Solar energy helps all West Virginians save money by keeping energy production local. Local energy generation helps avoid costly transmission and distribution upgrades and contributes to the resilience of our energy infrastructure. These in turn reduce future rate increases for all West Virginians.
We stand in firm opposition to FirstEnergy’s proposal, which would reduce West Virginians’ ability to go solar. First Energy’s proposal ignores these benefits and would devalue solar energy for West Virginians who choose to make that investment. We ask that the Commission consider the economic advantages of solar energy when making decisions related to energy policies, incentives, and regulations. Help us stand for continuing West Virginia’s role as a leader in power generation for generations to come by investing in solar energy. Help us realize a brighter economic future for our state and its residents.
Thank you for your commitment to the well-being of West Virginia.
Sincerely,
[Legislator Names and District Information]
[CC: West Virginia Governor's Office]