West Virginia is currently developing plans to restore thousands acres of abandoned mine scarred lands over the next 15 years. Our state has the opportunity to turn these rural mine scarred lands into an engine of economic activity that is based on improving air, land, and water quality. The WV Brownfields Assistance Center is initiating efforts in collaboration with WVDEP to promote public and private investment in industrial brownfields and abandoned mine lands for the production of alternative energy and sequestration of carbon emissions.

With this effort, WV joins neighboring coal-producing states like Pennsylvania and Kentucky, in promoting the production of alternative energy for stronger state and local economies. Coal waste reuse, wind power, biofuel production, coal liquefaction, and hydropower are among the ways that our land resources can be used to produce valuable and sustainable alternative energy.And reclaiming abandon mine lands with switchgrass and certain tree species is already being shown in research to have the potential to generate valuable carbon sequestration credits (which mean real revenues for local landowners).

Coal mining has generated a significant contribution to our nation’s industrial revolution and the economic wealth for our state, but pre-law/pre-1977 mining activity also left an expensive environmental legacy for the people of West Virginia. Congress has recognized this and recently allocated $987 million of federal funds to WV to restore these former industrial sites over the next 15 years. It is up to all of us to use that funding in a manner that promotes sustainable economic development for the state along with the environmental restoration.

New ideas about the national security, economic, and environmental benefits of energy independence are changing how we produce and use energy as a nation. Corporate energy sector initiatives and carbon credit markets and renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS) are turning alternative energy into lucrative investment opportunities for numerous companies. These public and private initiatives may be further enhanced in the next several years by federal climate change legislation.

Below is general information about alternative energy production, carbon sequestration on mined lands, and West Virginia’s efforts to promote alternative energy in WV. As we move forward with our program, this website will be updated with information about specific efforts and initiatives.

A Breath of Fresh Air for America's Abandoned Mine Lands: Alternative Energy Provides a Second Wind (PDF) (22 pp, 1.2MB). EPA Brownfields Program guide to wind power potential in Appalachia and case studies.

Carbon Sequestration: A Local Solution with Global Implications (PDF) (2004) EPA Brownfields Program.

Secretary Kathleen McGinty, "On Renewable Portfolio Standards" Pennsylvania DEP's commitment to renewable energy production, which involves mine scarred lands. June 8, 2004.

Nation's first waste-coal-to-diesel plant --- set to be built in PA --- will produce cheaper, cleaner fuel. Governor Rendell leads with innovative solution to help address PA energy needs and reduces dependence on foreign oil supply. Ana Gomez, Sept. 29, 2005.

The Answer, Friends, Is Blowin in the Wind: New Energy Future for PA Online podcast series. The group is examining the possibility of siting wind energy developments on certain public lands like abandoned mine land areas or others. "Penn Future: Every environmental victory grows the economy" December 2006

PA DEP Awards $5 Million in Energy Harvest Grants to 32 Recipients in 2004: $5 million state energy initiative leverages another $13 million in private funds to promote advanced energy technologies proven to generate jobs, improve air quality, preserve land, protect watersheds and enhance energy security.

PA DEP Awards $6 Million in Energy Harvest Grants to 32 Recipients in 2005: Projects Enhance Energy Security, Promote Advanced Energy Technologies
e.g. River Hill Power Company Inc. - $200,000. This project will lead to the development of a 290-megawatt waste-coal fired power plant to be located adjacent to an active mine in Clearfield County. Benefits of this project include: Consumption of up to 2 million tons per year of waste coal; creation of up to 1,000 temporary construction jobs, 300 permanent mining and transportation jobs, 60 permanent power plant operation jobs and many secondary and tertiary jobs; and generation of over 2 million megawatt-hours of low-cost electricity and high-quality steam that would stimulate additional investment in the region.
e.g. Jeddo Coal Co. - $51,633. This project will lead to installation of a wind turbine on abandoned mine lands. The electricity generated would replace a portion of grid-supplied electricity and would power equipment at a nearby anthracite mining operation. Excess power will be sold into the grid. This project will make use of an abandoned site to create pollution-free power.

"No Drilling Required: Renewable Energy and Brownfields Redevelopment" NETL Powerpoint, Brownfields Conference 2005 on solar energy in Beatty, NV

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Appalachia: Policy and Potential (2006). Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University.

Attitudes and Awareness of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Resources in West Virginia (2006). Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University.

Innovative Energy Opportunities in West Virginia (2006). Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University.

WV Development Office: Energy Efficiency Program. The West Virginia Energy Efficiency Program (EEP) provides technical assistance to West Virginia industries, public institutions, local governments and the transportation sector to enhance energy efficiency and identify modernization opportunities.

WV Gov. Joe Manchin, State of the State Address, Jan. 10, 2007
"... As Chairman of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority, I have tasked my fellow members to develop an energy plan for West Virginia that promotes technologies that increase our energy supply, creates new employment opportunities, helps to protect the environment, and, most importantly, makes West Virginia independent of foreign oil by the year 2030.

US Department of Energy: West Virginia Energy Statistics (2006). West Virginia energy production, consumption, emissions, and related environmental statistics compiled and analyzed.

West Virginia's Energy Roadmap 2001 - 2020 (PDF 288 KB). A Report by the WV Energy Efficiency Program and the WV Governor's Energy Task Force.

Is Coal on the Sidelines in Climate Change Debate?The State Journal. February 22,2007.

Carbon dioxide: Everyday gas is focal point in debate. The State Journal. February 22,2007.

WVU GIS Technical Center Database: GIS mapping datasets for political, socioeconomic, natural resource, historical, and infrastructure attributes in WV.

WV’s Abandoned Mine Lands Problem & the Federal AML Program: Background & WV State Plan Summary. Produced by the Office of Senator Jay Rockefeller, February 2007.

WV Senate Bill 337: Relating to the establishment of a program to inventory emissions, reductions and carbon sequestrations of greenhouse gases. March 2007.

WV Public Service Commission Alternative Energy Initiative. WVC 24-2D-1. The Legislature finds that there is growing concern about the environment and our state's and nation's dependence on foreign oil. The Legislature further finds that this state has an abundant supply of alternative fuels and an extensive supply network, and that by encouraging the use of alternative fuels in new demonstration technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles, the state will be reducing dependence on foreign oil and promoting improved air quality. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to have the public service commission develop and implement programs designed to encourage the use of West Virginia alternative fuels as vehicle fuels and in other new demonstration technologies.

"Opportunities in the energy sector for West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania: A Phase I Assessment of Regional Opportunities." Report of the Benedum, Mellon, Heinz Foundations 2007.

State legislative session establishes WV Division of Energy under the Dept of Commerce, SB177, to promote alternative energy in WV.