West Virginia engages former Virginia energy chief to advance power strategy, attract investment

The West Virginia Office of Energy announced it has engaged Davis Energy & Infrastructure Strategy Group, led by former Virginia Department of Energy Director Glenn Davis, to bolster the state's energy infrastructure and attract significant economic investment. Governor Patrick Morrisey emphasized West Virginia's commitment to providing the reliable power necessary for job creation and investment, positioning the state to lead in energy capacity. This strategy diverges from recent developments in Virginia, where Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed a Chief Energy Officer from the Southern Environmental Law Center, an organization known for opposing major generation projects. Nicholas Preservati, Director of the West Virginia Office of Energy, highlighted that states must build the generation needed to meet accelerating electricity demand, driven by data centers, AI, and advanced manufacturing, or risk falling behind economically. West Virginia's approach focuses on expanding dispatchable generation, developing advanced nuclear and next-generation energy technologies, and aligning regulatory frameworks to support large-load economic development. Davis underscored that reliable power requires deliberate policy decisions to build and support dispatchable generation, asserting that states like West Virginia, which prioritize capacity building, including natural gas and advanced nuclear, will lead the next wave of economic development.