AGP Executive Report

Coal Mining: Kanawha County miner Travis Price, 44, died at American Eagle Mine; state mine-safety officials are investigating. Separately, Panther Creek plans to idle its Samples Complex in December, eliminating 109 jobs. Energy Workforce: Harrison County contractor ECM Energy Services says up to 200 workers could lose their jobs after it lost its traffic-management contract supporting Antero’s West Virginia operations. Power Infrastructure: Valley Link transmission-line plans are advancing despite opposition from communities along the proposed route, as the project’s developers cite rising electricity demand. Agriculture and Education: West Virginia State University received a $26.5 million USDA grant toward a new agriculture complex. Manufacturing: Constellium’s Ravenswood operation is drawing attention for its role in producing aluminum for Artemis space missions.

Agriculture Investment: West Virginia State University won a $26.5 million USDA grant for a new agriculture complex, with construction expected to begin early next year and the facility set to open in 2029. Data Center Debate: Putnam County commissioners signed a resolution welcoming investment while urging developers to protect public resources and ratepayers; the measure sets expectations but is not binding on companies. Space Industry: West Virginia is formally competing to host a U.S. Space Academy, with McDowell County pushing to be part of the bid. Advanced Manufacturing: Senator Jim Justice visited Constellium’s Ravenswood operation, which makes aluminum components for NASA’s Artemis missions. Mining Jobs: A Boone County mine closure is expected to eliminate 71 jobs, adding to pressure on the state’s coal communities. Power Costs: A bipartisan Senate proposal backed by West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito would require data centers to cover grid upgrades tied to their electricity demand, rather than shifting those costs to households and businesses.

Agriculture Investment: West Virginia State University won a $26.5 million USDA grant for a 40,000-square-foot agriculture complex, expanding research and services for state producers. Mining Jobs: Panther Creek plans to permanently cut 109 jobs as it closes the Samples surface mine and Toms Fork preparation plant in Kanawha County, with layoffs starting Dec. 5. Energy Leadership: Todd Johnston, who led the state’s energy, infrastructure and competitiveness efforts, has left Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration for a new job in Washington. Power Costs: A bipartisan Senate bill negotiated by Shelley Moore Capito would require data centers to pay for grid upgrades tied to their electricity demand, rather than shifting those costs to households and businesses. Infrastructure: Weston received $1.5 million in federal funding for sewer system upgrades and service expansion along Corridor H, aimed at supporting development between Weston and Buckhannon. Transmission Dispute: Parties are preparing for a late-October Public Service Commission hearing on NextEra’s MidAtlantic Resiliency Link; opponents question whether projected electricity demand justifies the project.

Advanced Manufacturing: Constellium’s Ravenswood plant supplied aluminum components for NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft, spotlighting the state’s role in the space supply chain. Agriculture Investment: West Virginia State University won a $26.5 million USDA grant for its Agriculture Complex, bringing committed funding to $76.5 million; construction is expected to start early next year. Natural Gas: Attorney General JB McCuskey joined 25 states backing a FERC proposal to speed approvals for routine pipeline work, citing potential benefits for consumers and the state’s 70,000-plus gas jobs. Utility Costs: A proposed Ratepayer Bill of Rights would strengthen protections for West Virginians facing rising power bills. A national analysis also found the state’s two largest water systems average $1,383 a year. Economic Development: West Virginia is competing to host the U.S. Space Academy, while lawmakers say the state can still pursue nuclear-sector opportunities after withdrawing from a federal hub competition.

Space Industry: West Virginia has formally bid to host the U.S. Space Academy, which could begin with 300 students in 2028 and eventually grow to 4,000. The state is competing with Ohio, Texas and Florida, with its application due Oct. 26. Water Infrastructure: A federal cost-sharing project is nearing completion on a 71,000-foot waterline in Hampshire County, expected to bring safer drinking water to about 120 homes and businesses. Coal Jobs: A Boone County mine closure is set to eliminate 71 jobs, underscoring continued pressure on the state’s coal communities. Energy Policy: West Virginia has stepped away from a proposed nuclear campus initiative over concerns about handling spent fuel, while state officials urge pursuit of other nuclear opportunities. Gaming: Play’n GO games have launched with Ember Casino in West Virginia, with planned expansions into Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Water Infrastructure: A federally backed extension in Hampshire County is nearing completion, bringing roughly 71,000 feet of water line to about 120 homes and businesses whose wells have been affected by pollutants. Energy: West Virginia has stepped away from a federal nuclear hub initiative over spent-fuel concerns, though officials say the state should pursue other nuclear opportunities. Pleasants Power’s near-term future is also secured while its bankruptcy case continues. Utility Costs: A new national report found West Virginia’s two largest water systems charge households an average of $1,383 a year, among the highest bills in the country. Transportation: Work is beginning on the first major phase of the I-64 Fort Hill Bridge rehabilitation. Business & Workforce: West Virginia business interests are watching a bipartisan permitting reform bill that could affect energy and infrastructure projects. Pierpont is also beginning work on an aviation maintenance building, while a new student-built career and technical education facility has opened at Pruntytown.

Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports West Virginia midgrade averaging $4.81/gal (up week over week), with Boone County’s low at $4.54 and Hampshire’s low at $4.79; premium averages $5.25 statewide, while Hancock County’s low hits $5.15. Diesel Costs: Diesel averages $6.44 statewide; Mason County’s low is $6.56, and Grant County’s low is $6.29. Water Affordability Crisis: Food & Water Watch says household drinking water bills rose 62% from 2015-2025, faster than inflation and income, with West Virginia among states where water costs climbed about twice as fast as household incomes. Nuclear Policy: West Virginia opted out of the federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses push over spent-fuel concerns, but officials say nuclear opportunities still matter. Roads & Construction: WVDOT delayed Corridor H’s Parsons-to-Davis Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement until November, starting a Nov. 5 comment period. Health Coverage: Highmark Health Options West Virginia is rolling out Fortuna to help Medicaid members navigate upcoming eligibility changes starting Jan. 1, 2027. Workforce & Training: Clay County High School’s new ProStart team heads to Morgantown for a culinary boot camp tied to the 2027 Hospitality Cup at The Greenbrier.

Water Affordability: A new Food & Water Watch report says U.S. households are paying 62% more for drinking water than a decade ago, with bills rising faster than inflation and incomes—highlighting affordability pressure for communities, including two West Virginia systems billed by the same private owner. Local Infrastructure Funding: Weirton’s $39M “Weirton North” water line phase faces delays as leaders weigh how to avoid a potential 68% rate hike, pushing for grants and forgivable loans. Construction & Industry Recognition: MidAtlantic judges selected 35 projects across 16 categories, spotlighting West Virginia-area work completed between May 2025 and May 2026. Energy & Jobs Debate: West Virginia’s nuclear pitch is under renewed scrutiny after the state backed away from a nuclear lifecycle campus plan tied to spent fuel handling concerns. Manufacturing Spotlight: Ravenswood-based Constellium won West Virginia’s “Coolest Thing Made” contest for aluminum plates used on Artemis II. Public Safety: West Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office marks Fire Prevention Week with a “Safe Charging” theme. Food Safety: Frozen berry recalls tied to possible E. coli contamination expanded to additional Walmart and Trader Joe’s items—buyers should check lot codes and dates.

Disaster Relief: FEMA has granted West Virginia’s Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie and Pleasants counties more time to file flood claims, extending the Oct. 3 deadline to Oct. 17; officials say Lewis and Upshur residents have already filed 1,500+ claims and received about $14.2 million, while flood debris near I-79 has largely been cleared. Energy & Courts: West Virginia AG JB McCuskey and a 26-state coalition backed energy workers in the U.S. Supreme Court case Suncor v. Boulder County, arguing climate lawsuits can’t be used to override federal law and set national energy policy. Power Plant Update: Pleasants Power’s Chapter 11 fight continues, but operations remain secure as board changes are filed in Delaware, keeping a possible sale path tied to the state’s $50 million loan. Infrastructure: WVDOT begins the first phase of the $74.5 million I-64 Fort Hill Bridge rehab with night/weekend crossovers; the full project is slated to finish by spring 2028. Workforce & Training: Pruntytown Correctional Center opened a new student-built CTE facility for automotive and building construction programs, expanding hands-on career training. Tourism & Education: Gov. Morrisey and Tourism Sec. Kessinger unveiled “Mountain Moves,” a board game for 8th graders linking West Virginia history, tourism, and career pathways. Public Safety: West Virginia’s Fire Marshal set Fire Prevention Week’s theme: “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” Food Safety: Frozen berry recalls tied to possible E. coli contamination expanded to more Walmart and Trader Joe’s products, including items shipped into West Virginia.

Fire Safety: West Virginia’s Fire Marshal’s Office is kicking off Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4–10) with “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” urging residents to use manufacturer-approved chargers, charge on hard surfaces, and stop using devices that overheat, swell, smoke, or smell. Energy & Industry Policy: U.S. Senate negotiators say a permitting reform deal would cut the lawsuit window for major energy projects to 150 days (from six years), with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito backing the push as a way to speed infrastructure. Local Energy Costs: Virginia regulators are set to review Appalachian Power’s request that could raise a typical bill by $9.10 a month, a reminder of how quickly utility decisions can hit household budgets. Workforce & Training: Pierpont Community and Technical College is expanding, aiming to feed local employers with more credentials and workforce-ready graduates. Historic Preservation: West Virginia State University received a $398,000 federal grant to preserve two Malden Village salt-era homes—Hale House and Norton House—supporting tourism and local heritage. Food Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen berry recall over possible E. coli contamination, including products sold in West Virginia.

Permitting & Energy Jobs: West Virginia business groups are watching a Senate permitting reform push that would speed approvals for both traditional and clean energy projects, with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito backing the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act as a potential lame-duck win. State Infrastructure: The West Virginia Parkways Authority is moving ahead on its new Charleston headquarters, starting interior demolition of the former Moose Lodge and targeting construction drawings by early spring with a hoped-for move-in in the first quarter of 2028. Workforce & Training: Pierpont Community and Technical College is expanding aviation maintenance training at the North Central West Virginia Airport, aiming to grow capacity and keep more graduates working locally in energy and aviation. Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen berry recall tied to possible E. coli contamination, including Great Value and Trader Joe’s organic berry products sold in multiple states, including West Virginia. Healthcare Ownership: UPMC took over CommonSpirit Trinity Health System in eastern Ohio, affecting four hospitals and clinics serving about 200,000 patients in the Ohio Valley, with residents urged to confirm insurance and appointment details. Local Water Quality: A Gazette-Mail investigation highlights public health concerns from West Virginians’ well water, with residents reporting taste and corrosion issues. Sports (WVU): Iowa State outlasted West Virginia 45-42 in a high-scoring Big 12 game, with WVU’s offense producing points but the defense falling short.

Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear whether Boulder, Colorado can keep a climate-change damages case against major fossil-fuel companies in state court, a decision that could reshape how energy litigation works nationwide. Energy & Jobs: Pierpont Community and Technical College is expanding aviation maintenance training at the North Central West Virginia Airport, aiming to grow credentials and local hiring in energy and aviation. Home Energy Costs: The West Virginia Office of Energy launched Inflation Reduction Act-funded home energy rebates statewide, offering savings for whole-home upgrades and high-efficiency appliances as the state weighs future utility rules. Public Health: The FDA expanded a frozen berry recall tied to possible E. coli contamination, including Great Value and Trader Joe’s products sold in West Virginia—check freezer dates. Water Quality: A Gazette-Mail report highlights public health concerns from West Virginians’ well water, with residents describing rust and taste issues. Workforce & Education: West Virginia’s skills pipeline also got a boost with aviation-focused outreach for girls at the airport. Community Development: The 1982 Foundation is turning the old Calhoun County High School into a Grantsville community hub with new businesses and services.

Energy & Utilities: West Virginia Office of Energy launched statewide Home Energy Rebate Programs, rolling out HOMES and HEAR rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act to help households cut energy costs and upgrade insulation, windows, heating/cooling and more. Public Health & Food Safety: A frozen berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak expanded again, adding more lots of Great Value and Trader Joe’s products sold in multiple states including West Virginia. Healthcare Costs: New ACA Marketplace data shows West Virginia saw a steep drop in 2026 plan selections and the state’s average premiums climbed sharply, signaling affordability pressure for shoppers. Water Quality: A Gazette-Mail investigation highlights public health risks from West Virginians’ well water, with residents reporting taste and corrosion issues tied to home water testing. Rural Infrastructure: USDA awarded about $40 million in grants for rural water and wastewater systems, including operator training, mapping, and technical support. Local Industry & Community: The Mountain Loggers Group’s Log-A-Load for Kids auction raised major funds for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital during the Mountain State Forest Festival. Workforce Inspiration: Girls in Aviation Day at the North Central West Virginia airport brought hands-on activities and an all-female National Guard crew to spark future pilots.

Home Energy Rebates: West Virginia Office of Energy rolled out statewide HOMES and HEAR programs funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to cut utility costs for qualifying households with whole-home upgrades and high-efficiency appliance rebates. Energy Policy Watch: The launch lands as the state weighs a rule framework for electric utilities that community advocates fear could raise burdens on ratepayers. Manufacturing Growth: Advantage Valley marked National Manufacturing Day with a new $2 million POWER grant to expand its Expanding Markets program, targeting manufacturers in the Charleston-Huntington corridor and beyond and projecting 200+ jobs. Rural Water Funding: USDA awarded about $40 million in grants for rural water and wastewater technical support, operator training, and system mapping nationwide, including energy-efficiency help. Consumer Protection: West Virginia AG’s office listed the top scams reported in September—Medicare offers, robocalls, Social Security impersonation, sweepstakes/lottery fraud, and promotion/disconnection schemes. Local Industry & Community: Elkins’ Mountain Loggers Group Log-A-Load for Kids auction raised $158,155 this year for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital, as loggers and sawmills face a tough market. Workforce Pipeline: Conn-Weld Industries visited Mercer County Technical Education Center for National Manufacturing Day, spotlighting welding and safety skills for students.

Energy & Jobs: West Virginia Office of Energy rolled out statewide Home Energy Rebate Programs (HOMES and HEAR), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, giving qualifying households a path to lower bills through home upgrades and efficient appliances. Manufacturing Growth: Advantage Valley secured another $2 million POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for its Expanding Markets program, aiming to help manufacturers land new customers and create 200+ jobs. Consumer Protection: The WV Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division flagged the top five scams reported in September—Medicare offers, robocalls, Social Security impersonation, sweepstakes/lottery fraud, and promotion/disconnection schemes. Recycling & Waste: WVDEP announced more than $70,000 in Covered Electronic Devices recycling grants, including awards to Harrison, Lewis, Mingo, Monongalia, Pleasants and others for e-cycling events. Aviation Workforce Pipeline: Girls in Aviation Day returns Oct. 3 at the North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport, using the former terminal to showcase TSA, pilots, mechanics and behind-the-scenes airport operations. Wildlife Tech: New River Gorge National Park is using tiny cellular tags to track endangered bats, including one detected over 130 miles away. Policy & Permitting: U.S. senators unveiled a bipartisan permitting reform deal negotiated with the White House, with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito leading the effort. Healthcare Costs: Iowa joined a coalition seeking court approval of a $400 million Sandoz/Fougera settlement over alleged generic drug price manipulation, with West Virginia included in the broader coalition.

Energy Affordability: West Virginia’s Office of Energy has launched its statewide Home Energy Rebate Programs, rolling out two federally funded tracks—HOMES and HEAR—to help qualifying households cut energy bills through home upgrades, appliances, and equipment. Consumer Protection: Attorney General Lynn Fitch is urging people to check eligibility and file claims tied to a multistate generic drug settlement after a court approved a distribution plan over alleged price-fixing and reduced competition. Nuclear Policy: West Virginia has backed away from a federal advanced nuclear “lifecycle” campus bid after renewed scrutiny over spent fuel handling and waste concerns. Data Centers & Power Bills: In WV’s 2nd congressional district race, candidates are split on data center legislation, with one proposal pushing for a pause and local vote before new large facilities move forward. Workforce & Training: A West Virginia Northern Community College entrepreneurship educator was selected for a prestigious entrepreneurship teaching clinic, aiming to bring more hands-on learning to students. Local Business & Growth: Chicken Salad Chick announced new development agreements in West Virginia as it accelerates expansion in the Northeast. Industry Watch: A proposed class action in federal court alleges DraftKings used AI to target customers with gambling promotions, drawing attention from regulators.