………Things finally were looking up in Weirton and Hancock County with Form Energy building a plant and employing workers. Both local and State officials praised the State’s Development Office for snagging the battery plant to be located on the former 55-acre Weirton Steel property. There were very few naysayers, but 1st District Delegate Pat McGeehan whose district is just miles away from the plant, raised doubt about the project.
……….The recent news that the Trump Dept of Energy has terminated agreements to fund projects using the batteries produced by Form has hit and in my opinion is a blow not only to Hancock County, but to advocates of clean energy nationally. The Dept. of Energy site states that the projects whose funding is being terminated did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs and were not economical viable.
……….The decision is expected to be appealed according to the Dept. of Energy and appeals are already being filed.
……….According to the WV Gazette, the future for projects appears uncertain in West Virginia. The State retained ownership of the 55 acres that formerly was home to Weirton Steel and Form Energy was required to meet an employment thresh hold
…………If Form Energy is crippled by the Trump’s Dept. of Energy pulling the funding to plants who would utilize its product, I wonder how many Hancock residents would support policies that put their families and friends on the streets.
………..Questions have surfaced on the Tenaska Carbon Capture test wells being drilled in Northern Hancock County. Reportedly one test well is located on the Six property, but the exact location or owner of the second site is unknown. I posed that question to Tenaska officials and was told they keep that information confidential. Rumors have placed the 2nd location near Tomlinson Run which given the effect the drilling can have on surrounding land raises some concern. I would think a Freedom of Information Act could be used to acquire the identity of that property’s owner
……….Is carbon capture technology the latest move forward in storing waste from manufacturers or is it a threat to the area in which the wells are drilled? The jury appears to be out on the long-lasting impact not only on property owners, but on the area in which those wells are located. While Tenaska’s officials have appeared before the County Commission, the information at those two meetings has (as one would expect) been one-sided. Commissioner Tommy Ogden, however, has dug a little deeper and is concerned about what he is discovering. Even though there are only two wells being proposed in the county, what about the effects on nearby properties? Reports of nearby properties being vulnerable to earth quakes have surfaced. And what about the property values of neighboring land or homes? That all needs to be explored prior to any go ahead being issued by the Dept. of Environmental Protection. We need to become aware of the permitting process and the date of any public hearing. One would assume a public hearing would be scheduled to hear from residents. We need to make sure it’s held in Northern Hancock County and not in Weirton and not in Charleston which would seriously reduce public participation.
……..If residents feel strongly about the issue, this might be the time for a petition drive from Hancock County residents.
……While some might call our economic development situation dire, it’s important that we all do our homework to make sure that any development doesn’t jeopardize the health and well-being of our communities and its citizens.
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