Energy & Environment

Today, Rep. David B. McKinley P.E. (R-WV), introduced the Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019, which will help advance energy infrastructure projects. This legislation will clarify Section 401 of the Clean Water Act which is part of the permitting process for pipelines and other infrastructure projects. Currently, some states have used the Section 401 certification process to prevent and delay federally permitted projects. “Building and modernizing energy infrastructure is vital ... Read more

U.S. Representative David McKinley (R-W.Va.) participated in a panel discussion on how America can ensure our electric grid is reliable and coal can continue to be part of our energy mix. “We are working on a bipartisan approach that will focus on innovation. If we can do a successful innovation policy, we can capture carbon and with that, create a pathway to continue to use coal,” Rep McKinley said. “We have to do more research and innovation because America has that mantel of leadership. We’ve... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressmen David B. McKinley P.E. (R-W.Va.) and Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.) introduced the Carbon Capture Modernization Act (H.R. 1796), which will enable businesses to finally take advantage of the Section 48A tax credit for clean coal facilities by creating more realistic requirements to qualify. This legislation would modernize the 48A tax credit’s performance and efficiency standards to reflect the capabilities of existing technology. This will help promote the adoption o... Read more

Today, U.S. Congressmen David McKinley (WV-01) and Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced H.R. 1166, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that supports the development and demonstration of vital carbon capture and removal technologies. The bill authorizes $35 million in competitive prize funding for direct air capture technology and allocates $50 million toward research and development of technologies that transform captured carbon ... Read more

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative David McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.) announced today that he will serve on three House Energy and Commerce subcommittees during the 116th Congress: • Environment and Climate Change • Energy • Oversight and Investigations “The number one goal we have as an office is to help the Mountain State and West Virginians. Through my role on the Energy and Commerce Committee I will work to ensure that the needs of our state are heard,” Rep. McKinley said. “Being on Oversight and ... Read more

When Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area in August 2017, the devastation was unimaginable. The storm not only impacted an untold number of homes and businesses, it also exposed a weakness in America’s petrochemical industry. When the storm hit, 17 ethylene crackers, representing 60% of the production capacity in America, went off line. These facilities provide the feedstock for the plastics and chemical industries, and shortages and spikes in prices impacted manufacturers coast to coast. Gradually, the crackers returned to production after several weeks, but not before this major disruption to America’s economy. Read more

A federal report issued this week cites the economic potential from additional ethane hubs in the United States. Natural gas processing capacity has expanded more than 10-fold from 2010 to 2016 in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia where the boom in crude oil and natural gas production from shale formations across the U.S. and in the Marcellus and Utica shales “has transformed global energy markets and may present opportunities for industry to establish additional hubs,” according to Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States, a report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more

Today, Secretary Rick Perry announced the release of a new study by the Department of Energy detailing the potential for a petrochemical hub located in the Appalachian region. The report highlights the amazing growth of production of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL’s) in the Marcellus and Utica Shales and emphasizes the benefits an ethane hub would have for America’s economy. Read more

The United Mine Workers of America held an inauguration of officers Thursday in Morgantown. Read more

U.S. Congressman David McKinley feels West Virginia is in a good position to capitalize on industrial growth following actions by the Trump administration, including lower taxes and an emphasis on brownfield development. McKinley, R-Wheeling, was in Weirton Monday, meeting with local businesses and medical professionals. Read more