West Virginia is truly an energy state due to its rich natural resources and positive business climate for energy-related companies.
The Mountain State leads the nation in net interstate electricity exports. The state accounts for nearly one-third of U.S. coal production east of the Mississippi River and over one-tenth of U.S. total coal production. West Virginia has more estimated recoverable coal reserves at producing mines than any other state except Wyoming.
A key natural gas development in the state is the 6,000-foot-deep Marcellus Shale rock formation, believed to contain more than 50 trillion cubic-feet of recoverable natural gas. West Virginia’s underground natural gas storage capacity accounts for about six percent of the U.S. total. In addition to West Virginia’s natural gas production, state infrastructure handles three times that amount from other sources. The state is an important supplier to the Northeast during the winter months when natural gas demand peaks.
Energy Opportunities
West Virginia has always played an important role in supplying energy for the nation’s homes and factories and will continue to be a leader in advancing its energy resources to meet national energy needs.
West Virginia’s energy plan seeks energy independence, with freedom from foreign oil imports by 2030. The plan includes an appropriate mix of feasible energy technologies.
Some West Virginia resources and projects that capitalize on the nation’s demand for cleaner energy resources include:
- Carbon sequestration projects in two locations
- The largest wind farm in the East
- Vast forest resources, a potential source of clean energy
The chart, above, shows West Virginia's energy production in orange, compared to what the state exports in blue. The pink section shows how much the state consumed, itself.
Click to view a larger version of the chart.