It’s said in politics that it’s all about the power. While that may refer to the individual power gained by those elected, there is a clear theme among the leaders chosen to guide us in 2025 and beyond: It’s all about the power — generation, that is.
President Donald Trump has quickly made energy policy one of his main focuses, declaring a national energy emergency. He’s suspended or rescinded policies that restrict energy production and terminated the unpopular electric vehicle mandate.
Additionally, he has withdrawn the U.S. — once again — from the Paris Climate Treaty, which he and many others believe puts this country at a competitive disadvantage.
“This will restore American prosperity — including for those men and women who have been forgotten by our economy in recent years,” Trump said of his approach.
“It will also rebuild our nation’s economic and military security, which will deliver peace through strength.”
It’s easy to understand why Trump is so popular in West Virginia. That approach aligns with the state’s history of being a key power provider, dating back to coal and now expanding with the strong addition of natural gas.
To his credit, new Gov. Patrick Morrisey has recognized this and has quickly aligned West Virginia’s policies with Trump’s. Much of this traces back to Gov. Jim Justice’s first term and his close relationship with President Trump. However, it’s clear Morrisey intends to build on that foundation and elevate it to new heights.
“As America’s energy state, our nation’s energy independence begins right here in West Virginia,” Morrisey said.
“To lead the way, we will partner with President Trump, unleash our full potential, and ultimately become energy dominant.”
There is no question that West Virginia is pivotal to the nation’s energy independence. The state has proven its importance before and is poised to be a leader for decades to come.
To further that effort, Morrisey has appointed an Energy, Infrastructure, and Competitiveness Council to identify the best ways to propel the state forward in an expedited manner.
The clear call from Washington and Charleston is to streamline energy permitting processes and eliminate bureaucratic red tape. That approach in Washington has strong support from key leaders at the Capitol. West Virginia’s senior U.S. senator, Shelley Moore Capito, praised Trump’s efforts.
“After four years of burdensome and costly regulations, I’m thankful that the White House is addressing Americans’ energy concerns by reducing bureaucratic red tape,” Capito said.
All of this is good news for West Virginia on many fronts. But as much as we champion efforts to restore coal and natural gas to their rightful place as key energy sources, the nation must also remain committed to an “all-of-the-above” energy policy.
There is no doubt that President Biden, or at least those in his administration, bent the curve toward renewable energy at the risk of the entire power grid. That approach simply isn’t sustainable at this time.
However, as in all technology, the science of power generation is changing rapidly, and the United States must remain a key player in that development.
We believe — or at least hope — that Trump and other national leaders, along with Morrisey and state leaders, understand that.
This focus was evident during the Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy nominee Chris Wright. During questioning by West Virginia’s own Sen. Jim Justice, Wright made clear both his and President Trump’s priorities.
When Justice asked if he supported “embracing all energy sources,” Wright emphasized that he and Trump believe “energy is not just a sector of the economy; it is the economy.”
“Energy is core — it’s central,” Wright said. “We want energy from all sources that can add to the pile of affordable, reliable, secure American energy.”
In other words, a sound national energy policy should drive economic development while ensuring West Virginia remains a major player with coal, natural gas and its developing renewable energy market.