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Natalie Tennant on Energy & Oil |
Tennant said that she envisions West Virginia employing an "all-of-the-above energy source" in the future. "The vision I have for West Virginia is an economy that is built on many different job opportunities, whether it's coal, natural gas (or) water. We're not going to replace coal; it is too important. But that doesn't mean we can't have an all-of-the-above approach."
She sees the technology and manufacturing industries as potential economic winners, and she feels they could play a dual role by serving to facilitate coal's continuing role in the future. "We have to advance coal so it continues to be a strong part of our future."
"I believe West Virginia has a very bright future and coal will play a vital role in that. Unfortunately, the EPA under President Obama has been too secretive. The agency's leadership made little attempt to communicate with our citizens--especially those being adversely affected by its decisions."
A: One, I'm frustrated, as are many West Virginians, that it was addressed but not a solution found in the legislative session. I'm disappointed [because] folks talk about it being a game changer and a gold mine underneath West Virginia. What we need to be able to do is have responsible development. And what I mean by responsible development, if there's more regulations that need to be in play in terms of serving the communities and making sure the communities are strong in which you're having the drilling, that the environment is addressed, the water is kept safe and the roads are in good shape as they were when the drilling started. The other aspect comes with the Innovation 20/20 fund--to see some of that money from the severance tax be used for technology and math education to building up our communities in which they were drilled and for really diversifying our economy.