Renewable Energy Attracts Economic Development, Big Business

April 22, 2017

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that although Appalachian Power would like to lure "the Amazons and Googles of the world" to West Virginia as future power customers, officials from these companies scouting locations for new facilities make it clear that they require "a power supply that is generated from 100% renewable sources." Chris Beam, the new president of Appalachian Power, said that the company will soon announce plans to add to its wind generation capacity in southern West Virginia. "It would put assets in West Virginia," Beam said. "We think it makes a lot of sense. There definitely is some ability to expand wind in West Virginia."

In related news, Apple recently announced that three more of its suppliers are committed to solely using renewable power. Apple uses only renewable energy to power its facilities in 24 countries, including the United States. In addition, National Public Radio reported on Kentucky's efforts to provide renewable energy to big businesses like Toyota and to avoid missing out on economic development opportunities because of an inability to provide power from renewable energy sources.