Energy policy in West Virginia, 2015-2017

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Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

This article outlines state-level oil and gas regulations, renewable energy programs, oil and gas production, energy usage, energy and electricity prices, fuel taxes, and utilities in West Virginia.

See the tabs below for further information:

  1. Policy: This tab provides information about state regulations on energy production and policies related to oil and gas production, fracking, renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and net metering.
  2. Production: This tab provides information about total energy production by energy source in West Virginia.
  3. Usage: This tab presents information about electricity consumption by energy source.
  4. Prices and taxes: This tab presents information about average energy and electricity prices, per capita spending on energy, and fuel taxes.
  5. Utilities: This tab presents information about public and private utilities, electricity markets, the types of utilities in West Virginia, and the electric reliability organizations in West Virginia.
  6. Background: This tab provides information about the types of nonrenewable and renewable energy sources produced and used in the United States, an energy profile of West Virginia, a state profile of West Virginia from the Almanac of American Politics (2016), and economic indicators in the state, such as median income.

Policy

State regulations

The Office of Oil and Gas in the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has regulatory authority over oil and natural gas operations in the state. State rules and regulations cover the drilling of all wells used for oil or gas exploration, the spacing of wells, permitting requirements for oil and gas operators, injection wells used to enhance oil and gas recovery or to dispose of wastewater, the cementing and plugging of wells, the underground storage of natural gas, the prevention of well blowout and leaks, well restoration, reporting requirements, and more. All West Virginia rules and regulations related to oil and gas operations are found in Chapter 22 of the West Virginia Code.[1]

Fracking

See also: Fracking in West Virginia

The Office of Oil and Gas is responsible for regulating hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) in West Virginia. The division enforces regulations for the reporting and disclosure of the types of fluids used in fracking and at what volume, a description of each chemical additive used in fracking, the maximum amount of surface and injecting pressure used during the process, well safety, and other information considered necessary by the division for the regulation of fracking. More detailed information on oil and gas rules and regulations can be found in the Code of State Rules.[2]

Renewable energy policies

States have implemented funding and financial incentive programs to subsidize or otherwise increase investment in renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. These programs include renewable portfolio standards, grants, rebate programs, tax incentives, loans, performance-based incentives, and more. The aim of the policies generally involves reducing the cost of renewable energy production for consumers, reducing regulatory compliance costs, reducing investment risks involving renewable energy, and/or increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources by individuals and businesses.[3]

Renewable Portfolio Standard

See also: Renewable Portfolio Standard

A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), also known as a renewable electricity standard, is a mandate intended to increase the amount of renewable energy production and use. Under these standards, a utility company can be required by a state to have a certain percentage of its electricity come from certain renewable energy resources. In addition, states may give tax credits to utility companies to fulfill these requirements.[4][5]

As of February 2017, West Virginia was one of 20 states that did not have a Renewable Portfolio Standard or a voluntary renewable energy standard or target.[6]

Grant programs

States, nonprofit organizations, and/or private utilities may operate grant programs for renewable energy. These programs may include state or private funding for energy installation costs, research and development, infrastructure and business development, system testing, and renewable energy feasibility studies (studies that look into the potential for renewable energy use in specific areas). Grants can be provided with or without requiring a recipient to match the grant. Additional incentives, such as lower interest loans, may be included with a grant.[3]

As of March 2015, West Virginia was one of 26 states that did not have state-run, utility-run, or locally run grant programs for renewable energy. See the map below for grant programs by state.[3]

States with grant programs for renewable energy as of March 2015 (Source: Environmental Protection Agency)

Loan programs

Loan programs may be used to offer lower interest loans or other financing options to individuals and businesses to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing and installing renewable energy technologies. Loan programs may include programs that use payments from earlier borrowers to provide loans for new borrowers, programs in which building owners reduce their energy consumption to pay their upfront costs for renewable energy technologies, and programs that allow individuals with a higher debt-to-income ratio to purchase homes that use less energy, among others.[3]

As of March 2015, West Virginia was one of four states did not have a state-run loan program for renewable energy technologies or locally run, utility-run, and/or privately run loan programs for renewable energy.[3]

A complete list of state, local, and private incentive, loan, grant, and assistance programs for renewable energy and energy efficiency in West Virginia can be found here.

See the map below for renewable energy loan programs by state.

States with loan programs for renewable energy as of March 2015 (Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Energy efficiency regulations

As of February 2017, West Virginia did not require all new residential and/or commercial buildings to meet energy efficiency standards. However, the West Virginia State Fire Commission sets voluntary statewide energy efficiency standards, which can be adopted and enforced by local governments.[6][7]

Net metering

Net metering is a billing system in which customers who generate their own electricity, usually using renewable sources (such as solar panels) are able to sell their excess electricity back to the electric grid, which is an interconnected network that is used to deliver electricity. This requires electricity to be able to flow both to and from a consumer.[8][9][10]

As of October 2016, West Virginia was one of 41 states with a statewide net metering policy. All retail electricity customers are eligible for net metering for the following renewable energy sources: solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass, landfill methane gas, hydroelectric power facilities that use rivers to generate electricity, biofuels, fuel cells, and combined heat and power systems. Renewable energy system capacity requirements depend on the type of customer and the utility:[11]

West Virginia net metering requirements, as of February 2017
Customer type Investor-owned utilities with 30,000 or more customers Investor-owned utilities with fewer than 30,000 customers Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives
Residential 25 kilowatts (kW) 25 kW 25 kW
Commercial 500 kW 50 kW 50 kW
Industrial 2 megawatts (MW) 50 kW 50 kW
Source: DSIRE, "West Virginia Net Metering"

For a complete list of net metering programs by state, click here.[6][12]

Recent legislation

The following is a list of recent energy policy bills that have been introduced in or passed by the West Virginia State Legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Ballot measures

Energy policy ballot measures

See also: Energy on the ballot and List of West Virginia ballot measures

Ballotpedia has not covered any ballot measures relating to state and local energy policy in West Virginia.

Utility policy ballot measures

See also: Local utility tax and fees on the ballot

Ballotpedia has not covered any ballot measures relating to local utility tax and fees in West Virginia.

Production

The sections below include statistics on total energy production in West Virginia, oil and natural gas production in West Virginia, oil and gas production in West Virginia over time (2004-2014), and oil and gas production on federal land, including the amount of federal land leased in West Virginia for production.

Total energy production

The table below provides information regarding energy production in West Virginia in British thermal units (Btu). A British thermal unit is used to measure the heat contained in different fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy defines a Btu as "the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit." Fuels are discussed in terms of Btu to compare fuels with different energy content and prices. For example, one gallon of gasoline equals 120,524 Btu.[13]

Energy production, 2014 (in billion Btu)
State Biomass Coal Crude oil Nuclear energy Natural gas Renewable Total*
West Virginia 0 2,858,022 43,639 0 1,202,865 49,537 4,154,063
Kentucky 5,046 1,869,335 19,581 0 90,908 75,298 2,060,168
Tennessee 32,073 21,711 1,914 289,401 6,021 180,455 531,575
Virginia 6,011 393,225 81 316,081 137,292 133,100 985,790
U.S. average 38,759 404,181 307,301 160,980 585,731 187,132 1,684,085
*Total figures were computed by Ballotpedia.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Nonrenewable energy production

The table below provides information regarding nonrenewable energy production in West Virginia. For coal data, the phrase productive capacity refers to the maximum amount of coal that could be expected to be produced in 2014. The natural gas and crude oil production data refer to the amounts of natural gas and crude oil produced in December 2014 and April 2016, respectively.[14][15]

Nonrenewable energy production
State Coal, productive capacity
(short tons) 		Natural gas
(million cubic feet) 		Crude oil
(thousand barrels)
Date 2014 December 2014 April 2016
West Virginia 138,821,855 100,730 601
Kentucky 97,860,978 6,432 167
Tennessee 951,722 416 23
Virginia 18,508,868 11,170 1
U.S. average 24,874,314 43,350 4,388
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Oil and gas production (2004-2014)

Note: This section provides information about oil and gas production on private and state-owned lands. Information on oil and gas production on federal lands is accessible here.

The graph and table below provide information about crude oil production in West Virginia. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparative purposes.[16]

Crude oil production comparison West Virginia.png



The graph and table below provide information about natural gas production in West Virginia. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparative purposes.[17]

Natural gas production comparison West Virginia.png


Oil and gas production on federal land

See also: Oil and natural gas extraction on federal land

The federal government leases federally managed land to private individuals and companies for energy development, including crude oil and natural gas drilling, solar energy development, and geothermal energy development. Approximately 166 million acres of federal land were available to be leased for energy development as of December 2014. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for regulating oil and gas drilling on federal lands in the United States.[18][19]

The table below provides information about oil and natural gas production on federal lands in West Virginia in 2014. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.[20][21]

Oil and natural gas production on federal land, 2014
State Oil production (in thousands of barrels) Natural gas production (in million cubic feet)
West Virginia 0 153
Kentucky 11 79
Tennessee 0 0
Virginia 0 127
U.S. average 2,976.06 49,996.92
Source: Office of Natural Resource Revenue, "Statistical Information"


Land leased

Private oil and natural gas companies apply for leases from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to develop energy resources on federal lands. After a lease is approved, the company must submit information to the BLM about how it will conduct its drilling and production operations. The BLM also inspects a company’s operations during production.[22]

The table below provides information about oil and gas producing leases and acres on federal lands in West Virginia from 2013 to 2015. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.

Oil and gas producing leases and acres on federal land by state, 2013-2015
State FY 2015 FY 2014 FY 2013
Producing leases Producing acres Producing leases Producing acres Producing leases Producing acres
West Virginia 153 55,810 153 55,810 153 55,810
Kentucky 54 32,916 54 32,916 55 33,240
Tennessee 2 736 2 736 2 736
Virginia 16 14,491 16 14,491 16 14,491
U.S. average 485 257,505 483 258,996 480 262,870
Source: U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics"

Energy usage

The section below includes statistics on electricity consumption in the state by energy type (in 2014).

Consumption

The table below provides information about energy consumption by source in West Virginia in 2014. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.[14]

Energy consumption in West Virginia, 2014 (in billion Btu)
State Coal Crude oil and petroleum products Natural gas Nuclear energy Solar Wind Geothermal Hydropower Wood and wood waste Biomass
West Virginia 816,460 191,515 161,661 0 127 13,803 32 11,811 23,764 30,091
Kentucky 913,452 597,274 261,233 0 189 0 2,712 29,895 37,456 57,195
Tennessee 427,509 698,891 311,966 289,401 774 486 213 84,645 62,265 101,449
Virginia 278,183 818,022 437,322 316,081 1,206 0 1,701 9,084 115,098 150,362
U.S. average 359,931 716,746 544,353 172,585 20,739 531,323 16,555 61,397 65,345 101,581
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Prices and taxes

The sections below include information on energy prices and spending in West Virginia, fuel taxes and state taxes in West Virginia and in neighboring states, and an overview of the federal tax on gasoline.

Energy prices

The price of electricity is affected by supply and demand. The supply of electricity is affected by fuel prices, environmental and energy regulations, power plant capacity, weather, and other factors. Demand for electricity also affects the price. Because electricity cannot be stored for long periods of time, it must be produced and used when it is needed. As demand for electricity increases, the price also generally increases.[23][24]

The table below provides information about energy prices in West Virginia as of April 2016. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.[14]

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.


Energy prices in West Virginia
State Natural gas
Dollars per thousand cubic foot 		Electricity
Cents per kilowatthour
Date April 2016 April 2016
West Virginia $9.4 8.7
Kentucky $10.4 8
Tennessee $9.6 8.8
Virginia $10.6 9.2
U.S. average $11.20 10.41
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Electricity prices can vary depending on the type of consumer; consumer categories include residential, commercial, industrial, and in some cases, transportation. The rate-making process is both political and economic. The table below presents information about electricity prices by consumer type in West Virginia in April 2016. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.

Electricity prices in West Virginia by sector (in cents per kilowatthour)
State Commercial Industrial Residential Transportation Average (all sectors)
Date April 2016 April 2016 April 2016 April 2016 April 2016
West Virginia 9.5 6.5 11.3 -- 9.2
Kentucky 9.5 5.4 10.4 -- 8.7
Tennessee 9.6 5.4 10.2 -- 8.7
Virginia 8.2 6.7 12 8.11 8.8
U.S. average 10.48 7.45 13.05 10.47 10.36
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Energy spending

The table below provides information about energy spending in West Virginia as of 2014. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.

Energy spending in West Virginia, 2014 (in millions of dollar except per capita spending)
State Petroleum Coal Natural gas Nuclear Per capita spending
West Virginia $5,363 $2,031 $678 $0 $4,736
Kentucky $14,309 $2,178 $1,762 $0 $5,092
Tennessee $17,831 $1,128 $2,233 $210 $4,523
Virginia $21,127 $962 $3,280 $194 $4,080
U.S. average $17,267 $1,322 $3,786 $574 $5,304
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Fuel taxes

Click to enlarge.

Revenue collected by federal, state, and local governments from fuel taxes is usually used to fund transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Some states may charge an excise tax based on how much gas or diesel is purchased. Some states may charge retail tax based on the average price of gas over a certain period. Additionally, some states may charge an environmental tax to be used for environmental projects. The Tax Foundation, which created the map to the right, used data from the American Petroleum Institute, which converted each state's different tax structure into cents per gallon to compare each state's gas taxes. In 2016, gas taxes accounted for 23 percent of the price of gasoline. Crude oil accounted for 40 percent of the price of gasoline, refining accounted for 24 percent of the price, and distribution and marketing accounted for 13 percent of the remainder.[25][26]

The table below provides information about state fuel taxes by type (excluding the federal gas taxes) in West Virginia as of January 2016. As of January 2016, West Virginia levied a 34.6 cent state gasoline tax and a 34.6 cent state diesel tax. West Virginia ranked 9th highest in total gasoline taxes (federal and state) and 9th highest in total diesel fuel taxes as of January 2016.[27][28]

State motor fuel taxes in cents per gallon, January 2016
State State gasoline tax Total gasoline tax Rank State diesel tax Total diesel tax Rank
West Virginia 34.6 53 9 34.6 59 9
Kentucky 26 44.4 30 23 47.4 35
Tennessee 21.4 39.8 39 18.4 42.8 44
Virginia 22.3 40.7 36 26 50.4 32
U.S. average 30.29 48.69 N/A 30.01 54.41 N/A
Source: American Petroleum Institute, "Motor Fuel Taxes"

Federal tax

The first federal tax on gasoline was proposed by Secretary of the Treasury Ogden L. Mills under President Herbert Hoover (R) as a revenue generating measure to balance the budget during the Great Depression. A 1-cent tax per gallon of imported gasoline and fuel oil was passed as part of the Revenue Act of 1932 and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D). The 1-cent tax continued until 1951 when the tax was increased to 2 cents in part to raise revenue during the Korean War. In 1956, the tax was raised to 3 cents to fund the Interstate Highway System. During this time, the Highway Trust Fund was created as a means to fund highway construction. Since 1956, there have been increases to the tax. As of April 2016, the gas tax was last raised by President Bill Clinton (D) in 1993 to 18.4 cents per gallon.[29]

Utilities

The sections below include general information on utilities, an overview of utilities and electricity markets, information on the types of utilities in West Virginia, an overview of electricity reliability organizations (EROs), and the EROs that oversee electricity in West Virginia.

Background

Utilities are firms that own and/or operate facilities to generate, transmit, and/or distribute electricity, gas, and/or water to the public. Electric utilities are commercial entities that own and operate facilities to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to the public and/or the industrial sector. State and local regulators oversee transmission and distribution charges. Local utilities read electric meters and bill individuals or businesses, generally on a monthly basis.[30][31]

Utilities are defined differently in each state and in federal legislation. Two general types of utilities are private and public utilities. Private utilities, commonly known as investor-owned utilities, provide stocks to investors and sell bonds. These utilities are regulated by state regulatory agencies. State agencies are also responsible for setting retail rates charged by investor-owned utilities, overseeing utility infrastructure, and ensuring that investor-owned utilities respond to customer service demands. Public utilities include government or municipally owned utilities. Another type of utility is an electric cooperative. Cooperatives are nonprofit businesses voluntarily owned and managed by the individuals and businesses that use their services. They are commonly used in rural areas that do not have access to a larger state or region-wide electric grid.[31]

Electricity markets

Electricity markets in each state are defined as regulated or deregulated. A regulated market includes utilities that own and manage the power plants that generate the electricity, the electricity transmission lines, and the distribution equipment (such as wires and electric poles). In addition, the utilities rates are approved and regulated by local and state agencies. A deregulated market requires utilities to divest ownership in the generation and transmission of electricity. In this market, utilities oversee the interconnection from a meter at a household or business to the power grid and is responsible for billing ratepayers.[32][33]

Depending on the state and/or area, public utilities may provide most or all energy services to homes and businesses, or a state may allow other private electricity providers to transmit and distribute electricity in addition to other utilities. For example, one type of private provider is a retail energy provider, which sells electricity in areas with retail competition. The provider purchases wholesale electricity and the delivery services (such as transmission lines) and can price electricity to particular consumers.[32][33]

As of February 2017, West Virginia was one of 40 states with a regulated electricity market. The Public Service Commission of West Virginia regulates and sets rates for the state's electric utilities. As of February 2017, the state had nine investor-owned electric utilities and two publicly owned municipal electric utilities.[34][35]

Electric reliability organizations

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 required the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to designate an electric reliability organization (ERO) for the United States. An ERO oversees the reliability of a nation's electric grid. In 2006, FERC granted authority to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to develop and enforce grid reliability standards for the United States. NERC, a self-regulated nonprofit corporation, is authorized to enforce grid reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the U.S. electrical system.[36]

NERC works with eight regional reliability organizations to oversee the U.S. electrical system. These organizations, known as regional entities, are composed of officials from investor-owned utilities, federal power agencies, electric cooperatives, and state and municipal utilities. Regional entities enforce NERC and regional reliability standards. Further, they forecast electricity demand and coordinate operations with other regional entities.[37]

West Virginia EROs

As of February 2017, ReliabilityFirst was the NERC-affiliated nonprofit corporation that oversees electric service reliability in West Virginia. NERC authorized ReliabilityFirst as an ERO in July 2006. The corporation is responsible for developing electricity reliability standards, monitoring compliance by owners and users of the bulk electric system, and issuing seasonal and long-term assessments of bulk electric system reliability in the region.[38]

Background

The sections below include an overview of the types of renewable and nonrenewable energy produced and consumed in the United States, an energy profile of West Virginia (from the U.S. Energy Information Administration), a general profile of West Virginia (from the 2016 edition of the Almanac of American Politics), and various economic indicators in West Virginia.

Background on energy resources

Nonrenewable energy sources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas (sometimes known as fossil fuels), and renewable sources, such as hydropower, wind, biofuels, and solar energy, are produced in each state, though at different levels depending on a state's geography, energy consumption, and the raw materials available in a particular state. For example, several states do not have coal, oil, and/or natural gas resources. States that lack these resources import these fuels.[39]

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, oil, coal, and natural gas comprise the majority of the resources used to generate power in the United States. In 2014, the top five energy-producing states were the top five fossil fuel-producing states—Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and West Virginia. These states' fossil fuel production accounted for approximately 42 percent of U.S. energy production in 2014. States with fewer coal, oil, and natural gas resources generally consume less energy. In 2014, the bottom five energy-producing states—Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Hampshire—produced 0.2 percent of U.S. energy and consumed approximately 2 percent of total U.S. energy.[39]

The production of biofuels (liquid fuels created from plant or plant-derived materials) is generally concentrated in the Midwest—states such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota) given the region's agricultural production of crops such as corn, which is used to make ethanol, a biofuel that can be blended with gasoline and used as a transportation fuel.[39]

Other renewable sources are used to generate power in the states include hydroelectric power, which accounted for about half of all renewable energy production in the United States in 2014.[39]

West Virginia energy profile

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), West Virginia is home to crude oil, natural gas, coalbed methane, and shale gas reserves. West Virginia overlies part of the Appalachian basin, an oil and gas basin. The Appalachian basin spans 10 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. The basin contains several coalfields.[40][41][42][43]

As of 2015, West Virginia's petroleum consumption per capita was below the national average. Most of the petroleum used in West Virginia came in the form of motor vehicle gasoline. As of 2015, the state had one crude oil refinery, which was located in northern West Virginia.[14]

As of 2015, West Virginia was the eighth-largest natural gas producer in the United States, primarily due to increased gas production over the years in the Marcellus Shale. In addition, West Virginia accounted for nearly 6 percent of total underground natural gas storage capacity in the United States. As of 2014, approximately 40 percent of West Virginia households used natural gas to heat their homes.[14]

As of 2015, West Virginia was second to Wyoming in coal production. More than 75 percent of the coal produced in the state as of 2015 was delivered to foreign countries and other states. Meanwhile, about 25 percent of the state's coal production was consumed in West Virginia, primarily for electricity generation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Coal-fired power plants account for nearly all of West Virginia's electricity generation, and the 10 largest power plants in the state, by capacity, are coal-fired."[14]

State profile

Demographic data for West Virginia
 West VirginiaU.S.
Total population:1,841,053316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):24,0383,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:93.6%73.6%
Black/African American:3.3%12.6%
Asian:0.7%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:1.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:85%86.7%
College graduation rate:19.2%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$41,751$53,889
Persons below poverty level:22.2%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in West Virginia.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in West Virginia

West Virginia voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.


More West Virginia coverage on Ballotpedia

Economic indicators

See also: Economic indicators by state
West Virginia's GDP increased by 5.1 percent in 2014. Click the image to view a larger version.

Broadly defined, a healthy economy is typically one that has a "stable and strong rate of economic growth" (gross state product, in this case) and low unemployment, among many other factors. The economic health of a state can significantly affect its healthcare costs, insurance coverage, access to care, and the physical and mental health of its citizens. For instance, during economic downturns, employers may reduce insurance coverage for employees, while those who are laid off may lose coverage altogether. Individuals also tend to spend less on non-urgent care or postpone visits to the doctor when times are hard. These changes in turn may affect the decisions made by policymakers as they react to shifts in the industry. Additionally, a person's socioeconomic status has profound effects on their access to care and the quality of care received.[44][45][46]

The greatest portion of West Virginia's population earned annual incomes between 200 and 399 percent of the federal poverty level, with a median annual household income of $43,361, above only that of Kentucky. West Virginia was one of only five states nationwide whose unemployment rates rose between September 2013 and September 2014.[47][48][49][50]

Note: Gross state product (GSP) on its own is not necessarily an indicator of economic health; GSP may also be influenced by state population size. Many factors must be looked at together to assess state economic health.

Various economic indicators by state
State Distribution of population by FPL* (2013) Median annual income (2011-2013) Unemployment rate Total GSP (2013)†
Under 100% 100-199% 200-399% 400%+ Sept. 2013 Sept. 2014
West Virginia 18% 22% 33% 27% $43,361 6.4% 6.6% $73,970
Kentucky 20% 22% 30% 28% $42,260 8.3% 6.7% $183,373
Ohio 14% 21% 33% 32% $46,672 7.4% 5.6% $565,272
Virginia 11% 15% 26% 48% $65,635 5.5% 5.5% $452,585
United States 15% 19% 30% 36% $52,047 7.2% 5.9% $16,701,415
* Federal Poverty Level. "The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $18,751 in 2013. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government."
† Median annual household income, 2011-2013.
‡ In millions of current dollars. "Gross State Product is a measurement of a state's output; it is the sum of value added from all industries in the state."
Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts"

See also

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms West Virginia energy policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Energy policy in West Virginia, 2015-2017 - Google News

Footnotes

  1. ↑ West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, "Office of Oil and Gas," accessed March 7, 2017
  2. ↑ West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, "Horizontal Drilling," accessed March 9, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Chapter 3. Funding and Financial Incentive Policies," accessed March 1, 2017
  4. ↑ National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “State & Local Activities,” accessed January 30, 2014
  5. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals," accessed March 14, 2017
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Virginia.pdf Institute for Energy Research, "West Virginia Energy Facts," accessed March 15, 2017
  7. ↑ DSIRE, "West Virginia - Building Energy Code," accessed March 8, 2017
  8. ↑ Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, "Glossary," accessed October 22, 2014
  9. ↑ Edison Electric Institute, "Straight Talk About Net Metering," September 2013
  10. ↑ Call Me Power, "What is the difference between wholesale and retail electricity?" March 12, 2015
  11. ↑ DSIRE, "West Virginia Net Metering," accessed March 10, 2017
  12. ↑ DSIRE, "Net metering programs," accessed February 28, 2017
  13. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "British Thermal Units (Btu)," December 15, 2014
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 U.S. Energy Information Administration, "West Virginia State Energy Profile," May 19, 2016
  15. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Table 13. Productive Capacity and Capacity Utilization of Underground Coal Mines by State and Mining Method, 2014," accessed July 19, 2016
  16. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Crude Oil Production," July 31, 2015
  17. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Natural Gas Gross Withdrawals and Production," July 31, 2015
  18. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," December 29, 2014
  19. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Public Land Statistics 2014," May 2015
  20. ↑ Western Energy Alliance, "Production," accessed November 25, 2015
  21. ↑ James M. Inhofe - U.S. Senator, Oklahoma, "Inhofe Introduces Bill to Achieve Domestic Energy Independence Through State Control of Federal Energy Resources," June 26, 2013
  22. ↑ U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Lease Sales," accessed October 20, 2014
  23. ↑ RWE, "How the electricity price is determined," accessed April 21, 2015
  24. ↑ Forbes, "How The Price For Power Is Set," December 26, 2012
  25. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update," accessed April 25, 2016
  26. ↑ Tax Foundation, "How High Are Gas Taxes in Your State?" July 23, 2016
  27. ↑ The Washington Post, "A (very) brief history of the state gas tax on its 95th birthday," February 25, 2014
  28. ↑ American Petroleum Institute, "Motor Fuel Taxes," accessed April 27, 2016
  29. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation, "When did the Federal Government begin collecting the gas tax?" November 18, 2015
  30. ↑ Business Dictionary, "Electric utility," accessed February 28, 2017
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 U.S. Department of Energy, "A Primer on Electric Utilities, Deregulation, and Restructuring of U.S. Energy Markets," May 2002
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Electric Choice, "Map of Deregulated Energy States and Markets (Updated 2017)," accessed February 28, 2017
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Allied Power Services, "Deregulated States," accessed February 28, 2017
  34. ↑ Public Service Commission of West Virginia, "Utility Search," accessed March 18, 2017
  35. ↑ Public Service Commission of West Virginia, "Utilities Division," accessed March 9, 2017
  36. ↑ WhatIs.com, "North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)," accessed February 28, 2017
  37. ↑ North American Electric Reliability Corporation, "Frequently asked questions," August 2013
  38. ↑ ReliabilityFirst, "About Us," accessed March 16, 2017
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 U.S. Department of Energy, "How Much Energy Does Your State Produce?" November 10, 2014
  40. ↑ Flaherty, K. J., and Flaherty, Thomas, III, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, "Oil and gas in Pennsylvania (3rd ed.): 4th ser., Educational Series 8," accessed September 22, 2015
  41. ↑ Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, "Marcellus Shale," accessed September 22, 2015
  42. ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "West Virginia Profile Analysis," updated December 18, 2013
  43. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Appalachian Basin Energy Resources -- A New Look at an Old Basin," April 25, 2015
  44. ↑ Academy Health, "Impact of the Economy on Health Care," August 2009
  45. ↑ The Conversation, "Budget explainer: What do key economic indicators tell us about the state of the economy?" May 6, 2015
  46. ↑ Health Affairs, "Socioeconomic Disparities In Health: Pathways And Policies," accessed July 13, 2015
  47. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Distribution of Total Population by Federal Poverty Level," accessed July 17, 2015
  48. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Median Annual Household Income," accessed July 17, 2015
  49. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Unemployment Rate (Seasonally Adjusted)," accessed July 17, 2015
  50. ↑ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Total Gross State Product (GSP) (millions of current dollars)," accessed July 17, 2015
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