In West Virginia, pro-coal politicians are set to dominate November’s election

West Virginia races could further strengthen coal’s dominance and slow the national transition to clean energy.

On the site of a former steel plant in the heart of coal country last year, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice proudly signed a bill steering state funds toward Form Energy’s plans to construct a new battery manufacturing facility. The project was largely enabled with federal incentives and tax credits from President Biden’s climate-friendly Inflation Reduction Act. On a cool February afternoon, with his ubiquitous English bulldog sitting nearby, Justice said, “This technology here is unbelievable. That’s all there is to it. It’s our job to embrace and it’s our job to move forward in every way.”