In a recent interview on West Virginia Public Radio, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) was asked if the U.S. Capitol Power Plant ever used West Virginia coal. Rahall said it was his understanding that the Capitol Power Plant used Kentucky coal before he introduced a bill that called for the power plant to reduce carbon emissions. Rahall also said he wished it was West Virginia coal:
According to a May 2007 CNN report, the Capitol Power Plant did, in fact, use coal from two West Virginia companies.
Despite the fact that the the Capitol Power Plant used West Virginia coal, in January 2007 Rahall introduced H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Rahall’s bill mandated that the Capitol Power Plant be operated “in the most energy efficient manner possible to minimize carbon emissions,” and as a result the power plant was converted to natural gas in 2009.
Thanks Nick Joe!