Determination, focus and precision are characteristics of a Sharp Shooter, in every sense of the word. West Virginia Executive (WVE)’s latest class of Sharp Shooters are no exception. These 10 men and women each have a drive that has taken them to the current season of their lives and careers, along with a motivation to make West Virginia an even better place to live, learn, work and play.
For years, energy leaders, environmental experts and government entities have been working to find ways to decrease and divert greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere while burning fossil fuels. While resources like coal and natural gas will continue to be part of West Virginia’s economy and the U.S. energy policy for years to come, advancements in carbon capture and sequestration can help mitigate the risks associated with their biproducts.
Contemporary society is riddled with ever-changing, complex challenges deeply impacting industries across the board. The manufacturing and energy industries, while essential to West Virginia’s economic wellness, often find themselves affected by these issues and questioning how to not only overcome them but also thrive in the midst of seemingly detrimental factors; one of these factors being a debilitating workforce shortage.
Just as West Virginia earned its nickname, the Mountain State, from its rolling hills and forest-covered mountains, the Mountain Lakes region is also named after its natural beauty. The lakes in this area—Stonewall Jackson, Stonecoal, Summersville, Sutton and Burnsville—are the main attractions for both locals and visitors, but they are not all the communities have to offer.
Growing up in the small coal mining community of Mingo County, WV, Chris Williamson, assistant secretary of labor for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is a tried-and-true Mountaineer. Even after moving to the Washington, D.C., area, he continues to be mindful of his rich Appalachian roots and proud of his extensive coal mining lineage.
West Virginia is poised to enhance its reputation as an energy powerhouse. Empowered with changes in both federal and state laws, innovative thinkers and political leaders are preparing to welcome nuclear energy as part of the state’s energy portfolio, a move that can bring sustainable jobs with life-changing wages and possibilities.