West Virginia Agencies Shielding Details on $1.44B DOE Coal Bail-out Loan from Public - CleanTechnica

The West Virginia Department of Commerce has denied Sierra Club’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for details on a $1.44 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) intended to fund refurbishment projects at six unnamed coal-fired power plants in West Virginia. These projects, announced in November 2025 by the DOE and Governor Patrick Morrisey, aim to extend the operational life of these plants by up to 20 years. However, the Department of Commerce stated that certain records are exempt from disclosure, leaving the public without information on which plants will receive funding, the costs involved, or the specific upgrades planned. Despite the loan’s low-interest nature, West Virginians will ultimately bear the cost through increased electric bills over decades. Environmental and public health concerns accompany the financial burden. West Virginia’s coal plants are linked to hundreds of hospital visits and approximately 20 in-state deaths annually, with an additional 335 deaths occurring out-of-state due to pollution from these plants. Sierra