He sees growth.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of business operation he’s influenced during his successful career as both an executive and entrepreneur because he’s been able to increase productivity through technological and workforce innovations.
One could even call it his superpower, and that’s because, throughout his professional career, Wheeling resident Joe Eddy has identified ways to extend and expand the businesses with which he’s been involved. One of the primary reasons why the Republican is running to represent the 1st District in the state Senate, in fact, is because he believes he can do the same with the economy in West Virginia.
And Eddy would begin with energy.
That’s because the Mountain State is the 5th largest producer of energy in the country, and because West Virginia – thanks to the coal, oil, and natural gas that’s harvested every day – exports about 90 percent of the generated electricity to other states in the country. Eddy is aware of the state’s potential, and that’s why the Republican candidate discusses the future of those industries with the voters he meets along the campaign trail.
“Our state powers America, and we can grow our numbers at the same time we supply the people of our own state with more of the energy that sits below all of our feet here in West Virginia.”
And growing the state’s energy generation is only the beginning of the man’s plan.
What traditions in West Virginia do you believe can be respected while legislatively evolving them to fit the 21st Century?
West Virginia’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and deep-rooted pride. From our record of historic patriotism, to honoring our veterans and to protecting our unique Appalachian heritage, I am committed to policies that celebrate who we are while preparing us for the challenges ahead. Expand services and job opportunities for veterans; support military families with education, health, and housing programs.
We must invest in Appalachian cultural events, historic preservation, and the arts to keep our story alive for future generations.
As a supporter of school choice, what amendments would you propose for the laws governing the state’s Hope Scholarship program?
A strong West Virginia depends on quality education from cradle to career. I support well-funded public education and affordable childcare to help working families prosper. I will continue to advocate for policies that empower families to choose the best educational setting for their children, whether public, private, charter, or homeschooling, to ensure that children in West Virginia have access to quality education tailored to their needs.
Instead of proposing specific amendments, I would simply state that for the Hope Scholarship program to continue to grow without sacrificing public education, it will need to continually be reviewed with potential caps, guardrails, and consideration for an extended future.
Tourism has become a prominent and profitable industry in West Virginia over the past decade, so how do we grow it?
Expand the “Tourism Works” workforce program with targeted training for hospitality and outdoor recreation, dedicating funds to certify ambassadors who enhance visitor experiences.
Remove barriers to entry by offering improved air access by marketing “fly local” campaigns at airports like Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling, and Clarksburg, attracting direct flights from high-potential markets like Charlotte and Chicago to shorten drive times and boost arrivals.
We should integrate economic incentives for small businesses near our major parks and trails, such as low-interest loans for small eco-lodges, to diversify offerings in order to grow the variety and revenue of our tourism industry.
We hear West Virginia can be a leader in energy, but is that true?
West Virginia is already a leader in energy as the nation’s 5th largest total energy producer.
West Virginia is the 2nd largest coal producer, while also ranking 5th in marketed natural gas production, and 7th in natural gas liquids production. West Virginia is a net exporter of electricity, with approximately 90% of production exported to other states. West Virginia’s energy industry is an important employer and economic driver.
However, I believe that to be an energy leader, we must implement policies that ensure that more of our natural resources are used to create value-added jobs and downstream products within West Virginia by growth of existing or by recruiting more high-energy intensity industries. For example, even with the noted energy leadership position West Virginia enjoys, as well as the highest energy employment per 100,000 workers, we are still ranked #49 by GDP per capita.
We consume less than 10% of the electricity we generate and consume less than 7% of the natural gas we produce. Texas, on the other hand, is the #1 natural gas producer and consumes over 20% within its borders, and it is ranked #1 in GDP per capita.
Ohio and Pennsylvania prove the premise as well. We must focus on growing our energy-intensive industries if we are serious about being a true leader in energy.
How can West Virginians help improve the perception of West Virginia?
West Virginians should highlight more of our success stories in technology and innovation, as well as the internationally diverse industry that now operates here. We are the state that literally powers America, and we should market that truth.
Virginia and Ohio, for example, would not be able to support their rapid growth in data center buildout without relying heavily on West Virginia’s generation capacity and grid reliability.
We need to continue to promote our quality of life with incredible natural beauty and outdoor activities. West Virginia Proud!
(Paid for by the candidate)
