West Virginia American Water has applied to the Public Service Commission to build a new water plant at the former Century Aluminum site in Jackson County to support development planned there by Berkshire Hathaway.
Ravenswood lost hundreds of jobs when Century Aluminum closed, and the new development could help to bring jobs back to the area. However, residents will see an increase in their water rates.
The average customer that uses 3,000 gallons of water a month will pay a $0.38 increase or $4.56 annually. This increase will be for all customers of West Virginia American Water, not just those in Jackson County.
“Should people in other counties be paying to support jobs in Jackson County?” asked Gary Zuckett of Citizen Action Group. “The economic development authority obviously thinks that’s the case, we’ll see what the Public Service Commission says. The project is supported by the West Virginia Economic Development Office.”
West Virginia Public Broadcasting reached out to West Virginia American Water, the Public Service Commission and the county commissions in Jackson and Kanawha counties but all declined to comment on the project application.