daily304 - Episode 03.07.23

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.  

Today is Thursday, March 7, 2024.  

Site preparation has begun for the new titanium melt facility and solar microgrid in Jackson County--#YesWV. Advanced Air Mobility may be a game changer for WV first responders. And foresters remind us that spring fire season is in full swing…on today’s daily304. 

#1 – From NEWS & SENTINEL – A $500 million investment is underway at the old Century Aluminum plant in Jackson County.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables (BHE Renewables), Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) and its subsidiary Titanium Metals Corporation Inc. (TIMET) and Our Next Energy (ONE) Inc. are conducting site preparation work for the titanium melt facility and solar microgrid they will build at the site on W.Va. 2.

ONE Vice President of Communications Dan Pierce said that ONE will make battery cells, pack them in battery packs in Michigan and then ship the battery packs to West Virginia, where they will be built into Aries solar microgrid storage containers.

Pierce said ONE plans on hiring 18 people to work at the factory by the end of 2024, and they will have more than 100 employees on site by the end of 2025. 

Regarding the titanium melt facility, PCC Director of Corporate Communications David Dugan said the company is still in the construction phase and expects to begin constructing buildings in March.

Read more:

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/business/2024/02/mid-ohio-valley-foundations-industry-our-next-energy-site-work-begins-in-ravenswood/

#2 – From VERTX PARTNERS –  In the evolving emergency response field, Advanced Air Mobility has already redefined the capabilities of first responders in West Virginia and beyond. Recent success stories provide a glimpse into the immense potential of AAM for first responders. 

West Virginia’s rugged terrain and remote locations pose significant challenges for law enforcement in locating missing persons or monitoring large events. Because of this, drones equipped with advanced surveillance capabilities could become invaluable tools for LEOs. 

Drones equipped with medical supplies can swiftly reach remote areas, delivering critical treatment before EMS personnel are even on-site. The ability to assess a situation from the air allows for better-informed decisions and more efficient allocation of resources.

The West Virginia Division of Forestry has already embraced drone technology for tasks like wildfire reconnaissance. In the context of natural disaster response, drone pilots may also deploy drones to scout out flood damage and evaluate rural communities hit hard by other natural disasters.

Read more:

https://vertxpartners.org/first-responders-aam-in-wv/

 

#3 – From THE INTER-MOUNTAIN – West Virginia’s annual spring fire season  began March 1, marking the return of burning restrictions.

The West Virginia Division of Forestry reminds residents to confine their outdoor burning to the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. according to the West Virginia State Code Chapter 20-3-5. Fires set during that time must be put out before 7 a.m.

“Since January 1 we have responded to 95 fires that have burned approximately 389.1 acres,” State Forester Jeremy Jones said.

WV DOF has issued burning guidelines on its website at wvforestry.com/fire-laws.

Statewide burning restrictions will remain in effect until the close of the spring fire season on May 31.

Read more:

https://www.theintermountain.com/news/communities/2024/02/burning-restrictions-return-march-1/

Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.

The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo. 

That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.