Public knows what it wants: reliable power grid

A recent public opinion survey shows that 95% of West Virginia voters support modernizing the state’s electric grid.

Mark Blankenship of MBE Research, writing in the Charleston Gazette-Mail on April 22, said a February survey shows the importance that registered voters place on the reliability of the power system. Furthermore, he said 68% of those surveyed believe modernizing the grid should be a “very important” priority for West Virginia policymakers.

Blankenship, an experienced researcher, said power customers are all too familiar with outages, a situation he called “a real-life experience for many West Virginians.” He said those outages affect the way voters see public-policy priorities. Voters want fewer and briefer power outages, and two-thirds of them “are ready to vote for candidates who prioritize this issue.”

Here is some good news: The West Virginia Legislature has recognized the necessity of strengthening the grid. In passing the Power Generation and Consumption Act in 2025, state legislators designated that 5% of taxes from high-impact data centers be directed toward sustaining and strengthening the electric grid. That taxation strategy derives funds from newly established businesses while it helps pay for system improvements that benefit all customers.

While some proposed data centers have triggered public debate, many state legislators are aware of how constituents view the reliability of the state’s power infrastructure. The 2025 legislation was a step toward addressing the citizens’ wishes.