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U.S. Sen. Jim Justice urges West Virginia businesses to ‘keep your foot on the gas,’ warns of energy shortfall
Summary
Speaking at a business chamber event at the Greenbrier, U.S. Senator Jim Justice praised West Virginia’s economic gains, urged business leaders to champion the state, and warned of an imminent energy shortfall that he said must be addressed to sustain jobs and new data centers.
U.S. Senator Jim Justice, speaking at a business chamber event at the Greenbrier, told assembled business leaders that West Virginia must press for continued economic growth while urgently addressing energy and grid capacity concerns.
Justice said the state’s business community is “the heart of everything we do” and repeatedly urged attendees to promote West Virginia’s assets and keep momentum behind tourism, workforce development and business recruitment. “Keep your foot on the gas, West Virginia,” he said.
The senator framed energy as a central constraint on future growth. He warned that if the state and nation do not act, “right at our doorstep right now is an energy meltdown” within about “a year to a year and a half,” and said policymakers face a choice between prioritizing household energy needs and pursuing new investments such as artificial intelligence and data centers. “You’re either gonna have to decide to keep the homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer, or you’re gonna have to decide that you want jobs and opportunity and AI and data centers,” Justice said.
Justice praised recent gains in tourism and other economic indicators, saying West Virginia’s story has attracted outside interest and that events such as a FedEx golf tournament helped lift state pride. He described touring with national political figures and recounted being recruited for the U.S. Senate, noting the volume of attention for the state’s growth and telling attendees to lead positive messaging. “You can’t go around being negative about what you’re doing in this state. Be proud,” he said.
He listed other priorities for local and state leaders — broadband, schools, parks and workforce development — and urged business and government to stand together. He also criticized what he characterized as out-of-touch national politics in broad terms and used anecdote and humor throughout the remarks to emphasize his points.
Justice repeatedly framed economic development as a matter of execution and will: “Have the vision and have the guts to execute,” he said, adding that business leaders should promote West Virginia to bring jobs for residents he referred to as “Toby and Edith.”
The speech included personal anecdotes (including an account of a Kentucky Lincoln Day dinner and a FedEx tournament) and appeals to civic pride. Justice repeatedly urged attendees to “tell your story” about West Virginia and to recruit more employers to the state.
No formal actions, votes or policy proposals with statutory citations were announced during the remarks; the event was a public address rather than a legislative or rulemaking session.
