CHARLESTON — Bill Raney, a long-time coal executive and leader of West Virginia’s pro-coal advocacy efforts, will take a seat on the state agency that regulates utilities, including coal-fired power plants.

According to an appointment letter from Gov. Jim Justice sent to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, Raney was appointed to the state Public Service Commission as of Aug. 2. An online entry on the state’s Executive Journal database also confirmed the appointment. His term will end on June 30, 2027.

“I am very excited that Bill has been appointed to the Public Service Commission,” said PSC Chairwoman Charlotte Lane in a statement Thursday. “I have worked with Bill for 40 years and am very much looking forward to working with him on the commission for the benefit of all West Virginians.”

Raney served for 28 years as president and chief executive officer of the West Virginia Coal Association. He retired from that role on Jan. 1 and was replaced by Coal Association vice president Chris Hamilton.

Raney previously served as vice president of the West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association, merging the two organizations in 2000. Raney also worked for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources in the Division of Reclamation, rising to the rank of assistant chief.

Raney replaces former Kanawha County state senator and real estate developer Brooks McCabe on the PSC, whose term expired June 30. McCabe was appointed to the PSC in 2014 by former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

The PSC consists of three members who serve six-year terms. The commissioners are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the West Virginia Senate. The PSC regulates electric, natural gas, telephone, and water/sewer utilities. The PSC also regulates solid waste carriers, taxis, towing, commercial transportation, and rail.

On Wednesday, the PSC approved a plan by Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power to keep several power plants, including Marshall County’s Mitchell Power Plant, operating until at least 2040. The PSC approved the companies’ request for a 1.5% surcharge — or 38 cents per 1,000 kilowatt hours per month per customer — on electric consumers to fund improvements to the Mitchell and the other plants to bring them in line with federal rules for wastewater, and handling coal ash.

McCabe was one of the three commissioners who heard testimony from company executives and groups supporting and opposing the companies’ certificate of convenience and necessity request back in June. The West Virginia Coal Association was one of two intervenors in favor of the plan. PSC spokesperson Susan Small said Raney had no role in Wednesday’s decision.

“He has not yet been sworn in and has not yet participated in any Commission deliberations,” Small said.

During the 2020 primary and general election for governor, Raney donated the maximum amounts for Justice’s re-election for a total of $5,600. The West Virginia Coal Association donated a total of $3,100 to Justice during the primary and general elections.

The office of Gov. Jim Justice declined to comment for this story. A spokesperson said Justice would make remarks about the appointment of Raney during his Friday COVID-19 briefing.

Raney also declined to comment.

Environmental groups raised concerns Thursday upon learning the news, wondering whether Raney can make unbiased decisions regarding coal-fired power plants such as Mitchell.

Emmett Pepper, policy director for Energy Efficient West Virginia, noted that PSC Chairwoman Lane also represented the Coal Association in cases before the PSC in the past.

“I’m deeply concerned about the lack of variety in the background of the commissioners now and how that might affect ratepayers,” Pepper said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “There’s nothing wrong with someone having worked for the (Coal Association) and then being on the commission, but we need to have a variety of viewpoints — focused on customers, too, not just industry.”

“Will the Commission now be more willing to favor coal companies at the expense of ratepayers? I hope not,” Pepper said. “West Virginians’ electric bills have increased by 150% over the past 15 years and I worry we won’t reverse that trend if we keep ratcheting up rates more and more to pay for costly coal-fired power plants.”