Mountain State Times

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito has been honored with the inaugural West Virginia Women in Energy "Woman of the Year" award at the 2024 Governor’s Energy Summit in Charleston, West Virginia. The award highlights her contributions to the energy sector and her commitment to empowering women.

In her acceptance speech, Senator Capito expressed gratitude for the recognition by the West Virginia Office of Energy. She emphasized the importance of energy to West Virginia's identity and committed to advocating for expanding energy capacity within the state. "Energy is something that is synonymous with the very name of our state," she said. "We must continue to generate the baseload power that our nation relies on."

Senator Capito also participated in a "Women in Energy Breakfast" during the summit, where she encouraged attendees to support future female leaders in West Virginia's energy industry.

Throughout her tenure in Congress, Senator Capito has been a strong advocate for American energy generation, particularly in West Virginia. Her efforts include advancing legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which funds hydrogen hubs and infrastructure projects, as well as authoring laws such as Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE Act).

She has also played a key role in supporting projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline and initiatives like 45Q Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Tax Credits. Additionally, she has worked against regulatory actions perceived as threats to coal-fired power plants.

As West Virginia's first female U.S. Senator, Capito launched an initiative called West Virginia Girls Rise Up in 2015 aimed at empowering young women through education and self-confidence programs.

Photos from today's event show Senator Capito accepting her award and participating in summit activities.