Justice names new West Virginia energy director, announces speeding program
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CHARLESTON -- A new director of the West Virginia Office of Energy was announced Wednesday by the governor at his weekly press briefing.
Nicholas S. Preservati is an attorney and a chairman with the Energy Practice Group at the firm of Spilman Thomas and Battle.
Preservati has 25 years of experience in energy, Gov. Jim Justice said during his press briefing on Wednesday.
"I've known Nick, I've known his entire family forever," Justice said. "He's an extremely, extremely qualified individual."
Preservati said he comes from a family that has been the energy industry for generations and he has been involved for 25 years in a policy and legal perspective.
"I'm hoping to use that experience in my role as the director of the West Virginia Office of Energy," he said.
The Office of Energy encourages initiatives to advance energy resource opportunities in West Virginia.
"We want to move forward and embrace alternatives, and that's all there is to it," Justice said. "But at the same time we absolutely don't want to ever forget all the incredible natural resources we have."
In other business, the governor announced a stepped-up enforcement initiative against speeders especially in safety zones were people are working.
The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program will join with the National Highway Safety Administration for a targeted high visibility speeding enforcement campaign between Friday and July 30 and beyond.
"If you don't slow down, we're going to catch you and write you up," Justice said. "That's all there is to it."
Justice also announce he has appointed Kathy Eddy, a Certified Public Accountant from Parkersburg, to the Marshall University Board of Governors.
Justice appointed Robert Reynolds and Michael D'Annunzio to the West Virginia University Board of Governors. Reynolds is the chief executive officer of Putnam Investments and D'Annunzio is president of Beverage Distributors Inc. in Clarksburg.
Jonathan Brill from Hampshire County was appointed to the Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical Board of Governors. Richard Schneider was appointed to the New River Community and Technical College Board of Governors.
Justice said he has recommended over $18 million in projects to the Appalachian Regional Commission. Among those were $49,483 to the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, $800,000 to the city of New Martinsville for a water system and $2 million for the Walton sewer project in Roane County.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.