WASHINGTON, November 28, 2006—Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia has been selected by the governors of the 13 Appalachian states to serve as Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states’ co-chair for 2007. The governor will assume the leadership position, currently held by Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, in January.

“I am honored to serve as states’ co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission,” Manchin said. “Our states, our region, and our country must chart a new course to supply more of our own energy resources to be more energy independent. ARC has taken a leading role in these efforts with its focus on development of a regional energy blueprint for our resource-rich region. With the pending federal reauthorization of ARC, I look forward to working with our leaders on Capitol Hill to ensure that the Commission has a viable future to continue addressing the many critical infrastructure and economic needs of our region.”

Manchin has pledged to take an active role in helping the Commission implement its energy blueprint for the Appalachian Region. He currently serves as chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, a regional organization composed of 16 southern states and two U.S. territories that focuses on enhancing economic development in the South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs, and technologies.

“I welcome the selection of Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia as the 2007 states' co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission," said ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope. "He is a leader with vision who has devised an innovative energy plan for his state that will help the Commission in implementing its own recently announced regional energy blueprint. I look forward to working with him on all the economic challenges facing the Appalachian Region.”

The West Virginia Development Office administers the state’s ARC program.