WV Coal-to-Liquids Plant Gets $200 Million in Secret Tax Breaks

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Manchin administration has agreed to give nearly $200 million in tax breaks and other incentives to developers of a coal-to-liquids plant proposed for Marshall County.

That's about $3.3 million in government incentives for each of the 60 jobs the facility would provide.

Commerce Secretary Kelley Goes signed the agreement in her role as executive director of the West Virginia Development Office.

Goes had previously refused to release the agreement, and continued to insist Thursday that the document was exempt from disclosure under the state's public records law."

Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette August 8, 2008.