Utility bills are exceeding mortgages in West Virginia despite Trump’s promised cuts

[0:00] $1,218.67, yeah, for one building. [0:04] The rising cost of utilities definitely does have some effect on the reason we're going to just under one roof. [0:17] After we went through our first year, we looked at the electric bill, we looked at the rent, [0:22] we didn't realize we were not going to make enough money. [0:25] So we had to raise the rent, and that was what started a lot of the rift with the West Virginians, [0:31] that we were going to have to raise the rent. [0:33] When they'd had camping the same way for so many years. [0:37] You're getting $1,300 to $1,500 bills for electric, [0:43] and West Virginia has decided that they're going to run on coal for at least 2040. [0:47] You don't have a choice when it comes to electric and water, [0:51] and so you can't decide to just not have electric for that month. [0:57] We're seeing businesses lock up, businesses are closing. [1:00] I try to stay so positive and look towards the future, you know, and bigger plants, [1:22] but sometimes it's just so sad, you know, walking down there, seeing it. [1:27] My own counters, I had an ice cream freezer, and then I had my bakery case. [1:41] I was getting ready. [1:44] Like, I had a bunch of stuff made up and everything and was getting ready for Valentine's Day, [1:49] because holidays were $700 to $1,000 days. [1:55] So I would have had the money if I could have just got two days, just two days. [2:01] We closed down on the 12th. [2:05] The electric being so high made me struggle on pretty much everything else. [2:11] Once I got behind, it was like I could not dig out of that hole, [2:14] and every time I would pay a big lump sum, [2:18] then the next bill would come in, and it would be even higher. [2:22] We're in the antique mall, Ravenswood antique mall, [2:26] and we are coming back to my booth where I'm going to have some of my baked goods. [2:34] At one point, I had five employees. [2:38] Three lost their jobs the day that I closed, [2:40] because I was down to three for the winter, because I knew. [2:45] And we lost our only source of income at that time. [2:51] Fourteen months ago, we opened up this small gallery here, [2:54] which is only 1,900 square feet. [2:58] We just love it here. [2:59] But the problem is, is we're getting really beat up with the high energy costs. [3:05] This small gallery, I keep the temperature down. [3:08] It's down kind of low, and I'm still paying $700, $800 a month. [3:14] The power company, I've called several times, and I told them, [3:17] look, I'm a senior citizen. [3:18] I'm 71. [3:19] I'm an artist, and I have a gallery, and I'm trying to help the community. [3:23] Is there any program that can help us to help our community? [3:28] She says, I'm sorry, we really don't have that. [3:31] And your rent for the commercial space here is how much? [3:35] It's only $600. [3:36] It's $150, $200 less than my power bill. [3:41] Inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, [3:55] and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. [4:01] We will drill, baby, drill. [4:04] I find it fascinating that they go and they give him a trophy saying he's the friend of a coal miner. [4:10] Our coal miners are dying of black lung. [4:13] They don't have clean water. [4:14] They can't feed their children. [4:16] Their schools are closing. [4:17] Their electric bills are through the roof, and they can't afford groceries. [4:22] You know, where's the trophy for us? [4:25] We are energy rich. [4:28] I mean, they come through, tore up our land. [4:30] We kept hearing, we're going to do the coal mines, the coal mines, the coal mines. [4:36] I love the current administration, but what about the coal mines? [4:43] If they're digging, baby digging, I don't see it here. [4:50] I've had to close down two stores because I can't afford rent. [4:53] You have a gas bill, you have an electricity bill, you have water bill, you have sewer bill, okay? [4:59] I can't afford all that, plus pay $2,000 a month rent. [5:05] Your utility bills are more than your rent is. [5:09] And, you know, we are a red state. [5:13] I don't want us to be the left-behind state anymore, I guess I should say. [5:30] Everybody says we need them. [5:32] You know, we need little bakeries. [5:34] We need all these little small businesses, but then they're the ones that get hit the hardest.