West Virginia, again leading the nation in energy.

Gov. Joe Manchin was elected chairman Monday of the Southern States Energy Board, a regional group that represents some of the country’s biggest oil-, gas- and coal-producing states.

On Monday, the group released a 211-page report calling for a host of tax breaks, government-insurance programs and other incentives to help coal replace foreign oil supplies.

Manchin took up the theme of “energy independence” in accepting the new position.

“Our states, our region and our country are at an energy crossroads. We must chart a new course to supply more of our own energy resources to be more energy-independent,” he said.