A Collaborative Roundup with Our Partners at the West Virginia Environmental Council and West Virginians for Energy Freedom. Please watch for further updates and actions on these and other bills as we head into the final days of the legislative session.
Clean Air and Water
Protect Our Water – SB 592 
SB 592 passed the full Senate on Friday, March 14. SB 592 would remove oil, gas, and coal tanks from inspections mandated under current law via the Aboveground Storage Tank Act. Thank you to everyone who spoke out against SB 592 during the People’s Public Hearing during Environmental Day. The bill has been parked in the House Energy Committee ever since. The committee has not taken up the bill, but it still could.
Take Action: Contact your lawmakers and demand they vote NO on SB 592 to keep our rivers and streams clean.
Affordable Energy
Microgrid Program – HB 2014
This bill was introduced by House Speaker Hanshaw (R-Clay) at the request of Governor Morrisey. HB 2014 establishes the Certified Microgrid Program administered by the Division of Economic Development, allowing new industries/corporations to use their own microgrid and not be part of the PJM grid (the power grid covering West Virginia).The bill aims to attract data centers to West Virginia through microgrid development but also includes provisions that could significantly raise electricity bills for everyday West Virginians. The bill requires utilities to buy and store excessive amounts of coal, forces them to keep uneconomic coal plants running until at least 2040, and creates new pathways for automatic rate increases—costs that will ultimately be passed on to ratepayers. The bill passed the House and is currently pending in the Senate Economic Development Committee.
Take Action: Tell your Senators to protect clean energy progress—say NO to HB 2014. You can find their contact information here.
Protect Ratepayers – SB 505 
SB 505, the so-called “Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Electricity Act,” is quickly moving through the West Virginia Legislature. Despite its misleading title, this bill will do nothing to ensure reliable or affordable electricity for West Virginians. In fact, it will do the opposite. The bill passed the Senate and is pending in the House Energy Committee.
Take Action: Urge your delegate to vote NO on SB 505.
Nuclear Expansion Bill – HB 2205
HB 2205 was introduced on February 14 by Delegates Steele (R- Raleigh) and Young (D-Kanawha). The bill expands the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to include regulation of advanced nuclear reactors. This bill passed the House last week and is now in the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee, but is not on the Committee’s agenda yet.
What You Can Do!
Contact your legislators on key bills above.
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