SCR54 SUB1
Senate Concurrent Resolution 54 History
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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54
(By Senators Chafin, Unger, Foster and McCabe)
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[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;
reported March 8, 2007.]
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Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study
sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Whereas, Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil
fuels is under consideration by the federal government and is being
implemented by some states; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Energy has
established a national network of public and private sector
partnerships to determine the most suitable technologies,
regulations and infrastructure needs for carbon capture, storage
and sequestration in different areas of the country; and
Whereas, The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership
is a public and private
consortium that is assessing the technical
potential, economic viability and public acceptability of carbon
sequestration in a seven-state region, which includes West
Virginia, and is one of many such national and international
research groups; and
Whereas, West Virginia's efforts, as part of the Midwest Partnership, to identify potential methodologies and resources for
sequestering carbon dioxide have shown that this state and region
have substantial resources for sequestration, both in deep
geological reservoirs for underground injection and through
improved agricultural and land management practices (terrestrial
sequestration); and
Whereas,
There is an immense potential market for geologic
sequestration in this state and region as evidenced by the world's
first geologic storage experiment located at the Mountaineer coal-
fired power plant and West Virginia's extensive efforts in
restoring mine lands and commercial experience with implementing a
variety of agricultural and land management practices; and
Whereas, Carbon sequestration is an important part of energy
projects such as FutureGen, an integrated sequestration and
hydrogen production which may employ coal gasification technology
integrated with electricity generation and sequestration to be a
near-zero emissions power plant, which would utilize two of West
Virginia's most abundant natural resources--coal and water; and
Whereas These new energy technologies challenge West
Virginia's existing statutory and regulatory framework which offer
guidance for prospective energy development and terrestrial and
geologic sequestration projects, but are not designed for
technologies that were not envisioned when the framework was put
into place; and
Whereas, The viability of new energy projects within the state
requires an assessment of the impact of such statutory and regulatory requirements; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study sequestration of carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study identify legislative options
for the state to create an environment which produces a competitive
advantage for West Virginia in attracting new fossil fuel projects
through comprehensive carbon dioxide sequestration statutes and
rules while protecting the environment and the health, safety and
welfare of West Virginia's citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study explore methods to encourage
land and forest use that sequesters carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study identify the legislative
parameters that should be imposed on predictive models and
monitoring of sequestered carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2008, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.