HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 107
(By Delegates Wooton, Crosier, Fleischauer, Fragale, Guthrie,
Hatfield, Miley, Talbott and Walters)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the effects, feasability and the potential overall economic
benefits of supporting the development of renewable energy
resources through an Energy Expansion Fund within the state
and potential funding sources for the fund.
Whereas, West Virginia is one of the largest energy producers
and exporters in the United States, a state which, in addition to
fossil fuel reserves, has a vast amount of renewable energy
resources that, if effectively captured and developed, is capable
of creating greater economic and job opportunities and substantial
wealth in West Virginia's energy economy; and
Whereas, Twenty states, including the neighboring states of
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio, have dedicated funds to promote
renewable energy technologies; and
Whereas, Through 2006, state-level initiatives have resulted in
over three hundred large-scale renewable energy installations,
totaling over three thousand five hundred megawatts, while also
providing incentives to residential and small business customers
for installations of tens of thousands of small-scale renewable
energy generation technologies, including, for example, over four
thousand solar installations in New Jersey alone; and
Whereas, West Virginia's economy and manufacturing capability
could benefit from joining other states that are supporting
renewable energy projects by establishing a dedicated, long-term
funding source; and
Whereas, West Virginia currently lacks comprehensive strategies
and mechanisms to attract, leverage, and administer resources and
financing renewable energy development; and
Whereas, There currently exists limited infrastructure and
collective knowledge to harness West Virginia's untapped renewable
energy resources in wind, biomass, hydropower, solar, biofuels and
other renewable energy resources; and
Whereas, West Virginia's historic primacy in the world's energy
economy could be bolstered by renewable energy expansion; and
Whereas, High paying energy sector jobs have been stifled in
West Virginia because we currently lack a comprehensive energy
policy directed towards encouraging the development of renewable
energy industries, while the number of renewable energy jobs have
increased elsewhere in the region; and
Whereas, The lack of economic diversity in many areas of our
state could be relieved by increased energy production from other
resources in those same distressed counties; and
Whereas, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that even
without federal energy or cap-and-trade legislation, and amid a
recession, renewable energy investment will likely reach $200
billion in 2010 alone; and
Whereas, There are preexisting, but dormant, industrial assets
in West Virginia that could be profitably utilized by the wind
industry manufacturing sector, as has been accomplished in
neighboring Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, West Virginia, with the third highest wind capacity in
the eastern United States, has a potential three thousand megawatts
of available wind power, the fastest growing segment of electricity
generation in the country, under a federal goal of increasing wind
generation eightfold over the next twenty years; and
Whereas, West Virginia has nearly four million tons of timber
industry residue readily available each year for energy usage that
could make, at a minimum, seven hundred megawatts each year, but
we lack comprehensive plans and incentives to utilize that
renewable resource that would increase economic growth and timber
and energy sector jobs; and
Whereas, West Virginia has at least one thousand megawatts of
additional hydropower available, but no comprehensive plan to
exploit that resource in a way that maximizes economic growth and
energy sector jobs; and
Whereas, West Virginia already has a state mandate under its
Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to produce
twenty-five percent of its energy from alternative and renewable
sources, thereby expanding and creating renewable energy capacity
in the state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the effects, feasability and the potential
overall economic benefits of supporting the development of
renewable energy resources through a dedicated Energy Expansion
Fund within the state and potential funding sources for the fund;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2011, 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.
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