SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
(By Senators Browning, McCabe, Foster, Unger, Plymale and
Kessler)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study how
West Virginia can be positioned as a national leader in
research, innovation and commercialization of gray energy and
energy efficiency technologies, products and processes.
Whereas, Recently elected and appointed federal leaders have
determined that a major policy initiative of the new administration
is to determine how to increase the nation's energy efficiency,
reduce carbon emissions into the environment and create new jobs
and businesses related to these efforts; and
Whereas, Research has demonstrated that the use of certain
"gray energy technologies and processes", including energy
efficiency measures, energy recycling, biomass, cofiring and
cogasification of biomass-based fuels with fossil fuels and wood
pellets, are cost effective methods of reducing carbon emissions;
and
Whereas, Energy efficiency research, development,
demonstration, deployment and commercialization can contribute to
strengthening West Virginia's energy security, environmental quality and economic vitality; and
Whereas, Federal stimulus legislation proposed in the United
States House of Representatives currently contains programs
intended to appropriate approximately $3.5 billion of federal funds
to be used to encourage research, development and implementation of
gray energy technologies and energy efficiency measures as cost
effective methods to reduce carbon output; and
Whereas, West Virginia desires to better position itself as a
leader in gray energy technologies and energy efficiency
infrastructure in order to preserve and expand its energy and
manufacturing sectors, encourage new investment and maximize the
amount of federal funds appropriated to West Virginia for such
purposes; and
Whereas, West Virginia desires to attract and seed in the
state innovative gray energy technologies and businesses that
reduce carbon emissions, manufacture gray energy and energy
efficiency products or provide other energy efficiency services,
such as assessments and performance contracts; and
Whereas, West Virginia has competitive advantages and a head
start in implementing gray energy technologies due to the presence
in the State of Recycled Energy Development Inc.'s waste heat
recovery/power generation project at the West Virginia Alloys plant
in Alloy, West Virginia; and
Whereas, A thorough study is necessary to determine how to position West Virginia as a national leader in research, innovation
and commercialization of gray energy technologies, products and
processes; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study how West Virginia can be positioned as a
national leader in research, innovation and commercialization of
gray energy and energy efficiency technologies, products and
processes; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, 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.