SENATE RESOLUTION 28

(By Senators Phillips and Smith)

[Introduced March 24, 2021]

Recognizing the importance of coal-fired power plants and coal resources to West Virginia’s future.

Whereas, West Virginia has a rich history cultivating domestic energy and the continued recovery and utilization of coal resources are important to the state’s economy; and

Whereas, The diversity of fuel used to generate electricity is significant to providing reliable and economical energy to the citizens of West Virginia, and the state can continue to take advantage of opportunities in clean energy while supporting our remaining coal-fired power plants and those who rely on their operation; and

Whereas, West Virginia must continue to fight against unreasonable federal regulations intended to crush coal-fired power plants and coal production even while it accepts the importance of diversifying our energy resources; and

Whereas, Coal is an important fuel source for keeping household energy costs low in the state of West Virginia; and

Whereas, Over 600 coal-fired power plants nationally have been forced to close under unobtainable and unreasonable federal regulations, and 18 coal-fired electrical units within West Virginia’s borders have been forced to close; and

Whereas, West Virginia should take steps to maintain its coal-fired power plants including, but not limited to, requiring that any financial subsidies received by manufacturers of renewable sources of energy, such as wind, solar, and hydro power, be paid to or used for the benefit of the coal-fired power plants still operating in West Virginia; and

Whereas, Coal resources are necessary to maintain a baseload of predictable and sustainable sources of power to avoid disasters like that recently experienced in Texas following a February 2021 ice storm, which caused extended blackouts, a critical fuel supply failure, and compromised homeland security and defense measures; and

Whereas, When emergency weather situations arise, such as ice storms, snow storms, flooding, etc., clean burning West Virginia coal is the only source of reliable power, and other forms of energy production, such as wind, solar, or hydro power, are simply not adequate to meet the needs of West Virginians; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the importance of its coal-fired power plants and coal resources to West Virginia’s future; and, be it

Further Resolved, That coal-fired power plants and coal resources are necessary to sustain and protect the baseload of power generation for West Virginians and to reinforce homeland security and defense measures; and, be it

Further Resolved, That investing in the protection and sustainability of West Virginia’s coal-fired power plants and coal resources can help build a stronger economy in the Mountain State.