HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13
(By Mr. Speaker, (Mr. Thompson), and Delegate Armstead)
(By Request of the Executive)
Expressing the will of the Legislature to oppose the adoption of a
national cap and trade program for carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gas emissions that is unduly burdensome to the
State of West Virginia and to support measures that encourage
investments in technology to address carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gas emissions, and requesting that West Virginia's
congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts to adopt a
national cap and trade program that is detrimental to our
State.
Whereas, The adoption of a national cap and trade program for
carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions would have serious
financial and economic implications for the State of West Virginia;
and
Whereas, House Resolution 2454, the American Clean Energy and
Security Act of 2009, hereinafter referred to as the Act, is
pending approval in Congress; and
Whereas, The Act calls for the establishment of a national cap
and trade program that, if effected, would reduce West Virginia's
gross domestic product by an estimated $750 million by 2020 and by an estimated $1.75 billion by 2030; and
Whereas, West Virginia would lose up to 10,000 jobs by 2020 and
up to 22,000 jobs by 2030 if the proposed cap and trade program is
enacted; and
Whereas, The industries that would be most affected by the
proposed cap and trade program include mining, retail trade and
health care; and
Whereas, West Virginia is investing heavily in technology
designed to limit carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions,
including a $100 million investment by American Electric Power in
carbon sequestration and capture technology at its Mountaineer
Plant in Mason County, a state-of-the-art facility that is the
first of its kind in the world; and
Whereas, Globally, more coal is being used than ever, and
demand is projected to rise to even greater levels as more coal-
fired power plants are built in other countries; and
Whereas, Coal will continue to be a primary energy source to
meet these additional demands and therefore the United States
should lead the way in advancing cleaner coal technology; and
Whereas, Additional investments are needed to address carbon
dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the current
energy supply; and
Whereas, The Legislature, with the leadership and support of
the Governor, enacted laws to reduce, within reasonable limits,
carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions in this state by adopting an alternative and renewable energy portfolio standard and
a regulatory framework for carbon capture and sequestration
projects; and
Whereas, For the sake of those individuals and families who
depend upon the industries that would be affected by a national cap
and trade program, the House of Delegates, the Senate, the Governor
and West Virginia's congressional delegation must work together to
ensure that any proposal to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse
gas emissions includes reasonable provisions intended to safeguard
the security of this nation and West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature of West Virginia is opposed to the
adoption of a national cap and trade program for carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gas emissions if it creates unnecessary volatility in
the energy market, fails to address the energy and security needs
of this country, threatens the jobs of hardworking men and women,
raises energy costs to an unacceptable amount, fails to provide for
additional investments in technology or is otherwise unduly
burdensome to the State of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature of West Virginia
supports measures that encourage investments in technology to
address carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature of West Virginia
requests that West Virginia's congressional delegation resist and
oppose efforts to adopt a national cap and trade program that is detrimental to our state; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to United States
Senators Robert C. Byrd and John D. Rockefeller IV and
Representatives Nick J. Rahall, Alan B. Mollohan and Shelley M.
Capito.