SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65
(By Senators Jenkins, Palumbo, McCabe, Foster, Wells, Unger,
Yost, Kessler, Plymale and Stollings)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the different types and funding methods of renewable energy
technology funds operated by other states and the feasibility
and viability of establishing a state dedicated fund to
promote renewable energy technologies in West Virginia, and to
consider and evaluate different methods of funding a renewable
energy technology fund in West Virginia.
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 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, to over
four thousand solar installations in New Jersey alone; and
Whereas, West Virginia's economy 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, 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 different types and funding methods of
renewable energy technology funds operated by other states and the
feasibility and viability of establishing a state dedicated fund to
promote renewable energy technologies in West Virginia, and to
consider and evaluate different methods of funding a renewable
energy technology fund in West Virginia; 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.