SENATE RESOLUTION 101

(By Senators Blair (Mr. President), Azinger, Barrett, Boley, Caputo, Chapman, Clements, Deeds, Grady, Hamilton, Hunt, Jeffries, Karnes, Maroney, Martin, Maynard, Nelson, Oliverio, Phillips, Plymale, Queen, Roberts, Rucker, Smith, Stover, Stuart, Swope, Takubo, Tarr, Taylor, Trump, Weld, Woelfel, and Woodrum)

[Introduced August 7, 2023]

Recognizing the importance of West Virginia’s energy resources and critical pipeline infrastructure to support economic development and national security.

Whereas, West Virginia’s natural gas and energy reserves and production have increased significantly in recent years due to the exploration occurring in the Utica and Marcellus Shale formations; and

Whereas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio contain one of the largest natural gas fields in the world; and

Whereas, According to a report titled “Impacts of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry on the US Economy” prepared by the American Petroleum Institute, dated April 2023, the oil and natural gas industries in the region support approximately 849,000 jobs (73,000 in West Virginia), both directly and indirectly, and add approximately $143 billion ($12.8 billion in West Virginia) of economic impact to the economies in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio; and

Whereas, Natural gas provides a clean, affordable power source to the State of West Virginia and to millions of people in the United States; and

Whereas, Natural gas is a primary source of agricultural fertilizer in the United States and, together with coal, promises to be a major economic engine for the people of West Virginia, and the United States as a whole, for the foreseeable future; and

Whereas, Pipelines lines serve a critical role in delivering natural gas, and ultimately electricity, to meet the nation’s and world’s growing energy needs; and

Whereas, Repeated delays and denials of permits for the expansion and construction of existing and new pipeline projects hinders economic revitalization of communities, hinders the development and maintenance of manufacturing industries, increases costs of clean burning natural gas for consumers, and jeopardizes the stability of the nation’s electrical grid; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the importance of West Virginia’s energy resources and critical pipeline infrastructure to support economic development and national security; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby supports the development of energy resources, pipelines, and energy infrastructure in and through the State of West Virginia and beyond our borders; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the importance of the continued development of pipelines throughout the United States to encourage the use of clean burning natural gas for the citizens of West Virginia and all of the United States; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate urges decisionmakers throughout the nation to support economic development efforts to expand our nation’s domestic natural gas economy by responsibly reforming and streamlining the permitting requirements and procedures to encourage the United States of America to be energy independent and create family sustaining domestic jobs; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States, and West Virginia’s congressional delegation.