SCR 54 Text

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54
(By Senators Chafin, Unger, Foster and McCabe)
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[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;
reported March 8, 2007.]
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Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Whereas, Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels is under consideration by the federal government and is being implemented by some states; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Energy has established a national network of public and private sector partnerships to determine the most suitable technologies, regulations and infrastructure needs for carbon capture, storage and sequestration in different areas of the country; and
Whereas, The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership is a public and private consortium that is assessing the technical potential, economic viability and public acceptability of carbon sequestration in a seven-state region, which includes West Virginia, and is one of many such national and international research groups; and
Whereas, West Virginia's efforts, as part of the Midwest Partnership, to identify potential methodologies and resources for sequestering carbon dioxide have shown that this state and region have substantial resources for sequestration, both in deep geological reservoirs for underground injection and through improved agricultural and land management practices (terrestrial sequestration); and
Whereas, There is an immense potential market for geologic sequestration in this state and region as evidenced by the world's first geologic storage experiment located at the Mountaineer coal- fired power plant and West Virginia's extensive efforts in restoring mine lands and commercial experience with implementing a variety of agricultural and land management practices; and
Whereas, Carbon sequestration is an important part of energy projects such as FutureGen, an integrated sequestration and hydrogen production which may employ coal gasification technology integrated with electricity generation and sequestration to be a near-zero emissions power plant, which would utilize two of West Virginia's most abundant natural resources--coal and water; and
Whereas These new energy technologies challenge West Virginia's existing statutory and regulatory framework which offer guidance for prospective energy development and terrestrial and geologic sequestration projects, but are not designed for technologies that were not envisioned when the framework was put into place; and
Whereas, The viability of new energy projects within the state requires an assessment of the impact of such statutory and regulatory requirements; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study sequestration of carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study identify legislative options for the state to create an environment which produces a competitive advantage for West Virginia in attracting new fossil fuel projects through comprehensive carbon dioxide sequestration statutes and rules while protecting the environment and the health, safety and welfare of West Virginia's citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study explore methods to encourage land and forest use that sequesters carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study identify the legislative parameters that should be imposed on predictive models and monitoring of sequestered carbon dioxide; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2008, 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.

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