Introduced Version - Originating in Committee
Senate Concurrent Resolution 42 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42
(By Senators Unger, Jenkins, Love, Oliverio, White, Deem and
Facemyer)
[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure]
Urging the United States Congress provide for a domestic energy
policy that ensures a reliable, adequate and affordable supply
of energy, recognizes the strategic importance of energy to
the national economy, causes development of appropriate
energy-related infrastructure, embraces a concerted national
effort to promote greater energy efficiency, promotes the use
of environmentally responsible alternatives to natural gas for
power production and opens promising new areas for
environmentally responsible natural gas production and
requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study
the energy policy in West Virginia.
Whereas, Natural gas is a key raw material to the chemical and
polymer industries and is a basic building block for the majority
of chemical-related products; and
Whereas, The price of natural gas in the United States is the
highest in the industrial world and shows continued volatility; and
Whereas, The volatility of natural gas prices is having a devastating effect on chemical, plastics, glass, fertilizer,
aluminum and steel producers, as well as metal-treating and
agriculture; and
Whereas, Skyrocketing natural gas prices threaten the
livelihood of thousands of workers who rely directly or indirectly
on the business of chemistry; and
Whereas, Tens of thousands of jobs in the State of West
Virginia are threatened in industries which use natural gas as a
raw material; and
Whereas, The chemical and plastics industries of the United
States now have large trade deficits; and
Whereas, Higher natural gas costs are passed through to
consumers in the form of more expensive food, spiraling home
heating bills and higher prices for many pharmaceuticals and
consumer goods; and
Whereas, The United States is increasingly reliant on natural
gas in our national energy supply, creating a tremendous imbalance
between natural gas supply and demand. According to the Energy
Information Administration, the total natural gas demand is
projected to grow 48 percent over the next 25 years; and
Whereas, The natural gas imbalance cannot be corrected solely
by the importation of natural gas;
and
Whereas, The Appalachian Basin, which extends through West
Virginia, may contain more natural gas reserves than those of the Gulf Coast; and
Whereas, Supporting the development of nontraditional
exploration methods and sources, such as deep wells and the use of
coal-bed methane, will yield increased supplies; and
Whereas, Coal-fired power plants represent an environmentally
sound option for electricity production; and
Whereas, Coal provides more than $3.5 billion of the West
Virginia gross state product; and
Whereas, Coal reserves in West Virginia, estimated at nearly
53 billion tons, can be used responsibly to move the nation forward
toward easing the energy imbalance; and
Whereas, Energy-related infrastructure ensures reliable,
adequate and affordable supplies of energy and economic benefits to
the residents of West Virginia and adjoining states; therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby urges the United States Congress
provide for a domestic energy policy that ensures a reliable,
adequate and affordable supply of energy, recognizes the strategic
importance of energy to the national economy, causes development of
appropriate energy-related infrastructure, embraces a concerted
national effort to promote greater energy efficiency, promotes the
use of environmentally responsible alternatives to natural gas for
power production and opens promising new areas for environmentally responsible natural gas production and requesting the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance study the energy policy in West
Virginia
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance's study include infrastructure development for a reliable,
adequate and affordable energy supply; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance's study
include energy efficiency,
the use of
environmentally responsible alternatives to natural gas for power
production and new areas for environmentally responsible natural
gas production; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, 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; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to West Virginia's
congressional delegation.
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