SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, Boley, Chafin, Minear,
Craigo, Mitchell, Jackson, Deem, Ross, Facemyer, McKenzie,
Anderson, Unger, Bailey, Caldwell, Rowe and Hunter)
Urging the President of the United States and Congress develop and
implement a national energy policy for the United States in
order to provide a stable energy supply for the nation.
Whereas, Due to high fuel prices and the nation's dependence
on foreign resources, the energy security of the United States,
including a stable and affordable supply of electric power, is at
risk; and
Whereas, Coal currently supplies 56 percent of the electricity
in the United States and 99 percent of the electricity in the State
of West Virginia; and
Whereas, Coal, with proven reserves of 275 billion tons,
represents 95 percent of American's fossil fuel resources or 34
times the domestic reserve of natural gas and 45 times the domestic
reserve of oil; and
Whereas, West Virginia's 53.9 billion tons of recoverable coal
reserves are the equivalent to two and one-half times the nation's
natural gas reserve and three times the nation's proven reserve of
oil; and
Whereas, West Virginia's coal reserves are of the highest
quality found anywhere in the world; and
Whereas, West Virginia's coal miners are the most skilled and
productive in the world; and
Whereas, Improvements in environmental controls, which to date
have reduced emissions from coal-fired power plants by one-third
while coal use at the same facilities has increased by nearly 200
percent since 1970, will continue to be developed with the ultimate
goal of zero emissions; and
Whereas, The Appalachian Basin is the world's oldest oil- and
natural gas-producing region; and
Whereas, West Virginia is the largest natural gas-producing
state east of the Mississippi River and the eleventh largest
natural gas-producing state in the country; and
Whereas, Approximately 12,000 West Virginia jobs are
attributable to natural gas production; and
Whereas, There are approximately 37,000 producing wells in
West Virginia which produce more natural gas than they consume; and
Whereas, Energy demands are expected to increase in the mid-
Atlantic and eastern seaboard of our nation in the future; and
Whereas, The United States natural gas demand is projected to
increase by 30 percent and exceed 30 trillion cubic feet per year within two decades; and
Whereas, The cost of exploring for and producing natural
resources has increased, causing a reduction in production,
evaporation of capital resources and the disappearance of the
development of infrastructure in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Current demand for natural gas, oil and coal has been
preceded by years of price deflation, production decline and
industry contraction; and
Whereas, West Virginia's financial resources are heavily
dependent upon severance and production tax revenues generated from
the production of coal, oil and natural gas; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby urges the President of the United
States and Congress develop and implement a national energy policy
that will utilize the abundant and affordable coal, oil and natural
gas reserves of the United States and West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States and
West Virginia's congressional delegation.
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