SCR18 HFA Hansen 4-12 #1

Altizer 3259

Delegate Hansen moves to amend “SCR18 HFA McGeehan and Anderson #1” as follows:

On page 1, following the clause “Whereas, During these 12 years, beginning in 2008, West Virginia's coal mining employment and productivity levels were effectively reduced by 50 percent; and”

By inserting:

“Whereas, During the Trump administration, West Virginia's coal mining employment dropped from more than 13,000 in 2017 to less than 12,000 in 2021; and”

And,

On page 1, following the clause:  “Whereas, The 69 percent target capacity factor is designed to optimize plant operation, fuel consumption, plant efficiencies and, furthermore, control electric rates for all consumers; and”

By inserting:

“Whereas, forcing West Virginia coal-fired power plants to run at a 69% capacity will raise electric rates for West Virginians because West Virginia utilities will not be able to take advantage of the lowest-cost resources available in the PJM Energy Market; and

Whereas, in testimony before the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Appalachian Power testified that running the Companies’ coal-fired units to achieve a 69% capacity factor ‘will result in increased costs to customers’; and

Whereas, in testimony before the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Appalachian Power also testified that running the coal plants at a 69% capacity factor ‘would appear at odds with the flexible, least-cost approach of economic dispatch’; and

Whereas, in testimony before the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Appalachian Power also testified that ‘Given a case where we are driving to a 69 percent capacity factor and the market price is below the cost of generation, the unintended consequence is that the utility will be selling at a loss.’; and

Whereas, in testimony before the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the general manager of the Amos power plant testified that ‘…any plant manager can’t walk up to the control room and say, give me 69 percent of the load that’s the maximum. We just don’t do that. We take our load or our dispatch signal from our dispatcher for PJM.’; and”

And,

On page 2 following the “resolved clause” by deleting the 2 following clauses:

 “That the Legislature hereby recognizes an intent to create the West Virginia Coal Renaissance Act; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Legislature shall partner with Governor Morrisey and the Trump Administration towards the creation of the "Coal Renaissance Act" and attendant programs and initiatives to encourage and foster great coal usage within West Virginia and to increase the annual percentage of instate coal consumed at West Virginia's coal-fired electric facilities; and, be it”

And inserting in lieu thereof:

“That the Legislature hereby recognizes an intent to create the West Virginia Electric Rate Reduction Act; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Legislature shall partner with Governor Morrisey and the Trump Administration towards the creation of the "Electric Rate Reduction Act" and attendant programs and initiatives to encourage and foster an all-of-the above energy strategy within West Virginia and to stabilize and reduce electric rates; and, be it”