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The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill raising a state cap on renewable energy capacity. House Bill 5528 also would remove a Dec. 31, 2025 sunset date on the state program allowing cost recovery from renewable energy facilities. The bill passed despite opposition from pro-coal, anti-renewable energy Republicans, including delegates Henry Dillon, R-Wayne, and Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson.
The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would create an economic and energy development board for southern West Virginia counties. The bill, Senate Bill 354, would create a 15-member board that includes representatives of economic development agencies in McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties and governor appointees from the private sector.
A panel of West Virginia lawmakers advanced a bill that would raise the cap on how much a renewable electric facility may generate. After hearing from Appalachian Power regulatory services director Randall Short about the company's contract with Nucor Steel, the House Energy and Manufacturing Committee approved House Bill 5528.
The West Virginia House of Delegates approved a bill, House Bill 5045, designed to help the state Department of Environmental Protection gain primary enforcement authority, or primacy, over wells to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations for long-term underground storage. The bill now goes before the Senate, in which another version of the bill has advanced.
The West Virginia House of Delegates Energy and Manufacturing Committee approved House Bill 5223, which would create a council to provide economic development assistance to southern coalfield counties. The bill's approval comes amid the dormancy of another body that was created for a similar purpose in 2022, the Coalfield Community Grant Facilitation Commission.