| THE FAILURE TO DIVERSIFY
By Bob Weaver
After impassioned debate that lasted the better part of an hour, the House of Delegates passed a bill meant to make it easier for companies to get a sliver of their power supply from solar energy.
It was a token effort to support solar energy in a state that still holds close to a diminishing coal market, even voting against the electric car coming to the mountain state.
West Virginian politicians have held back diversifying the economy for years while the state has the biggest population decline in America.
WV coal governors and politicians, including a large number of the current administration, including Gov. Justice, have historically controlled the legislature for years.
Senate Bill 583 passed the House on a 75-23 vote but debate demonstrated the lingering divide over those who want to protect West Virginiaâs traditional coal-focused economy and those who say itâs time to branch out.
“I acknowledge the history of coal in this state, and I feel for what the citizens of southern West Virginia have been going through for the past decade,” said House Energy Committee Chairman Bill Anderson, R-Wood.
“I donât want to focus more on the past because itâs kind of depressing to tell you the truth. We need to move forward.”
Anderson continued, “There are economic forces at work, not only in West Virginia but throughout this country that are transforming this country in many ways. We are focusing on the energy component and its effect on this state today. There has got to be a mosaic of energy production in this state.”
The bill would allow for expedited application for solar energy production with the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in West Virginia.
Right now, utilities go through an extensive application and review process. But under the bill they would be cleared right away to generate a relatively small amount of solar power.
State officials said the token amount of solar being considered is a maximum of 400 megawatts out of the total 14,000 megawatts produced in West Virginia.
Leaders have had a hard time shifting to low cost natural gas.
The bill has already passed the Senate, but the House amended it so it goes back to the Senate to concur or reject the changes.
On the House floor, debate focused on whether the bill would undercut coal and natural gas in West Virginiaâs energy marketplace.
Delegate Terry Waxman, R-Harrison, expressed concerns about solar reliability.
“If the only reason weâre doing this is because check companies want to check the box to come to our state, I think there might be tech companies that donât need to check a box and just want common sense,” Waxman said.
Delegate Tom Bibby, R-Berkeley, contended renewable energy sources canât stand on their own in the marketplace.
“Letâs use the energy we have,” Bibby said. “Coal is the most productive resource we have. Itâs reliable, itâs cheap and itâs the resource we can use for over 200 years.”
Delegate Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, said the bill is only meant to cater to corporations. He compared it to an energy portfolio policy that the Legislature called “cap and trade” and repealed a few years ago.
“Theyâre catering to corporate America, and thatâs the fad right now,” McGeehan said.
Delegate Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan, said passage of the bill could lead to increased economic development.
“What weâve seen is trying to carve out a new direction for West Virginia through economic development in our state,” he said.
Growth would help the coal and natural gas industries, he said, because they would still be the largest players in the energy market.
Delegate Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, concluded debate by urging delegates to vote for the bill.
“I would suggest to you the way to burn more coal and to burn more gas is to get more bodies into West Virginia,” Capito said.
“If West Virginiaâs future is bright I would suggest a little solar energy might come in handy.”
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