Bill > SB420

This bill, the West Virginia First Energy Act, aims to ensure electric rate stability and preserve in-state coal and natural gas industries by requiring regulated coal-fired generating facilities to maintain a minimum 30-day on-site coal inventory and regulated natural-gas-fired generating facilities to secure sufficient contracts for peak-demand delivery, with temporary waivers only allowed for emergencies. It also prohibits utilities from retiring or reducing the capacity of coal or natural-gas-fired generating facilities without prior approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC), which will only grant approval if the change doesn't increase retail rates or wholesale market volatility, doesn't reduce grid reliability, and if an equivalent in-state, dispatchable, non-intermittent replacement resource is already operational. Furthermore, the bill restricts utilities from investing in or recovering costs for new intermittent-generation resources like wind or solar, and prohibits utilities not in compliance with fuel supply requirements from entering into power-purchase agreements for such resources. Rate increases will not be approved unless utilities have been in full compliance with fuel supply requirements for the preceding 12 months, and money from the Electric Grid Stabilization and Security Fund will be used to support generation costs and infrastructure but not for decommissioning. The PSC will also oversee participation in PJM capacity auctions to benefit ratepayers and designate certain West Virginia generating units as essential reliability resources, while utilities must include coal and natural gas utilization in their resource plans, and both utilities and the Department of Commerce will report on in-state fuel purchases and economic impacts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=420&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill