Bill > HB5381

Introduced Session

AN ACT to amend and reenact §5B-2A-1, §5B-2A-3, §5B-2A-4, §5B-2A-9, §5B-2A-12, §5B-2F-1, §5B-2F-2, §5B-2F-3, §5B-2F-4, §5B-2H-2, §5B-2J-2, §5B-2N-1, §5B-2N-2, §5B-2N-3, and §5B-2N-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, to amend the code by adding new sections, designated §5B-2F-1a, §5B-2F-2a, §5B-2N-1a, §5B-2N-2b, §5B-2N-4a, §5B-2N-5, §5B-2N-6, and to repeal §5B-2A-10, §5B-2A-14, §5B-2F-5, §5B-2O-1, §5B-2O-2, §5B-2O-3, §5B-2O-4, all relating to the consolidation and development of a comprehensive energy development policy and plan under the direction of the West Virginia Office of Energy; transferring the Office of Coalfield Community Development as a program within the Office of Energy; eliminating annual report of the Office of Coalfield Community Development; eliminating the sunset date of the Office of Coalfield Community Development; establishing the Comprehensive Energy Policy and Development Plan Act of 2026; eliminating outdated and misaligned duties of the Office of Energy; repurposing the Office of Energy with developing a long-lasting energy policy that embraces coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydropower, hydrogen, and geothermal sources of energy that emphasizes stability, efficiency, innovation, stable baseload generation, low cost, independence, and security; eliminating the Office of Energy’s responsibility to develop an energy savings contracting program; empowering the Office of Energy to hold stakeholder meetings to develop a comprehensive energy plan and policy; granting the Office of Energy rulemaking powers; including the Office of Energy in the list of agencies empowered to assist in the growth of the Marcellus gas and natural gas liquid industries; repealing Coal Fired Grid Stabilization Act of 2023 and merging its elements into the newly created Comprehensive Grid Stabilization and Energy Security Act of 2026; creating definitions for the act; directing the Office of Energy to develop strategies for developing coal, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, and nuclear; directing the Office of Energy to submit an annual report of its findings and recommendations; authorizing the Office of Energy to identify and designate suitable sites for coal, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, or nuclear electric generation projects; authorizing the Office of Energy to develop and adopt criteria for energy-ready community designations for local governments; directing the Office of Energy to develop a state energy security plan and to conduct energy emergency exercises to access the state’s energy emergency readiness; providing for reporting regarding emergency readiness; and technical cleanup of amended and reenacted sections.

AI Summary

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Roger Hanshaw (R)*,  Sean Hornbuckle (D), 

Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 (on 03/30/2026)

Official Document