This bill jumpstarts the state's State Resiliency and Flood Protection Act to allow the Resiliency Office to begin the work off assisting areas of the state prone to flooding to undertake actions to reduce or prevent future flooding.

Sponsors: Sean Hornbuckle

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 3/18/25; referred to the House Committee on Government Organization then Finance.

This bill allows the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to assess a Wildlife Impact Fee on any operator of a wind power project that injures or kills a protected species of animal.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources; and then to Senate Committee on Finance. The bill passed the Natural Resources Committee on 3/13/25 and was referred to the Finance Committee.

This bill bans state participation in the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Accord.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/27/25 and referred to House Committee on Energy and Public Works.

This bill creates a community solar program where subscribers can purchase an interest in a solar facility and use credits against their electric utility costs, helping West Virginia ratepayers save money. The bill also gives the Public Service Commission authority over the administration and rule making of a pilot program.

Sponsors: Mike Oliverio

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to Senate Committee on Finance

The bill establishes the West Virginia Coal Marketing Program to be administered by the Governor. An initial appropriation of $1 million from the general fund would be allocated to the program, with a focus on public-benefit projects aimed at expanding and protecting coal markets.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to Senate Committee on Finance

This bill eliminates the tax credit for solar, wind, or other renewable energy systems for corporate or other establishments or entities.

Sponsors: Chris Anders

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/17/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Work; and then the House Committee on Finance

The purpose of this bill is to protect ratepayers from paying for underperforming assets, particularly as the state transitions away from fossil fuel-based generation. The focus is on ensuring that new energy assets are reliable and cost-effective, especially during times of peak demand.

Sponsors: Patrick Martin

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/14/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then referred to Senate Committee on Government Organization. The bill second reference to Government Organization was dispensed with and the bill passed the Senate on 3/27/25.

This bill is establishes a community solar program that allows subscribers to purchase a share in a solar facility and apply credits to offset their electric utility costs. It also sets the parameters and conditions for the program and outlines the administration and rulemaking responsibilities of the Public Service Commission.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/17/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works then the House Committee on Judiciary.

This bill is to provide a rebate of $100 for owners of hybrid vehicles.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to Senate Committee on Finance

This bill requires that each public utility that is a member of a regional transmission organization submit information relating to the utility’s or an affiliate’s votes at a regional transmission organization meeting.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to House Committee on Energy and Public Works

This bill establishes a tax $3 tax per megawatt of electricity produced for sale or trade on the production of electricity from wind and solar resources in West Virginia. The tax collected will be distributed to the 55 counties based on the number of volunteer fire departments in compliance with the state's Open Checkbook policy. These funds are then allocated to the volunteer fire departments within each county.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then referred to Senate Committee on Finance.

This bill amends and repeals several sections of the West Virginia Code related to air pollution control. Further, it supports the continued use of carbon-based fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to support modern life and economic development.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 2/26/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works

This bill prohibits State agencies and employees from participating in the enforcement of federal acts, laws, or regulations regarding extractive resources (such as coal, oil, gas, and timber) unless those laws exist under state law.

Sponsors: Patrick Martin

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining; and then to Senate Committee on Judiciary. The bill passed the Energy Committee on 3/11/25 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This bill prevents oil and gas wells from becoming orphaned on surface owners' land without a responsible driller or operator capable of plugging the well. It establishes procedures to prevent orphaned wells and mandates that plugging funds be set aside in escrow with the Office of the State Treasurer.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 3/17/25; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works then Finance.

This bill prevents new horizontally drilled oil and gas wells, which cease production and have no legitimate future use, from remaining unplugged after not producing for a continuous period of 12 months. It also aims to prevent such wells from becoming orphaned on a surface owner's land without a responsible driller or operator capable of plugging the well.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 3/17/25; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works then Finance.

This bill requires West Virginia oil and gas well operators to set aside money for future well plugging by mandating that newly drilled and transferred wells must either post a single well plugging bond or have the driller/operator begin depositing a small percentage of the well's revenue into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. For active wells, operators are required to pay 15¢ per MCF into the State Treasurer’s office for future plugging. Additionally, horizontal well operators must plug any "abandoned" conventional wells within the drainage area of their horizontal well and can recover the plugging costs from the operator of those conventional wells.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee

This bill prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.

Sponsors: Chris Anders

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/21/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works; and then the House Committee on Judiciary

This bill prevents governmental entities and spending units of the state of West Virginia from purchasing electric vehicles, as well as to prohibit government contracts for electric vehicles that may have been produced, in whole or in part, using forced labor.

Sponsors: William Ridenour

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/21/25 and referred to the House Committee on Government Organization; and then the House Committee on Judiciary.

This bill requires public notification of hazardous environmental spills.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 3/7/25; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works.

This bill prohibits state agencies and local government units from restricting the sale or use of motor vehicles based on the energy sources used to power the vehicles.

Sponsors: Gary Howell

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to House Committee on Local Governments

This bill provides that the limit of disturbance of a well site may not be closer to an occupied building than 2,500 feet.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/17/25 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works.

This bill establishes the Sound Science in Regulations Act, providing that no state agency may propose or effectuate a regulatory action unless it is based on the best available science. Further, it prevents state agencies from using the best available science, considering public health research and would involve nearly every aspect of state agency regulations, including all advisories and rules and standards.

Sponsors: Patricia Rucker

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/26/25 and referred to the Senate Committee on Government Organization.

This bill eliminates the requirement to use a four-and-a-half casing for modern or newer wells and removes the mandate to remove intermediate or surface casings for older wells, as long as other regulations are followed.

CWV Position:

Status: This bill was Introduced March 13, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works. It passed the House on 3/24/25 and was referred to the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee on 3/25/25. This bill passed out of committee on 4/2/25 and ultimately passed into law on 4/11/25 after passage out of the full Senate.