The bill prohibits new wind turbines within two miles of any residence.

Sponsors: Phil Mallow, Larry Kump

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/16/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing, then Judiciary

The bill would amend the current plugging statute by adding more precise plugging requirements, new marking requirements for the benefit of landowners, and requirements to notify the county clerk of well locations.

Sponsors: Clay Riley, Scot Heckert, Bob Fehrenbacher, Bill Anderson

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/122/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing

Among other things, this bill would make WV an "agreement state" for uniformity of rules relating to radioactive material with the federal NRC and other states; it would make the DEP the designated state radiation control agency; it would require a license for any handling or manufacture of radioactive material and would forbid the disposal of such material into landfills.

Sponsors: Clay Riley, Bob Fehrenbacher, Bill Anderson, Chuck Horst

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/122/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate antiquated recycling goals and to set new criteria for evaluating the State’s success in achieving recycling goals, as well as for ensuring continued federal financial support for State recycling programs. The bill also establishes reporting requirements of recycling establishments.

Sponsors: Clay Riley, Bob Fehrenbacher, Bill Anderson, Scot Heckert, Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/123/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing

This bill would remove the tax benefits available to "managed timberland" from land subject to contractual limits on development such as conservation easements and carbon offset agreements.

Sponsors: Chuck Horst

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/123/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing

This bill provides further assurances to EPA that West Virginia should be responsible for enforcing underground carbon storage regulations. It focuses on changes to rules relating to management of post-injection monitoring and releases of liability.

Sponsors: Scot Heckert, Bill Anderson

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/23/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing; passed House 2/5/24, committee reference bypassed; passed Senate with amendment 2/9/24; House concurs 2/23/24

This bill would assure that bonding and reclamation requirements are adequate to assure that post mining reclamation is completed and paid for by coal mining operators and does not become a financial liability to state taxpayers; revising bonding requirements to require the bond be set for actual reclamation costs; forbidding the issuance of new permits to operators who have not fulfilled prior reclamation obligations.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/23/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing, then Finance

The purpose of this bill is to remove the cap on the number of gas and other type wells for which operators are required to pay annual oversight fees.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/23/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing, then Finance

This bill creates exceptions for when a dry well must be plugged and prohibits any cause of action by any party as a result of the changes.

Sponsors: Scot Heckert, Bill Anderson, Bob Fehrenbacher

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/25/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing, then Judiciary; passed out of Energy to Judiciary 2/2/24

This bill creates a tax credit for businesses that choose to recycle.

Sponsors: Larry Kump

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/25/2024; referred to Finance

This bill seeks to prevent orphan gas and oil wells by requiring an operator to post a bond covering the full cost of plugging, or pay into a set-aside fund payments sufficient to plug the well at the end of its useful life.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen, Mickey Petitto

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 2/1/2024; referred to Energy

This bill seeks creates a tax incentive for power generation companies to locate solar power facilities on degraded mine and industrial land instead of farm land.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 2/1/2024; referred to Energy and Manufacturing, then Finance

Creates a community solar pilot program allowing participation by low-income and other consumers in the benefits of solar power although individually unable to mount solar panels at their home or business. Requires bill credit to be given to subscribing consumers for their share of solar power generated. Encourages location of community solar facilities on otherwise unfavorable land or in areas where it can be co-located with agriculture.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 2/12/2024, referred to Energy & Manufacturing, then Judiciary

This bill would prohibit county commissions from passing ordinances regulating agriculture that are broader or more strict than state standard, and would forbid county commissions from regulating the location and use of pesticides licensed under state or federal law.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/10/2024, passed Senate same day and referred to House; passed House 2/13/24; signed by Governor 2/26/24

This bill would direct a division of the Department of Transportation to acquire active or inactive rail corridors for the use of non-motorized trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. Electric bicycles would be permitted.

Sponsors: Charles Trump

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/10/2024, referred to Outdoor Recreation, then Judiciary

Allowing the DNR to assess an impact fee on the operators of wind power projects when an animal from a protected species is killed through the operation of the project.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 1/11/2024, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources, then to Finance

Directing state agencies to include planning for public access to streams at new bridge construction sites.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/12/2024, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources

Directing the Department of Transportation to prioritize the development of non-motorized recreational trails, including hiking, equestrian, running, trail and mountain biking.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/12/2024, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources; passed Senate 1/24/24; introduced in House 1/29/24

Establishing for tax purposes that the business of farming does not include the development, operation or ownership of a solar farm unless the solar arrays are elevated such that pasture animals may graze underneath.

Sponsors: Patricia Rucker

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 1/10/2024, referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources, then Finance

This bill would create a system of fees and oversight to plug and prevent orphan gas and oil wells.

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 1/25/2024, referred to Energy, Industry and Mining, then Finance

Creating an exclusive state-run and regulated market for carbon credits in West Virginia.

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced 2/2/2024, referred to Government Organization, then Finance; passed Senate 2/28/24; referred to House Finance 2/29/24

Creates a community solar pilot program allowing participation by low-income and other consumers in the benefits of solar power although individually unable to mount solar panels at their home or business. Requires bill credit to be given to subscribing consumers for their share of solar power generated. Encourages location of community solar facilities on otherwise unfavorable land or in areas where it can be co-located with agriculture.

Sponsors: Mike Oliverio

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 2/5/2024, referred to Economic Development, then Finance

Strongly disfavors carbon offset agreements by removing them from favorable tax treatment as managed timberlands, requiring the purchaser to register and pay an excise tax of as much as 50% of the value of the agreement to the landowner, and declaring it West Virginia public policy to void the restrictions on future timbering in private covenants, thereby jeopardizing conservation easements.

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced 2/16/24, referred to Finance; committee substitute 2/26/24; read third time 2/28/24; removed from calendar by Rules Committee 2/28/24