Land and Wildlife
How we treat our own property says a lot about us as individuals. How our government makes land use decisions and how it regulates what industry and developers are permitted to do speaks volumes about what kind of state we are and can be.
Preserving farmland and forests, as well as parks and recreation areas, is important for our lives now and for future generation. It is also critical for the habitat of birds, wildlife and fish.
Our public officials frequently make choices on our behalf that will shape the world we and all other creatures live in. By making our voices heard on land use issues, we plan to help them make the right choices.
Our Land and Wildlife Platform
We support hunting, fishing, rafting and other outdoor recreation activities that are compatible with wildlife habitat and create no lasting environmental damage.
We oppose commercial logging in state parks and forests.
We oppose mountaintop removal mining.
We support the right of local governments and municipalities to regulate consumer packaging within their jurisdictions, including plastic bags, straws, styrofoam containers, and the like.
2025 Land and Wildlife Bills – Coming Soon
SB 295
Clarifying non-agricultural status of solar farms
This bill aims to distinguish solar energy production from traditional agricultural practices for taxation and regulatory purposes.
Sponsors: Patricia Rucker
CWV Position:
Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture; and then to Senate Committee on Finance
SB 34
Creating Community Solar Pilot Program
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
SB 271
Natural Resources Anti-Commandeering Act
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.
SB 11
Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act
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
SB 711
Removing prohibition against establishing additional trail systems within state parks and state forests
This bill is removes the prohibition against establishing additional trail systems within state parks and state forests, opening up our state parks and forests to ATV/ORV use.
CWV Position: Opposes
Status: Introduced 3/6/25 and referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources
