February 3, 2015
West Virginia

West Virginia governor approves energy act repeal

AP | February 03, 2015 | www.wchstv.com

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a bill deleting a state energy portfolio.

On Tuesday, the Democrat approved the repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. The Republican-led Legislature passed the repeal overwhelmingly last month.

The portfolio required generating 25 percent of electricity with alternative power sources by 2025. With alternative power’s broad definition in state law, some coal-burning technologies qualify.

FirstEnergy official Sammy Gray has said his company could comply with requirements without increased costs, lost jobs, higher rates or business plan changes.

The state Coal Association helped write the standard. Now, it supported repeal amid increased federal regulations and legal impacts on the industry.

Tomblin says in a news release that the law no longer benefited the state and its repeal had bipartisan support.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/03/west-virginia-governor-approves-energy-act-repeal/