Coal association welcomes moves to drop WV renewables target

In one of its first acts of business, West Virginia’s new Republican-led legislature has approved a measure to repeal the state’s 2009 Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act, which required the state to generate 25% of its electricity from renewables or alternative energy sources (including some coal-based technologies) by 2025.

Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association welcomed the move, saying that keeping the law on the books no longer made sense: “It just doesn’t seem right that the second leading coal-producing state […] ought to have a state law that says we ought to make 25% of our electricity by other means,” he told MetroNews.

“We just don’t think it’s the right message to have out there and we hope that this sends a positive message to those who are working in the industry and those who are laid off with hopes that maybe we are going to get then back to work,” Raney continued.

The law will now pass to Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for approval.

In the meantime, Raney expressed his hope that this would be first of many actions the state legislature would take in support of the coal industry: “A lot of the problems are coming from Washington and the Environmental Protection Agency. But there are things that we can do right here in West Virginia that will help out coal industry. We are hopeful that many of these issues will be addressed by the legislature this session.”

Written by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/30012015/coal-association-welcomes-moves-to-drop-west-virginia-renewables-target-1822/