House Rejects Senate Amendment To Energy Bill, Asks Upper Chamber To Recede

The chambers of the West Virginia Legislature find themselves at odds over an energy bill. 

In its original form, House Bill 4026 added a requirement that utilities include analysis of advanced transmission technologies in a required report to state regulators. 

But as Majority Leader Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, told the House of Delegates Tuesday morning, a Senate amendment inserted an entirely different bill into the House bill. 

The amendment would require that regulated utilities operate their coal fired power plants at no less than 69% capacity at all times and created limitations on retirement of coal fired power plants.

“(It) potentially violates the single object rule, raises germaneness questions, and ultimately, there are concerns the bill will raise rates by operating coal plants when they are running at uneconomical times,” McGeehan said.

The House refused to concur with the Senate’s changes and asked the upper chamber to recede from their position.

The insertion is a copy of Senate Bill 420, the West Virginia First Energy Act. The Senate passed the standalone bill last week and it is currently advancing in the House Energy and Public Works committee.