CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — As the saying goes: “That was then. This is now.”
Five years ago, the West Virginia Coal Association didn’t oppose an alternative/renewable energy bill championed by former Gov. Joe Manchin.
Now, the trade industry group backs plans by Republicans taking control of the Legislature to repeal what they call a “cap and trade” law.
“This is a different time, and there are things that have not come to fruition,” said Bill Raney, the coal association’s president.
The legislation, passed in 2009, requires 10 percent of electricity to come from alternative or renewable sources by next year. That standard increases to 15 percent by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.
The law also establishes a system of credits that power plants can trade, purchase or use to meet the standards.
Sen. Bill Cole, who will become Senate president, said he and Del. Tim Armstead, soon-to-be House speaker, plan on introducing legislation to repeal the law on the opening day of the 60-day regular session.
While meeting next year’s standards isn’t a problem, the future benchmarks will hurt the coal industry, Cole, R-Mercer, said.
“We’ve agreed repealing West Virginia’s ‘cap and trade’ law would be the thing we would do first,” he said. “The Environmental Protection Agency is doing everything it can to harm our fossil fuel sources. I don’t think we as a state need to add fuel to the fire…
