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Senate approves energy bill to boost coal-plant utilization after extended floor debate
Summary
After hours of questions and partisan back-and-forth, the West Virginia Senate passed legislation that incentivizes higher utilization of in-state coal-fired power plants, arguing it will restore jobs and stabilize rates. Opponents warned it risks higher costs for ratepayers; the bill passed on recorded votes and was made effective July 1, 2026.
The West Virginia Senate passed a comprehensive energy measure aimed at increasing utilization of in-state coal-fired power plants, voting 32-2 on final passage after an extended floor debate and later approving a title amendment and an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Proponents said the bill, described on the floor as the West Virginia First Energy Act, would level the playing field for coal-fired generation by offering incentives tied to utilities' rate-recovery and utilization metrics. "We need to get it back to, we have megawatts. We'll decide how we generate in a free market," the Energy Committee chairman said, urging colleagues to support the measure. The chairman…
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