CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Senate flexed its new Republican muscles Wednesday, and brought Democrats with them, giving unanimous approval to a bill that would repeal the state’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act.
The 2009 act, passed when U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin was governor, requires electric utilities to use an increasing amount of alternative fuels over the next few decades. The measure became a focus of last year’s election, with GOP campaigners aiming to repeal what they call the state’s cap-and-trade law.
“It constrains their (electric utilities) ability to make the decisions that allow for the lowest utility rates to be offered to their customers,” Sen. Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) said before the vote took place.
Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) tried to amend the bill to require a legislative audit of its economic impact. Kessler wanted the legislature auditor to see if repealing the law actually did impact jobs and utility rates.
“It is really nothing more than we get a report to measure the effectiveness of this legislation,” Kessler said.
The proposed amendment failed to the Republican majority, 20-13, with a few Democrats joining GOP senators.
The Republican-controlled House of Delegates is set to approve its version of the repeal Thursday. House Speaker Tim Armstead denied a few attempts to amend the measure Wednesday, calling the proposals “not germane” to the legislation.
Republicans made cap-and-trade a campaign issue last year pointing toward the potential loss of coal jobs. The newly elected leaders promised it would be the first bill to pass both chambers of the legislature.