CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates approved bills Friday allowing the legislature to have a hand in an upcoming response to the EPA and to audit the state Division of Highways.
House Bill 2004 requires legislative involvement in the state Department of Environmental Protection’s answer on how the state will implement the federal EPA’s proposed Clean Power rule. The mandate requires carbon dioxide emissions in West Virginia to be reduced by 20 percent, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Shott (R-Mercer).
The state is required to respond with its plan for reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants and using more natural gas. The state DEP would likely be given a year to finalize the answer after the Clean Power rule becomes final in June.
Delegate Josh Nelson (R-Boone) said the EPA’s rule is not good for coal.
“You’re having a 30-percent nationwide reduction in emissions, which is pretty much going to equate to a 30-percent reduction in coal consumption all across the country,” Nelson predicted.
HB 2004 now heads to the state Senate.
The House also passed HB 2008, which calls for a legislature-funded audit of the state Division of Highways. The audit could extend into all 10 DOH maintenance districts across the state.
The last comprehensive DOH performance audit took place in 2005.
Delegate Brent Boggs (D-Braxton), while not convinced an audit is needed, said Friday’s bill is better than the original version.
“The bill has been improved significantly than when it was first introduced in the finance committee, because it’s not as open ended as it was,” Boggs said.
The bill received unanimous approval and was sent to the House of Delegates.