CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A newcomer to the state legislature said he’s ready to get going in his new role.
Senator Chris Rose, R-Monongalia, said he’s pleased with his appointed to be the chairman of the Senate’s Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee.
Rose has yet to chair a meeting but he said he already has ideas to promote West Virginia energy options on a world stage. Rose said regulations should be examined and policies should promote our abundant sources of energy.
“We have to put policies in place that are more friendly to a free market,” Rose said Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “Where the most affordable, reliable and cost-effective is being promoted and used—that’s some of the policy you’re going to see come out of this new Senate Energy Committee.”
Putting pressure on countries like India and Japan to buy American energy would go a long way toward knocking down trade deficits and creating jobs and economic opportunities for the statewide industry.
“We, nor should our allies, rely on China for energy,” Rose said. “One, we can insulate ourselves from the trade war going on, and two, help the Trump administration win this trade war with China.”
Rose said he’s in agreement with President Donald Trump on tariff policies and said West Virginia is in a position to help the national campaign. With the natural gas and coal reserves held within our borders, we can have large amounts of reliable base-load energy sources.
“I do think this is a good strategy on the President’s part to get these countries back to the table to get a free and fair deal for America,” Rose said. “And also get rid of some of these trade deficits that have contributed to the $36 trillion in debt we’re trying to deal with as a country.”
Changing tax policies to attract energy producers similar to what has been accomplished in the state of Texas. Texas accounts for 31 percent of liquid natural gas (LNG) exports thanks to state policies that have allowed the construction of export terminals and pipelines. The Texas share of natural gas exports totals more than $8 billion.
While West Virginia has no port, we do have rivers that are already designated for commerce that can be used to move coal or natural gas to port.
“We can do that with natural gas too,” Rose said. “The technology is being developed to where that can be more efficient to barge it, so we have the rail option, but we can also use barges on our rivers.”
Rose said isolating China on the world stage is the right thing for our country to do. Making American energy more affordable and accessible will give countries options other than to support the labor practices of communist China.
“When you’re dealing with an adversary like China, and let’s call it what it is—slave labor and child labor,” Rose said. “You do want to decouple your economy from that and not promote that type of behavior, but do business with other nations that do respect basic human rights.”
The 60-day legislative session began Wednesday.