WV Legislature passes bill to enable on-site PPAs

The WV Legislature passed HB 3310, a bill to enable on-site solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in West Virginia. Now, HB 3310 heads to Gov. Jim Justice for his signature.

As noted in the bill’s legislative findings, HB 3310 will help more West Virginia households, businesses, and institutions stabilize their long-term energy costs with solar energy. This will make our state more attractive for business development and corporate investment.

Read the full report in today’s Charleston Gazette-Mail.

We appreciate that Gov. Justice’s Department of Commerce continues to champion forward-thinking policy to grow and strengthen West Virginia’s economy. We look forward to the Governor signing HB 3310 into law as a positive step in that direction.

Big thanks to everyone who has contacted their lawmakers in support of this policy. Your efforts made a difference! Your voices have been heard.

Click here if you want to say thanks to lawmakers who voted Yes on HB 3310.

WILL PRICE, WV Legislative Photography

Sen. Richard Lindsay, D-Kanawha, shows support for HB 3310 that would enable on-site Power Purchase Agreements in West Virginia.

Op/Ed challenges Gov. Justice to support #PPAs4WV

“Your move, Big Jim,” a recent Op/Ed in Charleston Gazette-Mail by John McFerrin challenged Gov. Jim Justice to become a champion of legalizing on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in West Virginia.

"...the self-described 'absolute proponent' of wind and solar power has a chance to demonstrate his enthusiasm. There is a bill in the West Virginia Legislature that would remove barriers to solar power. He has a chance to lobby, preach, arm-twist, or do whatever he thinks best, to see that it becomes law.

"The legislation — Senate Bill 30 — tears down the barriers that the structure of the Public Service Commission puts up before solar energy producers."

Please read the full Op/Ed and leave a comment to show your support for PPAs... just in case the Governor reads the Comments section.

Solar industry leaders support #PPAs4WV in Op/Ed

A pair of solar industry leaders urged West Virginia lawmakers to legalize on-site PPAs in a recent Op/Ed in The (Huntington) Herald-Dispatch.

The authors are Sean Gallagher, vice president of state and regulatory affairs for Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Andrew Williams, vice president of policy and corporate affairs for SOL Systems LLC. SEIA, the national trade association for the solar industry, is a member of our coalition.

"Legislators should act quickly to give West Virginians the freedom to participate in PPAs. This simple action will create new competitive energy options, spur economic investment, create jobs, and facilitate innovation — all without the need for additional state funds or the need to raise taxes."

READ THE FULL OP/ED

Coalition members continue to write to newspapers supporting PPAs

Two members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action (a coalition member) publicly urged lawmakers to support legalizing on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in West Virginia this session.

Jean Ambrose wrote what may be one of our favorite Letters to the Editor about why West Virginia legislators need to legalize on-site Power Purchase Agreements! From her Feb. 13 letter in The Parkersburg News-Sentinel:

…Most people can’t afford to get solar panels because, in our state, the individual has to front the entire purchase price to put up the panels. In the states surrounding West Virginia, third-party power purchase agreements are legal, which allow a business or a nonprofit to front the installation costs for you. My daughter has this in Connecticut.

Read Jean’s Letter to the Editor.

On Feb. 19, Eric Engle advocated in an Op-Ed in The Charleston Gazette-Mail for legalizing on-site PPAs because the popular financing method would help bring renewable energy to West Virginia while creating jobs, saving consumers money, and improving public health.

(PPAs) also help foster the kind of energy independence that both major parties and people along the entire political/ideological spectrum can get behind.

Read Eric’s Op-Ed (may be behind a paywall).

Please consider leaving a comment supporting the letter on the newspaper’s website if you're so inclined.

Four newspapers publish letters supporting PPAs from coalition members

Our campaign to legalize on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) received a major show of support Feb. 6-8 in newspapers across the state, days before the West Virginia Legislature’s start on Feb. 10.

Newspapers in Martinsburg, Clarksburg, Fairmont, and Parkersburg printed Letters to the Editor written by four members of the West Virginians for Energy Freedom coalition. We are grateful to the writers for sharing their support with the rest of their communities. 

Below are links to the letters. If you’re so inclined, please add supportive comments on the papers’ websites.

• West Virginians deserve energy freedom by Mike McKechnie, Mountain View Solar, Feb. 6, The (Martinsburg) Journal.

• It is time for West Virginia to embrace renewable energy by Moira Reilly, W.Va. Catholics for a Sustainable Economy (our latest coalition member), Feb. 7, The (Clarksburg) Exponent-Telegram.

• Steps to make West Virginia a green economy leader by Autumn Long, Solar United Neighbors, Feb. 7, The (Fairmont) Times-West Virginian.

• Support PPAs in West Virginia by Chip Pickering, Pickering Energy Solutions, Feb. 8, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

Want to contact your lawmakers about supporting the #PPAs4WV bills? Email them today.

Interested in writing a letter to your local paper? Let us know! Email Info@EnergyFreedomWV.org.

WOWK-TV: Power purchase agreements and job creation topics on "Inside West Virginia Politics"

Legalizing on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and creating renewable energy jobs were topics on the "Inside West Virginia Politics" (Feb. 1) with Mark Curtis, chief political reporter for WOWK-13 News.

Autumn Long, program director for Solar United Neighbors-West Virginia (one of our founding coalition partners), talked about the popular financing option that would create jobs and provide benefits to consumers, schools, municipalities, churches, and nonprofits in the state.

Watch the full report.

Want to help legalize on-site PPAs? Email lawmakers today and ask them to support our #PPAs4WV campaign! We need your voice now more than ever!