WV News file photo
Making on-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) available in West Virginia is one of three bills that Del. Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) plans to introduce this session, according to an WV News article.
The PPAs bill stalled in committee during previous sessions because of pressure from FirstEnergy and AEP lobbyists. "I can’t make any promises, but I know there are legislators from both parties who are interested in moving that bill,” Hansen said in the article.
James Van Nostrand, director of WVU Law Center for Energy and Sustainable Development (a coalition member), says on-site PPAs will help consumers save money. "... Our electricity rates keep going up," he said, "and it would be nice if people had some ability to hedge against that by investing in solar and making solar accessible by approving power purchasing agreements."
Another bill would focus on energy efficiency for state-owned buildings. The third, called the Just Transition bill, would create a process to focus funding and resources into communities impacted by the decline of coal production, Hansen said in the article.
Read the WV News article and read the (Clarksburg) Exponent-Telegram editorial supporting Hansen.