Latest news with #WestVirginiaHouse
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WV House passes amended version of Morrisey's microgrid, data center bill sans requirements for coal
Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, urges his colleagues in the House to vote in support of House Bill 2014. The bill passed the House 88-12 on Tuesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) The West Virginia House approved a priority bill pushed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Tuesday that is meant to incentivize the creation of microgrids and data centers in the state. Members of the House voted 88-12 in support of House Bill 2014. Republican Dels. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer; Bill Flanigan, R-Ohio and Jordan Bridges, R-Logan, joined the chamber's nine Democrats in voting against it. The bill now heads to the Senate for introduction and consideration. The bill's passage in the House came one day before a deadline that requires all bills to be passed out of their chamber of origin in order for them to be considered by the other chamber and sent to the governor's desk by the final night of session on April 12. HB 2014 — dubbed as the Power Generation and Consumption Act — will allow companies seeking to build data centers to create their own, independent energy grids to power them. Data centers are large facilities that house vast computer systems used for cloud storage, artificial intelligence computing and telecommunications; the centers require massive amounts of energy and electricity to run. Through using their own microgrids, proponents for the policy say data centers would be able to operate in West Virginia without overburdening the state's power and utility infrastructure or raising electricity rates for existing residential and commercial customers. Under the proposed bill, the state's certified microgrid program would operate under the newly reorganized Division of Economic Development. Through approval from the division, data companies looking to operate in West Virginia would do so in 'high impact industrial business development microgrid districts.' There, instead of being required to connect to the existing utilities in the region, they would create their own, smaller energy grids with the primary purpose of powering the data centers. Per the bill, 10% of electricity generated by the microgrids but not used by the data centers or industrial facilities would be allowed to be sold on the wholesale market to others nearby, potentially at lower rates than existing utilities currently offer. The initial version of HB 2014 — the one specifically requested by Morrisey — included provisions that would have required electric utilities with coal fired plants to operate at 69% capacity and hold a 45-day supply of coal on hand at all times. Most coal fired power plants in the state operate at an average 40% capacity and stockpile a 30-day supply of coal. Those provisions were meant to support the state's coal industry, but power companies — including Appalachian Power, the state's largest electric utility — said it would be difficult to meet those standards and doing so would have raised rates for existing electric customers in the state. Through a committee substitute for HB 2014 passed by the House Energy and Public Works Committee last week, the coal-backed provisions were removed from the bill and not included in the version passed by the House on Tuesday. In response to concerns raised by House members on the floor Tuesday regarding the potential for the bill to increase utility rates for residential customers, Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, said he actually believes HB 2014 could lead to savings for residents, though indirectly, through tax revenue generated locally and a fund that will be created by the legislation. I do not believe [HB 2014] is going to increase [customer electric rates],' said Riley, a longtime proponent for data centers in the state and a sponsor of the bill. 'I think it puts more money back in the pockets of citizens of West Virginia, both in terms of ratepaying and in terms of personal income taxes and some of the other things that I think I've seen in there.' Riley said he estimates that roughly $160 million to $200 million will be generated in tax revenue annually for a county that houses a data center and microgrid. Following the payment of property taxes to the appropriate local agencies, other revenue from the data centers and related microgrids will be split between several statewide initiatives, including to: the Personal Income Tax Reduction Fund to offset personal income tax cuts, the Economic Development Closing and Promotion Fund to help recruit more businesses to the state, the Water Development Authority's Economic Enhancement Grant Fund for water and sewage projects, the Department of Human Services' Low Income Energy Assistance Program to help low-income families cover utility bills, the state general revenue fund and the newly created Electronic Grid Stabilization and Security Fund. The Electronic Grid Stabilization and Security Fund, Riley said, could help utility companies cover the cost of maintenance and repairs in their infrastructure that would otherwise be — and often are — baked into customer rate increases. In other words, while that won't directly decrease power costs for residents, it could offset future expenses they would incur. Del. Henry Dillon, R-Wayne, said in addition to limiting future increases for ratepayers, the data centers and microgrids could mean a population and employment bump for the regions they're located in. Jobs will be created while the facilities are being constructed, he said, and after that it's likely that at least some jobs will stay in the areas. That could help decrease another major factor that often leads to utility rate increases: population loss. Dillon said, at first, he shared similar concerns to others worried that this initiative could lead to lackluster results and heavy costs for existing residents. 'But throughout the process of working on this bill … I believe that the governor is going in the right direction here,' Dillon said. 'This is an attempt to innovate. This is an attempt to take a new approach to energy policy in the state, and it's not going to harm our utility companies. It's not going to harm ratepayers, it's not going to harm oil and gas. It's not going to harm coal. I believe that this is a net positive for the state.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NumbersUSA Unveils State Immigration Enforcement Scorecards Project
ARLINGTON, Va., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The non-partisan NumbersUSA organization announces a new initiative to comprehensively score all immigration enforcement actions by each state legislator. We call this new tool our State Credible Immigration Enforcement Scorecards. While Congress has the power to lower immigration's numerical limits and control national borders, the States have ample power to credibly enforce laws deterring illegal immigration within their own boundaries. Today, we unveil the first Scorecards for each state legislator's immigration actions in Ohio and West Virginia (2023 and 2024), North Carolina (2024), and Montana (which met only in 2023). NumbersUSA will be adding Scorecards for additional states every month. Creating these Report Cards requires significant effort, including research, data collection, and analysis. NumbersUSA has partnered with the Institute for Legislative Analysis to bring this scoring platform to life. Nobody else has ever offered anything like this deep look into state legislatures on immigration. "And for the first time, we are negatively scoring leaders such as Speaker of the House and committee chairs when they quietly refuse to bring good bills up for a vote," says Andrew Good, NumbersUSA Director of State Government Relations. "This is a key reason that sensible immigration policies don't pass more frequently in Congress, and it is the main reason that credible immigration enforcement laws often have an uphill battle in the states." Here are a couple of examples from our pioneer states that explain their poor Leadership grades: The Ohio House passed a bill expanding the use of E-Verify last year on an 85-6 vote. But Ohio Senate leaders never allowed a vote on the bill, so it died at the end of 2024. The West Virginia Senate passed a mandatory E-Verify bill in 2023, on a 34-0 vote. But leaders in the West Virginia House never allowed a vote on the bill, so it died at the end of their 2023 session. In 2024, it looked like victory was guaranteed when the West Virginia House WAS allowed to vote and passed a bill expanding the use of E-Verify on a 82-18 vote. But the Senate which unanimously passed it the year before was barred from doing so again because Senate leaders refused to bring that bill up for a vote. The bill died. Despite votes for E-Verify from the overwhelming majority of their state legislators, neither Ohio nor West Virginia has any E-Verify law at all, entirely because legislative leaders carried out the bidding of business lobbies and killed bills by not allowing votes. Our state scorecards expose these backroom deals. "Join us in celebrating this groundbreaking tool, the first of its kind, and ensure that no state official's role in immigration enforcement goes unnoticed or misrepresented," NumbersUSA CEO Roy Beck says. Andrew Good notes the immensity of holding state legislators accountable: "If you think our Congressional Grade Cards are impressive (and they are!), consider that state legislatures cumulatively introduce 23 TIMES more bills than Congress, totaling an average of 128,145 bills per year. That's a lot of Crackerjack to sift through to find the prizes. "NumbersUSA is intent on guaranteeing that our elected state officials are transparent in their actions and accountable for delivering the credible immigration enforcement their constituents favor." About NumbersUSANumbersUSA is a nonpartisan organization that for 28 years has educated voters -- particularly its more than 8 million online followers -- about immigration policies and has provided them easy-to-use tools to make their voices heard. It advocates for lower immigration levels and credible enforcement of immigration laws. Media Contact:Andrew Goodagood@ 816-8820 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Governor Morrisey signs food dye ban into law
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Governor Morrisey signed a food dye legislation into law at the end of March. According to a press release, on Monday, March 24, 2025, House Bill 2354, which prevents harmful food dyes from being an ingredient in food items and school lunches across the Mountain State, was signed into law by Governor Patrick Morrisey. West Virginia House votes down vaccine exemption bill West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there's no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges. Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the entire Trump Administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia. Today's announcement represents a step toward a productive dialogue about how West Virginia and our country can eat healthier and address some of the vexing health care problems facing our citizens. Through the implementation process, I look forward to advancing policies which improve our health care outcomes, maintain our jobs, and respect the FDA's and supply channel's role in the process. Governor Morrisey What foods would go away if West Virginia bans certain food dye? The food additives that the law deems unsafe and prevents them from being used in meals served as a part of a school nutrition program starting August 1, 2025 includes: Red Dye No. 3 Red Dye No. 40 Yellow Dye No. 5 Yellow Dye No. 6 Blue Dye No. 1 Blue Dye No. 2 Green Dye No. 3 The press release stated that the dyes, as well as preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, cannot be a part of food items or drugs for sale in West Virginia starting on January 1, 2028, which is meant to give companies time to adjust and protect customers from price increases. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
11 years after WV chemical spill, advocates speak out against bill to rollback water protections
Honey May speaks during the 'People's Public Hearing' against Senate Bill 592 on Monday, March 17, 2025, outside the West Virginia House chamber in Charleston, (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) London Donahoe, a sophomore at Huntington High School, said he was 6 years old when the 2014 Elk River chemical leak unfolded in central West Virginia. That January, 4-methylcychohexanemethanol (MCHM) — a chemical used in processing coal — leaked from an aboveground storage tank owned by Freedom Industries into the Elk River, contaminating the drinking water for about 300,000 people in nine counties. The West Virginia Legislature was convened for its regular session at the time of the spill, though took a few days off as an immediate response as efforts were underway. When they returned — and in direct response to the chemical leak — lawmakers unanimously passed Senate Bill 373, which established the Aboveground Storage Tank Act and implemented myriad other water protection measures to, hopefully, prevent future disasters. Donahoe doesn't remember much from that time. He does know one thing, though: because of that action by the Legislature, he was able to grow up under policies that ultimately meant he was healthier and better protected from potential disasters. But now, 11 years after the chemical leak, lawmakers are seriously considering a bill that would cut back on the mitigation efforts that were implemented in its wake. Senate Bill 592 has already passed the Senate and is now pending consideration in the House Energy and Public Works Committee. Under the proposed legislation, more than 1,000 oil, gas and coal tanks nearest to drinking water intakes — the same tanks that were responsible for the 2014 chemical leak — would be exempt from mandated third party inspections that currently ensure they aren't at risk of leaking. On Monday, Donahoe was one of 13 residents who participated in an unofficial public hearing hosted by multiple progressive and environmental organizations speaking out against SB 592 during Environmental Day at the Capitol. 'History makes it clear: the protections put in place [in 2014] were not just necessary — they were life saving,' Donahoe told those in attendance. 'Now, the Legislature is threatening to undo these protections and put everyone in this room at risk. Water should be a basic human right, yet SB 592 prioritizes industry lobbyists and the wealthy elite over the health and safety of West Virginians … we cannot allow that.' Other speakers against the legislation included environmental activists who have returned to the Capitol year after year to try and ensure the protections put in place 11 years ago remain there. Honey May, an environmental organizer who became involved in the work due to the 2014 water crisis, said it's impossible to ignore how ingrained coal, oil and natural gas industry lobbyists have become in the West Virginia Legislature. May said it's difficult not to feel left out of the process when industry-backed and -created bills like SB 592 begin to circulate. Year after year, she's helped get people connected with their lawmakers or bussed to the Capitol to speak out against such bills. She's seen the rotunda filled with people concerned about their environmental health and safety. She knows how that kind of outpouring can affect legislators' votes. But, she said, it shouldn't have to take that kind of effort for those in power to listen to their constituents' concerns and see common sense in measures that exist to protect them. This is especially relevant now, May said, as this is the first legislative session without a public hearing process for the full House. The hearing on Monday — dubbed 'the People's Public Hearing' by organizers — served as an alternative kind of hearing than those currently held in committees. 'Now, you have to create your own public hearing. We have to create our own ways of reaching our legislators, because they've determined that they just don't have the time to hear from us … and [now] they think we can do whatever they want, but we say, 'no',' May said. 'We're going to stand here. We're going to tell you how we feel, and it's not radical; it's clean drinking water. We all drink it, so please contact your legislators. It's the only thing that works. The people's power is the only thing that keeps the relentless pursuit of profits at bay.' Other speakers on Monday included more people who remember the 2014 chemical spill all too well. Some said they were still hesitant to drink the region's tap water. Others remembered how difficult and frustrating it was to get information as the event unfolded. Every speaker shared the fears they hold about something like that happening again and their disappointment in seeing protections to stop that rolled back. While too young to remember much from the events in 2014 himself, Donahoe and his Huntington High classmate Kaili Anderson have started their own organizing around protecting West Virginia's environment and they want the state's lawmakers to listen. Both serve as officers of their school's Sunrise Movement student hub, a local chapter of a national organization built around young people fighting and organizing against the ongoing climate crisis. Both Anderson and Donahoe said they're frustrated with the state Legislature's focus on social issues that seek to harm already marginalized people while lawmakers seem to ignore multiple ongoing crises — undrinkable water, the drug and overdose epidemic and poverty, among many others — and leave the most vulnerable in the state without support or help. Young people, Anderson said, aren't being involved in conversations about the state's priorities. If they were, she continued, those priorities would certainly change and more young people would be looking toward a future in the state instead of one where they feel they have to leave it behind. 'If young people had a seat at the table, they'd be more likely to stay here, especially if they were being listened to,' Donahoe said. 'Instead we hear all this focus feeding into culture wars, attacking trans people and that's not helping anyone … Our voice and perspectives are being ignored and we need to become a force to push elected officials and remind them that we are here and our voices matter.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WV House Republicans join Dems 54-41 to reject bill allowing direct corporate political donations
Del. Jordan Maynor, R-Raleigh, pushes his colleagues in the West Virginia House to vote for House Bill 2719, legislation that would have allowed for corporations in the state to directly donate to political campaigns and politicians on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Charleston, With more than half the body's voting Republicans joining Democrats, the bill was rejected by lawmakers 54-41. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) The West Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday rejected a bill that would have allowed businesses and corporations in the state to directly donate up to $2,800 — and potentially more, according to statements — to political candidates. With five members absent and not voting, the body voted 54-41 against House Bill 2719. It was the first time this session that a majority of Republicans in the House sided with Democrats against legislation and the first bill in either chamber this year to be denied through a floor vote. HB 2719 would have removed language in state code that barred corporations, 'membership organizations' and businesses from donating directly to political candidates. The proposed code would have allowed any business incorporated by the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office to give up to $2,800 to a candidate per an election cycle. There were no limits included in the proposed code on how many businesses owned by one person would have been able to donate politically. Through the legislation, business owners could have given the maximum amount of money to candidates multiple times by donating through their businesses, individual giving and political action committees. Those who supported the legislation said it would increase transparency for corporate political giving in the state as, for the first time, money given by businesses would be listed and made public through financial disclosures instead of being siphoned through a Political Action Committee or Super PAC (often referred to as 'dark money' since there is no way to see where the money comes from). Any funds given by corporations would have also still needed to meet limits set in state code. Del. Jordan Maynor, R-Raleigh, serves as vice chair of the House Judiciary committee and was a sponsor of the legislation. While eight legislators in total spoke on HB 2719 Thursday, Maynor was one of only two lawmakers to urge passage of the bill before it died. 'All the bluster we're hearing about how this opens us up to more money in politics — [corporations] can do that right now, except there is no transparency with what they give now because they give to big money political action committees that are in the dark,' Maynor said. 'This is a transparency bill … When you're going through campaign finance reports, it shows — because it's transparent — the businesses that gave to your campaign and that support you.' But the majority who voted down the legislation held deep concerns about how the bill would inject more money into politics, giving wider influence to those who could afford to buy favor and interest versus those who couldn't but would be forced to live with the consequences. 'This is precisely the direction that we should not be going. No one at home wants more money in politics,' said House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell. 'We have this fascination with money and greed. What happens is, we don't get elected officials based upon merit or what they can do — because it's a rich man's game. That's all it is. So effectively, we're not representing the people at home because [elections are] going to the highest bidder.' Del. Henry Dillon, R-Wayne, said the proposed bill wasn't the kind that his constituents sent him to Charleston to pass. Even more, he said, it would be insulting to approve legislation that gives corporations and wealthy people more of a say in who is elected to represent them than the majority of residents who are often struggling to stay afloat. 'We were sent here to help the average voter, constituents in our districts for who $2,800 toward politics — they can't even begin to afford to part with that type of money,' Dillon said. 'And yet we're going to open up new avenues for people who have ample resources, virtually unlimited resources, to influence our elections? … Is this going to make life better for our constituents?' Del. Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley, said during questioning on the floor from Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, that originally, there was a $250 limit on corporate giving in the bill. But that cap had to be removed from the proposed bill, Hornby said, as 'we must treat everybody the same' in campaign finance code. Hornby — who is the lead sponsor of the bill — is listed by the Secretary of State as the incorporator of numerous media and communications companies in West Virginia, though several are currently out of compliance or have had their registrations revoked by the SOS due to a failure to file annual reports. He said while he 'generally tries to stay out of elections' through his businesses, he believed a political candidate should be able to 'have a business support them.' When asked by Pushkin who pushed for the introduction and passage of this legislation — citizen-led lobbying groups, certain businesses, a corporation or anyone else — Hornby's answer was brief. 'Nobody asked for this,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
