Energy conservation should be priority, W.Va. lawmakers told
Instead of backing costly, high-pollution coal gasification facilities, the state should be promoting energy conservation, a representative of the West Virginia Environmental Council told legislators Monday.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Instead of backing costly, high-pollution coal gasification facilities, the state should be promoting energy conservation, a representative of the West Virginia Environmental Council told legislators Monday.
"Coal is not clean, and won't be," Vicki Wolfe told the Joint Commission on Economic Development during interim meetings Monday.
She said studies have shown coal-to-gas conversion is an inefficient way to produce fuel, requiring 2 million BTUs of energy to produce 1 million BTUs of gasoline.
"Replacing 10 percent of oil demand with CTL (coal to liquid) would require a 43 percent increase in coal production," she said.
Coal gasification also produces more greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel fuel, even with carbon capture and storage, Wolfe said. Instead, the council is calling on the Legislature to focus its efforts on reducing fuel consumption, she said.
She said council recommendations include:
Lowering the speed limit to 65 mph. Wolfe noted that two neighboring states, Pennsylvania and Virginia, already have 65 mph speed limits. Maryland's top limit also is 65.
Tying personal property taxes to a vehicle's fuel economy, not its book value.
Ideally, she said, there should be no personal property taxes on compact hybrid vehicles, with much higher property taxes on low mileage vehicles, such as Hummers.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Instead of backing costly, high-pollution coal gasification facilities, the state should be promoting energy conservation, a representative of the West Virginia Environmental Council told legislators Monday.
"Coal is not clean, and won't be," Vicki Wolfe told the Joint Commission on Economic Development during interim meetings Monday.
She said studies have shown coal-to-gas conversion is an inefficient way to produce fuel, requiring 2 million BTUs of energy to produce 1 million BTUs of gasoline.
"Replacing 10 percent of oil demand with CTL (coal to liquid) would require a 43 percent increase in coal production," she said.
Coal gasification also produces more greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel fuel, even with carbon capture and storage, Wolfe said. Instead, the council is calling on the Legislature to focus its efforts on reducing fuel consumption, she said.
She said council recommendations include:
Lowering the speed limit to 65 mph. Wolfe noted that two neighboring states, Pennsylvania and Virginia, already have 65 mph speed limits. Maryland's top limit also is 65.
Tying personal property taxes to a vehicle's fuel economy, not its book value.
Ideally, she said, there should be no personal property taxes on compact hybrid vehicles, with much higher property taxes on low mileage vehicles, such as Hummers.
Provide state tax credits for purchases of hybrid vehicles, similar to the 2005 federal program, which has since expired.
Also during legislative interim meetings Monday:
Division of Energy Director Jeff Herholdt told the commission that West Virginia produces 4,247 trillion BTUs of energy, mostly from coal and natural gas, each year. West Virginia's energy consumption is about 793 trillion BTUs, meaning that more than 3,452 trillion BTUs of energy goes out-of-state each year.
"This is quite a statement about West Virginia's role as an energy supplier," he said.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Jon Amores said he believes the state has sufficient authority under a new state law regulating professional employer organizations.
PEOs are businesses that provide employer services, including handling payroll and benefits, and paying payroll taxes and Workers' Compensation premiums, for their clients.
Amores said the new law gives the state sufficient tools to go after both the PEO and the company that contracted with the PEO in the event of wage-hour or other labor law violations.
"We'll just have to be vigilant about it," Amores told a Government Organization interim committee.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.
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Look, I don't care for mountain top removal because the mountains are what make WV so beautiful. I am also all in favor of more stringent and effective safety standards to protect our beloved coal miners. However, this class envey and punishment crap needs to stop. The market will fix itself. Look now...you can't give away an SUV. Go try to buy a hybrid or another fuel efficient vehicle...they're flying off the lot.