Well, my last email focused only on the new Integrated Resource Planning bill, HB 2803, but I'm going to add another bill in this email.  Energy Efficient West Virginia (EEWV) is the main organization pushing these two bills.  EEWV is using a two pronged attack with these two bills at this point.  It would be great if we could pass both the IRP bill and the EERS (more on that in a minute) bill, but if we got either one through this year, it would be a significant victory and a real benefit to our state's energy situation.

So, the Energy Efficiency Resource Standard bill, HB 2210, was introduced by Delegates Mike Manypenny, Barbara Fleischauer and Nancy Guthrie.  The bill would establish specific targets that WV power companies would have to meet for reducing overall electricity demand in the coming years.  The EERS bill would have to potential to have a bigger impact on reducing demand than the IRP bill would, because the EERS bill sets specific targets.

We had thought that the IRP bill had more chance of passing this year, but it now looks as though we might get a workable agreement, if only with AEP, on very good compromise wording on the EERS bill.  That's why I am including the EERS bill in this action request.

The EERS bill, HB 2210, is now in the House Judiciary Committee.  Del. Tim Miley, the committee chair, strongly supports the bill and is actively working to move it forward.  His email address is tim.miley@wvhouse.gov, and his office phone number is (304) 340-3252.  Please contact him and ask him to put HB2210 on his committee's agenda for a vote.

As I noted in my last email, HB 2803, the IRP bill is in House Government Organization.  Del. Jim Morgan is chair of Gov Org.  Please contact Del. Morgan and tell him you want him to put HB 2803 on his committee's agenda for a vote.  His email address is delegatejim@aol.com, and his phone number is (304) 340-3192.

EEWV has done a great job putting simple and clear information about both bills on their Web site.  Each bill has its own page with links to the current bill text, videos from a legislative hearing last year in which the speakers do a great job of explaining both IRP and EERS, as well as concise fact sheets with facts that you might want to use in your contacts with legislators.

Here's the link to the page on HB 2803, the IRP bill.

Here's the link to the page on HB 2210, the EERS bill.

EEWV has already generated quite a bit of email to legislators, so let's send a second wave of PATH fighters.  I have a phone conference this morning with Cathy and Stacy and the other EEWV people, and I hope to be able to get you the contact lists for all the Gov Org and Judiciary members within a day or so.

But start today by contacting Del. Miley about HB 2210 and Del. Morgan about HB 2803