On the special election edition of Decision Makers, Joe Manchin said that he is against Cap and Trade. That’s interesting because he signed Cap and Trade into law here in WV. Not only did he sign this bill, he was the one who requested the state legislature take it up. Say it ain’t so, Joe! Unfortunately, it is so. It is House Bill 103 (2009).

What is in this bill? Basically, by January 1, 2025 electric utilities will have to replace 25% of the energy they produce with “renewable energy.” We don’t really know what can be used as “renewable energy,” other than no more than 10% of it can be replaced with natural gas.  This law actually goes into effect earlier than 2025. January 1, 2015, 10% of the coal has to be replaced by “renewable energy.” Then, on January 1, 2020, the reduction goes up to 15%.

Oh wait, it starts even earlier than 2015. This January 1, 2011, each electric utility in West Virginia will have to submit a report to a newly formed commission to explain how each one plans to meet the reduction in coal required under the law. The commission will decide whether to approve the report or not.  Each utility will also have to pay $200,000.00 in a special fee to fund the commission.  Each year after that for 2012, 2013, and 2014, the utilities will have to submit another report describing how they are coming on executing their plan and pay another $100,000.00 fee.  These $100,000.00 fees also continue in all future years beyond that.  Of course these fees will eventually be passed on to the customers in the form of higher electric prices. 

The bottom line is everyone in West Virginia will have to pay more for electricity. This is not what we want for WV and not what we want for the United States.

Check out the Cap and Trade bill Joe Manchin signed into law. H.B. 103

See how your state senator voted. Roll Call in the WV State Senate for H.B. 103

See how your Delegate voted Roll Call in the WV House of Delegates for H. B. 103