Click on image to download a pdf of the Sierra Club report.
A Sierra Club report titled "Clean Energy Works in West Virginia" highlights how expanding solar-friendly policies like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) can expand access to affordable solar energy, create good new jobs, and drive economic growth in the Mountain State.
From the report:
Timothy Reese of Capon Bridge sees major potential for policies like Power Purchase Agreements to benefit small farmers like himself. “There is a lot of marginal farmland in West Virginia. We need policies that allow small farmers to take some of our acreage and install solar that would help the agricultural community generate income from their land. Solar energy is the perfect fit for a rural state.”
The report, released in January, was developed with Vandalia Energy Services. Both the Sierra Club and Vandalia Energy Services are members of the West Virginians for Energy Freedom coalition.
Reporter David Beard of The Dominion-Post spotlighted the Sierra Club report, PPAs, and interviews with renewable energy leaders and advocates in a recent article on expanding solar energy in West Virginia.
During the 2021 West Virginia Legislature’s session, Del. Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) plans to sponsor a bill to legalize PPAs, according to the article.
Last session, Senate Judiciary chair Charles Trump, R-Morgan, co-sponsored a PPA bill, SB 611, that was co-sponsored by Energy chair Randy Smith, R-Tucker, but it didn't move.
But with that kind of support plus a planned interim study on the topic this summer, Hansen is optimistic about its chances. "Hopefully we can get that across the finish line next session."