March 13, 2026 - A determined group of senators is trying again to pass a bill they say would stabilize electricity costs and provide needed support to the coal industry.  

The Senators want to create the West Virginia First Energy Act to require coal fired power plants to operate at no less than 69% capacity. 

The bill was first introduced as a separate piece of legislation in SB 420. It met some opposition but passed the Senate and is still technically alive but stuck in the House Energy Committee.

The text of the original bill was inserted into House Bill 4026. It failed to pass and has been assigned to a conference committee made up of members from both chambers. 

Meanwhile, the group inserted the language of the act once again into another House of Delegates bill. This time it was House Bill 4481.

“The House of Delegates rejected that fairly soundly. I believe there were seven yes votes. Why do you feel it would be a different outcome this time?” asked Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke.

“Because this is very important for this industry,” responded Sen. Chris Rose, R-Monongalia. “We need this for West Virginia rate payers. We need this for West Virginia’s coal industry, and, quite frankly, we need it for West Virginia’s power utilities, even though they disagree currently, because they’re getting all these massive subsidies.”

Rose told his colleagues he expects the Trump administration to remove those subsidies. 

Once that happens, he said, customers will need coal plants to produce affordable energy. 

“I’m telling you right now, if we don’t save these coal fired power plants and even the playing field for them, then when those subsidies are gone – and I can’t wait for Donald J. Trump to remove them – then you ain’t gonna have no power left at all, because you ain’t gonna be able to afford that wind and  solar when everything else is gone.”

House Bill 4481 – with the amendment included – passed the Senate and heads back to the House once again.