A. Creation of the Commission. The Coal and Energy Commission originally began as a group of concerned individuals interested in the potential for coal liquefaction and gasification who worked in an ad hoc capacity, submitting a report to the Governor and General Assembly during the 1975 Session including S.J.R. No. 109 sponsored by Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr. This resolution requested formal status and funding for the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission to study the development and utilization of Virginia's coal including exploration, mapping and transportation of coal resources.

B. Membership of the Commission. The members of the Commission are as follows: Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr., Charlottesville; Delegate C. Don Dunford, Tazewell; Senator Peter K. Babalas, Norfolk; Delegate J. Paul Councill, Jr., Franklin; Delegate Garry G. DeBruhl, Critz; Delegate Joseph A. Johnson, Abingdon; Delegate W. Ward Teel, Christiansburg; Edmond M. Boggs, Richmond; Cecil W. Bolling, Pound; Charles A. Christophersen, Richmond; B. C. Cooper, Big Stone Gap; Ernst W. Farley, Jr., Richmond; Herbert O. Funsten, Williamsburg; Mark R. Kilduff, Richmond; Harden Lacy, Williamsburg; Louis R. Lawson, Jr., Richmond; Marvin M. Sutherland, Richmond and W. Luke Witt, Richmond. Ms. Susan T. Gill of the Division of Legislative Services served as staff during the year and drafted the Commission's report to the Governor and General Assembly.

C. Principle Areas of Study. The Commission turned its attention to the following issues during the last year: l) easing the impact of federal requirements for conversion from oil or natural gas to coal, 2) geothermal exploration and rights, 3) effects of S.B. No. 406 passed during the 1977 General Assembly establishing mineral rights of methane released from coal seams as the property of the real surface owner, and 4) the progress of the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research established by S.B. No. 761 in the 1977 General Assembly.