The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission was established as a permanent Commission on July 1, 1979 as a result of the passage of Senate Bill No. 829 (See Appendix A.) The bill was introduced by Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr., who also served as Chairman of the Commission until October, 1980.

The Commission is composed of twenty members. Five members are from the Senate, eight from the House of Delegates, and seven appointed by the Governor. The members are as follows: Delegate Joseph A. Johnson, Chairman, Abingdon; Delegate W. Ward Teel, Vice Chairman, Christiansburg; Delegate James F. Almand, Arlington; Mr. Walter C. Ayers, Virginia Petroleum Council, Richmond; Senator Herbert B. Bateman, Newport News; Senator Daniel W. Bird, Jr., Wytheville; Senator Frederick C. Boucher, Abingdon; Mr. L Blaine Carter, Virginia Coal Association, Richmond; Senator Charles J. Colgan, Manassas; Delegate J. Paul Councill, Jr., Franklin; Dr. Herbert 0. Funsten, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg; Senator Virgil B. Goode, Jr., Rocky Mount; Dr. J. Richard Lucas, VPI & SU, Blacksburg; Mr. George L. Jones, Office of Emergency and Energy Services, Richmond; Delegate George W. Jones, Bon Air; Delegate Glenn B. McClanan, Virginia Beach; Delegate Lewis W. Parker, Jr., South Hill; Mr. Frank T. Sutton, III, Commonwealth Natural Gas Corporation, ·Richmond; Delegate A. Victor Thomas, Roanoke; and Mr. Fred W. Walker, Department of Conservation and Economic Development, Richmond. Ex officio members are: Mr. Eugene F. Brady, Roanoke; Electric Steel, Roanoke; Senator John C. Buchanan, Wise; Delegate Donald L. McGlothlin, Sr., Grundy; Delegate Ford C. Quillen, Gate City; Dr. Fred D. Rosi, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; and Dr. Richard A. Wolfe, Jr., United Coal Companies, Bristol.

During the course of the year, Senator J. Harry Michael resigned to become U. S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia. Senator Daniel W. Bird replaced Senator Michael on the Commission, and Delegate Joseph A. Johnson was elected Chairman. Delegate W. Ward Teel presided ably over the Commission until Delegate Johnson's election. The Commission lost a trusted friend and colleague with the death of Mr. Stanley Ragone in May, 1980. His personal warmth and professional counsel have been sorely missed.

During the past year, the Commission received testimony from a number of individuals, government agencies, and businesses on a variety of energy issues. Among those making presentations were representatives of: the Virginia Port Authority, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Cogeneration Coalition, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Office of Emergency and Energy Services, the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, United Bio Fuels Industries, AVCO Systems Division, Engineering Incorporated, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Virginia Renewable Energy Lobby, and the Department of Taxation.

The bulk of the work of the Commission was conducted by the subcommittees. Eight subcommittees were formed for the following energy areas: biomass, coal, electric power, energy preparedness, geothermal, hydroelectric, oil and gas, and solar.