SD32 - Annual Report of the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, established in 1979, is a permanent legislative commission consisting of five senators, eight delegates and seven citizens appointed from the Commonwealth at large by the Governor, including representatives of industry, government and groups or organizations identified with production and conservation of coal, natural gas, and energy. The purpose of the Commission is to "study all aspects of coal as an energy resource and endeavor to stimulate, encourage, promote, and assist in the development of renewable and alternative energy resources and endeavor to stimulate, encourage, promote, and assist in the development of renewable and alternative energy resources other than petroleum."

The full Commission had one meeting during the interim, just prior to the 1997 Session of the General Assembly, at which time Senator Jackson E. Reasor, Jr., was elected as chairman and Delegate Paul C. Councill, Jr., was elected as vice chairman. At that meeting, the Commission was presented with information on thin seam coal mining technology and an update on Virginia's weatherization assistance program. Two of the Commission's four subcommittees, the Coal Subcommittee and Oil and Gas Subcommittee each met once. The coal Subcommittee's meeting focused on Clean Air Act and deregulation implications for the electric power and fuel production industries. The Oil and Gas Subcommittee's meeting focused on legislative proposals offered by the Virginia Oil and Gas Association.