This report is created pursuant to the Commonwealth of Virginia Budget for the 2024-2026 biennium that was passed by the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. The budget language states that the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) shall identify and apply for any available federal or other non-general funds for the purposes of waste coal and garbage of bituminous coal remediation in the coal fields region of the Commonwealth. The department shall report on such efforts and resulting funding by November 1, 2024, and by November 1 of each succeeding year to the Governor and General Assembly.

The Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) monitored grant sources for possible connections for the recovery of waste coal or garbage of bituminous (gob) as directed by the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. Virginia Energy maintains a grant tracking system that is continuously update by administrative grant staff. Virginia Energy management reviews all updates at least monthly. This rigorously monitored tracking system did not identify any funding sources that could advance this legislative initiative.

Additionally, Virginia Energy contacted the Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association (ARIPPA), a non-profit trade association comprised of independent electric power producers, environmental remediators, and service providers located in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia that use coal refuse as a primary fuel to generate electricity. ARIPPA was not aware of any additional funding opportunities beyond those already employed by the agency.