West Virginia Code 5D-1-2 – Purpose and intent
The Legislature finds and declares:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 5D-1-2
- Authority: means the West Virginia public energy authority created in section four of this article, the duties, powers, responsibilities and functions of which are specified in this article. See West Virginia Code 5D-1-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(a) That the long-term health and economy of the United States will depend upon the availability of reliable sources of energy;
(b) That the State of West Virginia has abundant reserves of coal, natural gas and other natural resources;
(c) That the economy of the State of West Virginia needs a reliable and dependable market for the state's coal, natural gas and other natural resources and the by-products thereof;
(d) That the State of West Virginia needs to encourage the efficient utilization and disposition of by-products resultant from the production of natural resources;
(e) That, with all due regard to the protection of the environment and husbandry of the natural resources of this state, the health, happiness, safety, right of gainful employment and general welfare of the citizens of this state will be promoted by the establishment and operation of coal fired electric generating plants and transmission facilities and the establishment and operation of natural gas transmission projects and/or other energy projects; and
(f) That the means and measures herein authorized for the financing, building and operation of the facilities described in subsection (e) are, as a matter of public policy, for the public purpose of the state.
Accordingly, the public energy authority created herein shall be authorized to initiate such directives and take such measures as may be necessary to effectuate the public purpose of this chapter.