Story by David Beard, The Dominion Post
Charleston, W.V.
The senators also unanimously passed a bill to help pave the way for the hydrogen industry of the state.
SB 688 is a forest bill. This will allow the division of forestry and the division of natural resources to be allowed to contract for the forest-owned or state-hut on the state-stone for the management of the forests, natural and scenic regions, wildlife management areas, and other land, which is in their jurisdiction for limited purposes to protect, conserve and maintain land from wildfire.
During the debate, the senators explained that these would be the highest-bound contracts (whoever proposes the state to pay the most for the privilege of working) companies to manage forests and hill lands, to remove the underbush, to remove the underbush that will serve as a source for the wildfire.
The underbrush will be a source for the biomass industry that will use materials to generate energy, and see the capacity of jobs and economic growth for the state in encouraging the Senator industry.
Sen David Stover
Sen David Stover, R-Wiming, offered amendments to exclude state parks and rail-tril land from open areas for contracts. He said that he wants to wait for a year or two whether the management program works, and the removal of state parks will be removed only about 10% of the total accrace available for contracts.
Stover said the contractors would remove the aggressive species of the forests – mainly autumn olives and kudzu.
Finance President Eric Tar, R-Putam, protested the amendment, saying that the Commerce Secretary told his committee that the bill would assist in the management of all forest areas including parks, as there is a lack of resources for proper management in parks and wildlife management areas.
In addition, he said, the contracts will be subject to investigation to ensure that the best companies are hired.
There was some concern that the bill could open the park for commercial timbing, but Sen Ryan Weld, R-Bruk, were among those who said it would not happen.
It passed 31-3 and went home. Two Democrats and Stover voted against it.
SB 683 removes hydrogen from the list of alternative fuels under motor fuel excise duty.
TARR said that hydrogen has a spectrum of use beyond motor fuel. “The change in the code will ensure that West Virginia is competitive in this promising and budding industry.”
A fiscal note on the bill suggests that it will not affect the road funds as there are no hydrogen-fuel vehicles.
Tar said that the state is specificly deployed, as its abundant coal and natural gas resources, to be a major hydrogen producer.
The vote was 34–0 and it goes to the House.