CHARLESTON — Just because gas prices are about half of last summer’s zenith is no reason to grow lazy on the matter of alternative fuels, Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin says.
Tomblin joined Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer, in offering a key component in Gov. Joe Manchin’s plan for this session — non-traditional fuel sources.
“We talk about this every time the price of fuel is up,” Tomblin, D-Logan, said after Thursday’s floor session.
“Everyone wrings their hands and says, ‘We’ve got to do something.’ When the price goes back down, everybody kind of gets lazy again.
“This time, with the scare of high prices we’ve gone through the last couple of years, we really need to be serious about looking at alternative fuels.”
Prices at the pump soared to a year-long high of $4.19 a gallon last summer in Beckley but since have fallen to about half that amount.
Manchin told lawmakers he was setting two benchmarks for renewable and alternative sources of fuel — 10 percent of all power sold to West Virginians by 2015 and one-fourth by 2025.
“Obviously, we’ve got to look at all sources of fuel,” Tomblin said.
And that means nuclear is on the table, although the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee dished off a bill a day earlier by Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, to rescind the effective ban on such plants.
McCabe suggested no such plant likely would come to fruition for at least a decade, but the state needs to be in position to allow for the planning of one. An article in state code prevents them if there is no certified site for dumping of radioactive waste.
“Not that I would ever expect us to build a nuclear power plant in West Virginia,” Tomblin said.
“It’s hard enough to build them in states that already allow it.”
Even so, Tomblin said nuclear power should remain an option — a stance Manchin shared this week in a meeting with The Register-Herald editorial board.
“Having that ban in place does not put us in a very good light among our sister states,” the Senate leader said.
Local News
Manchin’s energy plan offered on Senate floor
- Local News
-
-
Fayette environmental work honored
If the New River could speak, it would say to the New River Clean Water Alliance, “Thank you.”
But since it can’t, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has done so instead. -
Rahall, Snuffer agree on honoring Israeli Olympians
Four decades ago, Palestinian terrorists abducted and executed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, after demanding the release of 234 prisoners.
- Calendar — Tuesday, May 29, 2012
-
Two rescued from New River after fast rise of water
Two victims were rescued Sunday night from a rock in the New River in the Cotton Hill area which parallels Route 16 near Chimney Corner, according to public information officer for Ansted and Fayetteville fire departments Meredith Gray.
-
Still together, triplets prepare for college move
When Robin and Dennis M. Daniel, of Fairdale, had an ultrasound at eight weeks, they were expecting twins.
-
Oceana man receives prison time for drug dealing role
An Oceana man is facing up to 90 years in prison for his role in drug distribution in Wyoming County, according to Prosecuting Attorney Rick Staton.
-
Wyoming board renews contracts of three officials
Wyoming County Board of Education members renewed contracts for the three superintendents during their May 16 meeting.
- National Park Service ranger releases name of boating victim
- Learning Tree school bus crashes into utility pole
- Black fly spraying planned
- More Local News Headlines
-
Fayette environmental work honored


