Virginia legislature to consider three electricity bills

Philadelphia (Platts)--10Jan2006

At least three electric-industry-related bills--two focused on wind power
and the third a comprehensive energy bill--are expected to be prefiled with
Virginia's General Assembly by an early Wednesday deadline, legislative
sources said Tuesday. 

     Two bills--Senate Bill 63 and SB 91--have already been prefiled. Each
calls for providing wind farm developers with an 0.85 cts/kWh incentive for
wind power generation, either through a grant or a tax credit. 

     The third known bill, which is set to be prefiled by State Sen Frank
Wagner (Republican) either later Tuesday or early Wednesday, is a
comprehensive energy bill that covers a wide range of electric and other
issues. 

     The bill would direct the State Corporation Commission to develop a
scoring system for siting "low-emission facilities" such as nuclear plants,
wind farms and liquefied natural gas terminals, and streamline the process for
approving such projects.

     The bill also includes an 0.85 cts/kWh grant for wind power, and a call
for state officials to push for federal executive action and federal
legislation that would give Virginia "exclusive jurisdiction" over the
development offshore wind farms. 

     In addition, the measure calls for the energy division at Virginia's Dept
of Mines, Minerals and Energy to develop a ten-year energy plan; for the State
Air Pollution Control Board to streamline the permitting process for
"clean-coal" projects; and for the state government to increase the energy
efficiency of its new and existing buildings.

     For more information, take a trial to Platts Electricity Alert at
http://electricityalert.platts.com.

Please visit: www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.