Energy

Senate Bill 641 amends West Virginia's Aboveground Storage Tank Act to expand exemptions for small tanks used in oil/gas operations and road maintenance. It exempts tanks holding 210 barrels or less of brine or hydrocarbon-related fluids (not in "zones of critical concern") from third-party inspection requirements, requiring owners to self-inspect, self-certify, and report annually instead. Tanks in "zones of critical concern" still require monthly secondary containment inspections but remain exempt from third-party certification. The bill directly affects oil and gas operators, coal mining sites, and road maintenance crews using these small tanks, while maintaining basic registration and signage rules.

This bill reduces the severance tax rate on metallurgical coal produced in West Virginia, affecting coal mining companies that extract this type of coal. The new rates will take effect in stages starting July 1, 2026, lowering the tax from 5% to 4.5% for the first year, then to 4% the following year, and finally to 3.5% beginning July 1, 2028. Metallurgical coal is defined as coal used for making steel and other metals, distinct from thermal coal used for electricity generation. The tax reduction applies to the gross value of coal produced and includes additional local taxes that are normally part of the total severance tax.

HB 4026 requires West Virginia electric utilities to include detailed analyses of advanced transmission technologies in their integrated resource plans filed with the Public Service Commission. This affects all utilities operating in the state that submit these plans, including major providers like American Electric Power and Dominion Energy. The bill mandates comprehensive assessments of technologies such as advanced conductors, dynamic line rating, and power flow controls, covering their economic feasibility, technical viability, potential benefits, and deployment schedules. These analyses must address how such technologies improve grid efficiency, reliability, and safety for customers. The requirement applies to all new or updated resource plans filed after July 1, 2026.