Bill Text: WV HCR11 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to Higher Education Consortium for Emerging Energy Technologies
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 28-3)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-02 - House received Senate message [HCR11 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2023-HCR11-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11
(By Delegates Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Anderson, Brooks, Cannon, Chiarelli, Ellington, Foster, Garcia, Gearheart, A. Hall, Hornbuckle, Hott, Householder, Linville, Lucas, McGeehan, Phillips, Riley, Rohrbach, Smith, Statler, Steele, Storch, Street, Thorne, Vance, Warner, Westfall, Worrell, Young, and Zatezalo)
January 30, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Rules
Higher Education Consortium for Emerging Energy Technologies
Whereas, The State of West Virginia has consistently served as one of the nation’s top energy producers; and
Whereas, The Legislature of West Virginia has taken numerous steps in recent years to further benefit our state’s economy by solidifying the state’s position as a national energy producer; and
Whereas, There has been increasing interest in developing future and emerging energy technologies in West Virginia, including in the area of nuclear energy generation; and
Whereas, The Legislature of West Virginia has paved the way for future potential development of nuclear energy projects in West Virginia, including through the deployment of small modular reactors, with its repeal of the state’s previously existing ban on the construction of nuclear power plants; and
Whereas, The state’s leaders have also sought to explore opportunities to embrace nuclear energy policies that could ultimately position the State of West Virginia, as a hub for attracting innovation, jobs, and investment relating to nuclear energy development; and
Whereas, West Virginia’s neighboring states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia already have established nuclear energy programs; and
Whereas, Three of the top nuclear engineering programs in the nation are within a 400 mile radius of West Virginia; and
Whereas, West Virginia’s institutions of higher learning have the ability to play a leading role with respect to collaboration and support for emerging technologies, research and workforce training in this area; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby urges Marshall University and West Virginia University, including WVU Institute of Technology, to lead an education consortium, with the support of the Higher Education Policy Commission, that includes both West Virginia and non-West Virginia institutions of higher education, along with representatives from private industry, for purposes of assisting the Legislature and the State of West Virginia as a whole with the development of policies and programs necessary to facilitate nuclear energy developments in West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Marshall University and West Virginia University shall lead this higher education consortium and work to inspire, develop, and scale critical solutions to West Virginia’s most pressing challenges and opportunities related to the development of nuclear energy technologies, while also identifying areas for public-private partnerships that can help further facilitate those developments; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this higher education consortium shall work throughout the course of the next year to identify and recommend nuclear policies to the Legislature that maintain West Virginia’s position as America’s energy powerhouse and ensure that West Virginia continues to play a leadership role in 21st Century energy production; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Marshall University and West Virginia University shall report back the findings of the higher education consortium to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance no later than December 31, 2023.
