§ 22-23-2 — Restrictions on state rules related to greenhouse gas emissions

(a) The West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection shall refrain from proposing or promulgating any new rule intended, in whole or in part, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from the residential, commercial, industrial, electric utility or transportation sectors in order to comply with the Kyoto Protocol;

(b) In the absence of an act of the Legislature of the State of West Virginia approving same, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection shall not submit to the United States environmental protection agency or to any other agency of the federal government any legally enforceable commitments related to the reduction of greenhouse gases, as such gases are defined by the Kyoto Protocol;

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or to impede state or private participation in any on-going voluntary initiatives to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including, but not limited to, the federal environmental protection agency's "Green Lights" program, the federal department of energy's climate challenge program, and similar state and federal initiatives relying on voluntary participation.

(d) This article shall remain in effect until repealed by an Act of the Legislature of the State of West Virginia, or until ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the United States Senate and enactment of federal legislation implementing the Kyoto Protocol.

Legislative History

1998 Reg. Sess., HB4228