Senate Bill 349 states that existing state and federal policies do not address the concerns of the General Assembly when it comes to energy. It goes on to say the retirement or decommissioning of fossil fuel-fired plants is "not necessary" for the health, safety, and welfare of residents of the commonwealth.
To that end, it proposes a new commission that would have to be notified a year before a proposed plant retirement. It would then be able to conduct its own review of the application, before going on to report findings and recommendations.
Senate President Robert Stivers said the state doesn't have nearly enough information about what energy needs will look like going forward, "in the realm of AI, the whole cryptocurrency issue, data-mining, not to mention the fact that we are on the edge of a total change in propulsion of our vehicles."
Critics say the commission would create structural conflicts of interest, calling it "stacked" with representatives who would have a financial interest in continuing to operate fossil-fuel plants. They also say the commission also ignores the impacts of climate change, public health, and environmental justice.
