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Senate finance committee hears proposal to create West Virginia energy and workforce center

2891243 · April 7, 2025

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Summary

A bill would appropriate state surplus funds to create the West Virginia Powering Our Workforce Through Energy and Revolutionary Technology Center, shifting site-preparation and workforce training authority to the Department of Economic Development.

Senate Finance Committee members heard an appropriation proposal to use unappropriated general revenue surplus to establish the West Virginia Powering Our Workforce Through Energy and Revolutionary Technology Center and related site-ready and vocational-technical workforce investments.

The committee was told the funds would be appropriated to the Department of Economic Development to support site-ready projects, vocational-technical (vo-tech) training and workforce investments intended to prepare the state to compete for large industrial and technology projects. Committee counsel explained the appropriation would establish the new center and expand the state's site-selection readiness to identify and prepare buildable land for plants, factories and technology centers.

Committee counsel told members there was no breakdown in the explanation presented to the committee; the appropriation would be made to the Department of Economic Development and representatives present might provide further detail. No detailed line-item allocation was provided in committee testimony.

The vice chair moved that Senate Bill 937 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass; the committee approved the motion by voice vote and the bill will be reported to the full Senate.