This bill amends the Certified Business Expansion Development Program in West Virginia, which is administered by the Department of Economic Development. Key changes include renaming the program and the high impact business development districts, allowing any plant or facility to participate in the program, and removing previous requirements that these districts be located on specific types of land or that they must utilize renewable energy sources for electrical service. Additionally, the bill stipulates that regulated electric utility customers will not incur costs associated with utilities located in these high impact business development districts.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding electric service within these districts, allowing entities to provide electricity without being subject to certain regulations from the Public Service Commission. It specifies that eligible plants or facilities must constitute new electric generating loads and can negotiate special electric utility rates. Furthermore, it includes a provision that ensures regulated electric utility customers will not bear costs related to non-utility owned electricity generation co-located with the districts. The provisions of this section are set to expire on June 30, 2028, but will not affect any districts previously approved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5B-2-21
Committee Substitute: 5B-2-21
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 5B-2-21