West Virginia
State Scorecard Rank
48
West Virginia
5.5Scored out of 50Updated 12/2020
State Government
Score: 1.5 out of 6
State Government Summary List All
The state does not offer financial incentives for energy efficiency, nor does it promote energy efficiency in public facilities. Research focused on efficient vehicles is conducted at the West Virginia University Energy Institute.
Financial Incentives List All
The state of West Virginia offers the following financial incentives to encourage energy efficiency improvements:
- Partnership between WV OOE and WVU School of Engineering
- WV Energy Efficency Impact Grant Program: Provides $3000 grants to WV small businesses for energy efficency and renewable upgrades.
- Energy Efficient West Virginia
Further financial incentive information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE West Virginia). The state has not yet enabled Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. For additional information on PACE, visit PACENation.
Last Updated: August 2022
Equity Metrics and Workforce DevelopmentList All
The state's energy plans or electrification strategies do not currently establish specific policies or equity-related metrics to ensure access for underserved customers
Workforce Development
The state does not currently include specific measures to prioritize clean energy workforce development. However, steering committees and working groups have been establish to set these goals in the next energy plan, currently in development.
Last Updated: September 2020
Carbon Pricing PoliciesList All
The State of West Virginia does not yet have carbon pricing policies in place.
At this time, the state does not have a statewide emissions reduction goal in place.
Last Updated: September 2022
Building Energy Disclosure List All
There is no disclosure policy in place.
Last Reviewed: July 2019
Public Building Requirements List All
In March 2012, West Virginia enacted the Green Buildings Act, which applies to all new construction of public buildings, building receiving state grant funds, and buildings receiving state appropriations. For those buildings that have not entered the designed phase prior to July 1, 2012, buildings must be designed and constructed to comply with the ICC International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1-2007. If a building is also receiving federal funds, the ICC and ASHRAE standards only apply if they are consistent with federal standards.
Benchmarking of state-owned facilities is now required as part of HB 2667. Additionally, the West Virginia Office of Energy (WVDOE) promotes benchmarking in all West Virginia public facilities through several programs. The WVOE received a USDOE Competitive SEP Award to benchmark energy performance of state owned buildings, beginning with K-12 schools. To date, 80% of school buildings have been benchmarked, and 35 schools have been Energy Star certified.
In March 2021, the WV State Legislature passed HB 2667, setting the state's first energy use reduction goal of 25% by 2030. The bill also calls to audit utility accounts, document deferred maintenance needs, and establish a guaranteed energy savings performance contracting program.
Last Updated: August 2022
Fleets List All
The W.Va. Purchasing Division includes an alternative fueling mechanism for every vehicle classification. Vendors are also required to provide the federal mpg for each vehicle classification, which is given bid award consideration.
Last Reviewed: August 2022
Energy Savings Performance Contracting List All
West Virginia state code (§18-5-9a and §5A-3B-2) authorizes county boards of education and state agencies to enter into energy-savings contracts. During the March 2011 legislative session, legislation was enacted to allow energy saving contracts by county boards of education to extend up to 15 years. Energy savings contracts are subject to competitive bidding requirements. For state agencies, state code mandates that “An energy-savings contract is subject to competitive bidding requirements.
Last Reviewed: July 2020
Research & Development List All
The West Virginia University Energy Institute works to achieve energy independence and to transition to more sustainable energy forms. Research projects focus on carbon capture and geologic storage, high-efficiency engines and vehicle technologies, fuel production, clean power generation and distribution, utilization of coal for clean fuels and chemicals, biomass conversion and utilization, and sustainable use of water in energy production. AEI currently has 15 staff in their Sustainable Energy program, which houses the Initiative’s energy efficiency research.
Last Reviewed: July 2019
Important Links List All
Buildings
Score: 4 out of 9
Buildings Summary List All
Residential buildings must comply with the 2009 IECC, while commercial buildings must meet ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standards due to a code update in 2019. These codes are mandatory, but adoption by jurisdictions is voluntary. West Virginia has convened a stakeholder advisory group and offers code training and outreach.
Residential Codes List All
West Virginia's residential building code is mandatory statewide; however, adoption by jurisdictions is voluntary. The 2013 West Virginia Legislature passed a bill updating the state’s building energy code to follow the 2009 IECC for residential buildings. The new residential code became effective November 30, 2013.
Last Reviewed: September 2020
Commercial Code List All
West Virginia's commercial building code is mandatory statewide; however, adoption by jurisdictions is voluntary. The state now follows ASHRAE 90.1-2010. In February 2019, the Governor signed SB177 authorizing the legislative rule filed by the Fire Commission on July 25, 2018 to amend the State Building Code to update the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 from the 2007 edition to the 2010 edition.
Last Reviewed: September 2020
Compliance List All
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: West Virginia's compliance plan was published in 2011 and is available on BCAP's website.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: The Appalachian Residential Consortium for Energy Efficiency (ARCEE) is currently conducting a field study measuring residential energy code compliance rates in the state. More information is available here.
- Utility Involvement: NA
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: The W.Va. Fire Commission Legislative, Code and Regulatory Committee includes representatives from the state’s residential construction industry, code officials, home inspectors and the state energy office. Legislative changes during the 2020 session will more formally establish stakeholder groups and three-member independent dispute resolution panels with certified subject matter experts who will in essence offer a mediator role as a voluntary step before moving complaints in the trades to the W.Va. Fire Commission.
- Training/Outreach: Using State Energy Program funds, the WV Office of Energy is working with the Homebuilders Association of West Virginia Foundation and Energy Efficient West Virginia to provide training on the 2009 IECC and beyond.
Last Reviewed: September 2020
Important Links List All
CHP
CHP Summary List All
CHP systems are eligible for net metering in West Virginia, but the state has not otherwise adopted policies to encourage CHP. No new CHP systems were installed in 2018.
Interconnection StandardsList All
Policy: West Virginia Interconnection Standard
Description: In 2010 the West Virginia Public Service Commission established an order that developed a new interconnection standard. This standard features two tiers of application, up to 2MW in size. CHP is an eligible technology.
Last Updated: July 2018
Encouraging CHP as a ResourceList All
There are currently no state policies designed to acquire energy savings from CHP (like other efficiency resources) or energy generation from CHP (in terms of kWh production) that apply to all forms of CHP.
Last Updated: July 2018
Deployment IncentivesList All
Net metering: West Virginia’s net metering rules were expanded and improved in 2010. Today there is a system cap of 2MW, and systems over 500kW must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Systems that generate electricity using "alternative" or "renewable energy" resources are eligible for net metering, including combined heat and power (technically called "recycled energy" in the rules).
Last Updated: July 2018
Additional Supportive PoliciesList All
There are currently no additional supportive policies to encourage CHP. In January 2015, West Virginia legislators voted to repeal the states Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which once required utilities to obtain 25% of their retail electric sales from eligible alternative and renewable energy resources by 2025. CHP was an eligible technology before the repeal bill, H.B. 2001, eliminated the standard.
Last Updated: July 2018
Utilities
Score: -1 out of 20
Utilities Summary List All
West Virginia utilities implement some small-scale customer energy efficiency programs. West Virginia's state legislature proposed an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard in 2011 (see HB 2210), but the bill failed to make it through the House Judiciary Committee.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Case 09-0177 ordered Appalachian Power to submit an energy efficiency plan with its 2010 rate case. The final order was issued in 2010. It directed power companies to implement approved programs, which included: low-income weatherization, residential home audit, residential lighting, and commercial/industrial prescriptive incentives. In 2012, several other utilities followed suit, as Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison began offering limited programs. Currently Appalachian Power offers seven residential and two C&I programs in 2019. See WV Case 17-0401.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Energy Efficiency as a Resource List All
There is currently no comprehensive policy in place that treats energy efficiency as a resource. In 2011, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Appalachian Power Company’s petition to submit energy efficiency and demand-response programs for credits toward the state’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard in Case No. 11-1034-E-P.
For more information on energy efficiency as a resource, click here.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards List All
There is currently no EERS in place.
For more information on Energy Efficiency Resource Standards, click here.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Utility Business Model List All
In Case 14-0345 (2014), if Appalachian Power expends funds of their own on EE/DR activities, such funds shall be treated as an investment and deferred as a regulatory asset. Appalachian Power is allowed to earn a return on such investment at the weighted average cost of capital ("WACC") plus fifty (50) basis points. There is currently no method for utilities to earn a higher rate of return based on performance of EE/DR programs.
Last Updated: February 2021
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification List All
Appalachian Power is required to have a third-party program evaluator. All energy efficiency programs have process and impact evaluations. Gross and net savings are reported for each program.
Last Updated: January 2019
Guidelines for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Requirements for State and Utility Support of Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
No specific required spending or savings requirements were identified.
Cost-Effectiveness Rules for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Cost Effectiveness tests are not currently applied to low income Programs. WV Case 19-0396 is currently pending.
Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Programs with WAP Services
WV WAP operates the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) which provides emergency heat repair and replacement, and works with utility companies throughout the state to provide services to reduce consumers’ energy burden..
Last reviewed: July 2019
Self Direct and Opt-Out Programs List All
Opt out is developed individually by utilities. Customers with demand of 1 MW or greater may opt out. Participants must document that they have achieved similar/equivalent savings on their own in order to retain opt-out status. Claims of energy and/or demand reduction are certified to utilities with future evaluation by the Commission to take place in a later proceeding. The method has not been specified. Approximately 20 large customers have opted out.
Last Updated: October 2018
Data AccessList All
West Virginia has no policy in place that requires utilities to release energy use data to customers or third parties.
Last Updated: October 2018
Transportation
Score: 1 out of 13
Transportation Summary List All
In 2013, the state passed transit legislation establishing a fund to pay track access fees accrued by commuter rail services. West Virginia has also passed complete streets legislation.
Transportation System Efficiency List All
Transportation and Land Use Integration: No policy in place or proposed.
VMT Targets: No policy in place or proposed.
FAST Freight Plans and Goals: No finalized freight plan or goals in place.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Transit Funding List All
On April 13, 2013, West Virginia Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 103. This bill is known as the WV Commuter Rail Access Act. It establishes a special fund in the State Treasury to pay track access fees accrued by commuter rail services operating within West Virginia borders. The funds have the ability to rollover from year-to-year and are administered by the West Virginia State Rail Authority.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Incentives for High-Efficiency Vehicles List All
No policy in place or proposed.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Equitable Access to TransportationList All
West Virginia does not have any state programs in place to incentivize the creation of low-income housing near transit facilities, nor does it consider the proximity of transit facilities when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to qualifying property owners.
Last Reviewed: November 2022