The incoming legislative leaders in both the State Senate and House have announced their intentions to elevate the legislative energy committees to "major committee" status when the Legislature convenes in January.

Current House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, who will likely be Speaker following the December caucus and State Senator Bill Cole, who is projected to become the new Senate President stressed the importance of coal and energy to the state (past and future) when making the announcement.   

Both Armstead and Cole indicated that they would like for the Legislature's involvement with coal and energy issues to become more contributory to the success and viability of the state's energy industries.

Below is a related news article appearing in the Wheeling Intelligencer.  

http://www.wvcoal.com/latest/w-va-gop-leaders-to-elevate-state-energy-panel.html

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By MICHAEL ERB , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

CHARLESTON - Republican leaders in West Virginia plan to elevate the Legislature's energy committees to major-committee status, giving them more time to meet and more resources to use.

Though legislative leaders are hesitant to release many details on the upcoming session's Republican agenda, officials said a focus on energy will be a major component.

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