Legislators Act on Marcellus Law

Bill may net jobs for state

Morgantown Dominion Post
17 February 2011
By David Beard

CHARLESTON — The Senate Energy Industry and Mining Committee moved SB 465, the Marcellus Gas and Manufacturing Development Act. It provides tax incentives on the valuation of capital assets, research and development, and alternative fuel vehicles and the infrastructure to fuel them.

“This is the most exciting piece of legislation I have seen come before the Legislature” in years, said Karen Price, president of the West Virginia Manufacturer’s Association. Manufacturing jobs in the state have dwindled from 135,000 in the early 1980s to 50,000 now. This measure could boost job growth in manufacturing industries averaging $42,000 annual salaries, and chemical industries averaging $70,000 a year.

It goes next to the Senate Finance Committee.

The bill is among several passed by the House and Senate and their committees.