West Virginia currently has no statewide requirements for interconnection of renewable energy systems other than standards established under the federal PURPA law.

Individual utilities are required to follow national guidelines.

Special Assessment for Wind Energy Systems
In May 2001, West Virginia enacted legislation lowering the property tax on utility-owned wind turbines from 100% to 5% of assessed value. This change took effect in July 2001. For more information contact the West Virginia Development Office at (304) 558-0350 Ext.762

Tax Exemption for Wind Energy Generation

In the same legislation, West Virginia lowered the Business and Operation Tax (B&O) on utilities using wind-power generation. For most types of electricity-generating units, the B&O tax is 40% of the generating capacity of the unit. However, the B&O tax on a wind turbine is 5% of the generating capacity of the turbine. For more information contact the West Virginia Development Office at (304) 558-0350 Ext.762.

We are not aware of any wind incentives offered by individual utility companies in West Virginia.

The US Department of Energy has produced wind resource maps for each state. The map for West Virginia can be found here.

There is additional information in the Wind Energy Atlas of the United States, where you can review maps for other locations in the US or get more information about how the maps were created. Here you will find information on West Virginia. 

The American Wind Energy Association provides a list of wind turbine manufacturers.  For a list of wind turbine installers in your area, please contact the manufacturers.

Source Guides offer a list of renewable energy companies in each state.  To see companies in West Virginia, visit their website.

For information on West Virginia Utilities you may utilize the Public Service Commission of West Virginia’s Utility Search Engine.

West Virginia Development Office-Community Matters Department

The Community Development Division of the West Virginia Development Office encourages strong civic engagement in the administration of programs designed to improve the quality of life in communities throughout West Virginia.

The Division administers energy programs and projects in the state.  For more information about available programs and current efforts, contact Community Matters.

West Virginia-U.S. Department of Energy's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (WV-DOE EPSCoR)
This program is coordinated for the state through the offices of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy (NRCCE) at West Virginia University.  Energy has been identified by the West Virginia EPSCoR Advisory Committee and the West Virginia Science and Technology Council (WV STAC) to be a focal area of research important to the state.  For more information on programs and research, contact WV-DOE EPSCoR.

West Virginia Environmental Council
This organization facilitates communication and cooperation among citizens in promoting environmental protection in West Virginia, to assist in organizing grass roots groups, to facilitate interaction among established environmental organizations, and to correspond with all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies involved in the management of West Virginia's environment.

One of the Council’s main issues is to fix the WV Electric Deregulation Plan, by promoting net metering, and all around promotion of renewable energy sources.  For more information see the WVEC website.

West Virginia Wind Working Group
The West Virginia Wind Working Group has the primary objective of the promotion of the development of wind energy for the benefit of West Virginia. In pursuit of this objective, it examines the barriers to wind energy development and examines the potential solutions for reducing these barriers. Stakeholders included in the working group include academics, electric utility representatives, wind energy developers, utility and environmental regulators, consumers and consumer advocates, environmentalists, and economic development representatives.  For more information contact Patrick Mann, West Virginia University.

Last Update: April 2005

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