Legislative findings and purpose

(a) The Legislature finds that the State of West Virginia has an interest in assuring that wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities are properly decommissioned and reclaimed once the facility has been permanently closed. (b) The Legislature further finds that the most efficient manner by which to protect the citizens of the State of West Virginia is to require that wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities secure bonding sufficient to pay for all decommissioning and reclamation costs of the property on which wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities are operated. (c) Therefore, in view of the findings relating to the decommissioning and reclamation of wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities, the Legislature declares it to be the public policy of the State of West Virginia to eliminate the present danger resulting from abandoned wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities and that in order to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare, it is necessary to enact legislation to those ends by requiring companies that construct and operate wind generation facilities and solar generation facilities to post bonds and execute agreements sufficient to cover the costs of decommissioning and reclamation in the event they are abandoned after closure.