Entries by Neal Barkus

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Fall Wildfire Season Poses Risks for West Virginia

According to the West Virginia Division of Forestry, forests cover 78.5% of the land in the state – making us the third most heavily forested state in the nation. This natural blessing filters water, provides wildlife habitat, and provides rich outdoor recreation opportunities. But in recent years wildfires have taken an increasingly large toll and […]

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Governor Justice Declares Drought State of Emergency in All 55 West Virginia Counties

Gov. Jim Justice has declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties due to a prolonged shortage of rainfall that has caused dangerous drought conditions. The US Department of Agriculture issued the chart below, showing the drought conditions prevailing in the state as of July 23, 2024. Many Easten Panhandle counties, including Berkeley and […]

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What is the Cost of Climate Change Inaction?

Skeptics of climate change often warn of the cost of reducing greenhouse gases. They cite job dislocation in fossil fuel industries, increased taxes and government debt as reasons to do nothing. Sure, there will be costs. But there will also be costs of not acting. And since we like to think of ourselves as rational […]

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Climate Change Drives Up the Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance

Climate change worldwide is taking money from our pockets in ways we never imagined. One of those ways is the higher cost of homeowner’s insurance. The skyrocketing cost of homeowner’s insurance has caused people in West Virginia to underinsure their homes or go without insurance altogether. Underinsured means the policy is not enough to rebuild […]