A new national security estimate — the first of its kind devoted to climate change — has been issued by the U.S. intelligence community. Simultaneously, the Biden White House has issued a fact sheet on prioritizing climate in foreign policy and national security matters. The key finding is that climate change will increasingly worsen risks […]
In his recent campaign finance report, Sen. Joe Manchin revealed that contributions from oil and gas interests – mostly in Texas – dwarfed the contributions he received from inside the state of West Virginia. Manchin is not involved in an active “campaign” at the moment and will not face reelection until 2024. The report covered […]
A new report issued by the First Street Foundation says that West Virginia’s infrastructure is at high risk from damage by a 100-year flood, one that has a 1% chance of occurring each year. Climate change is warming the air allowing it to hold more moisture, which causes more frequent and powerful rainstorms. West Virginia’s […]
For 100 years, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) has protected nearly 1000 bird species in the United States against being “taken” or killed except under prescribed circumstances. This statute prohibits hunters from intentionally killing birds without a permit, but has also been interpreted by courts and the Interior Department to prohibit incidental taking – […]
The Laurel Mountain Wind Project in Barbour and Randolph counties will be upgraded by 25% in the near future. The Project now involves 61 wind turbines and produces 98 megawatts of electricity. AES, the Project’s operator, announced the upgrade before the Randolph County Commission on October 7, 2021. No new turbines will be installed but […]
On September 29, Huntington city officials and representatives from Coalfield Development flipped the switch on a 294-panel solar array on the nonprofit’s building in Huntington. Coalfield Development trains coal miners to transition to renewable energy jobs. This solar installation is the largest for any nonprofit in West Virginia. The building, known as West Edge, houses […]
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed 23 species from the Endangered List because, despite efforts to save them, they have become extinct. Among these is the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, known as the Good Lord Bird because anyone lucky enough to catch sight of the large beautiful bird blurted out the Lord’s name. Also now extinct […]
In a stark example of how climate change can damage the outdoor recreation industry, heat and drought in the Rocky Mountain area have nearly dried up many prized trout streams. The Associated Press reported in a September 7, 2021 article that the Mountain West region has become hotter and drier and has experienced more frequent […]
Leading medical, nursing and public health journals throughout the world published a joint editorial on September 5, 2021 calling for urgent action on climate change. The editorial focused on rising health problems already being felt from rising global temperatures. In the past 20 years, heat-related mortality among people over 65 years of age has increased […]
In January 2021, the Biden Administration announced that it would establish a new, interim cost figure for the damage caused by a ton of greenhouse gas emissions. The executive order said “An accurate social cost is essential for agencies to accurately determine the social benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions when conducting cost-benefit analyses of […]
