Question #1. Flooding is one of the most serious effects of climate change on the daily lives of West Virginians. During the 2023 session, the Legislature enacted SB 677 which created a Flood Resiliency Trust Fund and authorized a one-time grant of $40 million in state general funds for the purpose of enhancing flood prevention and protection, using primarily nature-based solutions and concentrating in low-income areas. As of the date of this questionnaire, the Legislature has not committed this funding. Will you support committing the $40 million in funding to the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund?

Yes. Growing up along the Potomac River, I know the threat flooding poses to my community. WV is the most at-risk state for flood disasters and we must invest in flood mitigation + resiliency efforts.

Question # 2. During the 2024 session, legislation was introduced to establish a community solar pilot program (SB 638). This legislation would have made it possible for low-income consumers, and people whose homes do not permit rooftop solar panels, to share in the reduced cost of electricity generated from a central, community solar facility. If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes! I have advocated for this legislation the past 3 legislative sessions.

Question #3. In 2009, West Virginia followed the lead of over thirty other states in adopting a renewable portfolio standard, which would have required electric utilities to procure a modest percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, including wind and solar. But in 2015, West Virginia became the first state to repeal its renewable portfolio standard altogether. If effective renewable portfolio standard legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes, we must protect ratepayers amidst some of the highest electricity costs in the country.

Question #4. Electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions and are inexpensive to operate. Yet West Virginia legislation and policy inhibits the adoption of these vehicles. During the 2024 session, legislation was introduced to eliminate the discriminatory extra registration fees for alternative fuel vehicles (HB 4771). If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes.

Question #5. Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gasses known to man. This gas is often leaked from improperly maintained, orphaned or abandoned gas wells. During the 2024 session, legislation was proposed (HB 5414) that would prevent future orphan gas and oil wells by requiring an operator to post a bond sufficient to cover the full cost of plugging, or to pay production-based amounts into an escrow fund sufficient to plug the well at the end of its useful life. If similar legislation is introduced in 2025, will you support it?

Yes. I have also advocated for the passage of this legislation the past 3 legislative sessions.

Question #6. Will you support legislation that will require the State of West Virginia to prioritize planning and preparedness to counter the long-term threat posed by climate change to the health, safety and prosperity of our citizens?

Yes.

Question #7. During the 2024 session, the legislature passed and sent to the Governor a bill that would have increased West Virginia’s small Renewable Energy Facilities Program from 50 to 100 megawatts (HB 5528). The Program was created to assure out-of-state companies that are committed to using renewable sources for some of their power consumption that they can safely locate in West Virginia. Governor Justice vetoed the bill claiming that it was a threat to coal. If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes. Our transition to renewable energy goes hand in hand with our state’s economic development potential. Many companies require access to renewable energy to meet their net zero emission targets.

Question #8. Carbon offset agreements are private contracts made between landowners and businesses in need of carbon credits to withdraw privately owned land from development. During the 2024 session, legislation was proposed (SB 822) removing land subject to carbon offset agreements from favorable tax treatment as managed timberlands, requiring the purchaser to pay an excise tax to the state of as much as 50% of the value of the agreement, and declaring it West Virginia public policy to void the restrictions on future timbering in private covenants. This legislation would jeopardize existing conservation easements. If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you oppose it?

Yes. I advocated against this legislation.

Question #9. Large solar generating arrays are often located on farmland. During the 2024 session, legislation was introduced to create a tax incentive for the location of these solar arrays on degraded land previously used in manufacturing or mining (HB 5416). If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes. We must develop solar in smart ways without using prime farmland.

Question #10. During the 2024 session, legislation was proposed authorizing the acquisiton and development by the state of land for recreational and rail trails suitable for non-motorized use, such as hiking, bicycling and horseback riding (SB 196, SB 426). If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you support it?

Yes.

Question #11. West Virginia leads the nation in deer/vehicle collisions, killing over 10,000 deer and creating property damage and risk to human life. Highway fencing and the construction of wildlife under and overpasses dramatically reduce this needless damage and risk. If legislation is proposed for wildlife crossing corridors on state highways in 2025, will you support it?

Yes. Wildlife crossing corridors are a great, safer idea.

Question #12. During the 2024 session, legislation was proposed that would open all West Virginia public lands to widespread timbering and economic development for special interest projects (SB 688). Under this type of legislation, state parks and wildlife management areas could lose protections against development through secret, non-competitive bidding. If similar legislation is proposed in 2025, will you oppose it?

Yes. I advocated against this legislation.

Question #13. During the 2023 session, The PFAS Protection Act was passed that required the state to develop action plans to address PFAS pollution in public water supplies and required companies using PFAS to report their usage to the WVDEP. If the PFAS Protection Act was amended in future years to address additional contamination concerns, would you support it?

Yes. I advocated for, and helped pass this legislation. We must continue to address PFAS contamination in the Eastern Panhandle and across the state.

Question #14. Why should young West Virginia voters concerned about the effects of climate change on their daily lives choose you over your opponent?

I am committed to creating opportunities for young people to live, work, and thrive in WV for generations to come. This includes advocating for policy solutions that protect the health of WV’s people and environment. I have experience at the state Capitol, working on environmental legislation and successfully passing environmental protections.

Question #15. What do you believe is the proper response that should be made by the state of West Virginia to the recent proposed EPA regulations on power plant emissions?

We must protect people, not polluters, and enforce standards that lower power plant emissions.

Question #16. If the greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels by electric power plants must be reduced, what is the best way to do this while still supporting fossil-fuel workers and communities?

I have been endorsed by the UMWA and am committed to supporting workers during our state’s energy transition. We must ensure workers are trained and employable across all energy sectors.

Question #17. What is the best way to balance protection of our natural heritage for future generations against the need for development and new jobs now?

We must ensure that responsible companies locate in WV, leaving our people and environment better than they found them. There is a notion that we must sacrifice jobs for the environment and vice versa, but this doesn’t have to be the case. We must elect representatives who care about addressing this needed balance via responsible policymaking.