Montana is a lot like West Virginia – rural, sparsely populated, scenic, and dominated by coal interests. There is one significant difference. In the 1970s, Montana amended its constitution to create a right on behalf of citizens to “a clean and healthful environment.” That provision was the basis of a stunning legal victory on August 14, […]
On May 11, 2023, the EPA proposed new power plant emission regulations. Power plants produce 25% of all U.S. greenhouse gasses, so the sector is an obvious place to make progress. These proposed regulations, along with the Inflation Reduction Act’s huge investment in clean power and environmental protection and the EPA’s proposed regulation of tail […]
Carbon offset agreements are private contracts between emitters of greenhouse gasses and owners of forested lands. These lands act as a natural carbon sink. West Virginia’s trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert the carbon to wood fiber while releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. When utilized in long-term wood products such as […]
As if we need more to worry about, an anticipated United States Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia vs. the Environmental Protection Agency may permanently alter the ability of that agency to regulate climate change. This case on which oral arguments were heard on February 28, 2022, had its genesis in the Clean Power Plan […]
In response to a research project being conducted at West Virginia University, the House of Delegates passed HB 4098 on February 10, 2022. This bill sets up a regulatory structure for geothermal energy in the state. Geothermal energy is the Earth’s heat reached by drilling wells several miles deep. WVU has acquired a $7.25 million […]
In a fast-tracked process resulting in the passage of SB 4 by the West Virginia Legislature, the state no longer has any statutory guidance on how to evaluate an application to build a nuclear power plant. The repeal bill was signed by the Governor on February 8, 2022. The repealed statute — WV Code 16-27A-2 […]
Conservation West Virginia is not opposed to nuclear power, which might solve a lot of our climate problems. We hope it will continue to be explored. On January 21, 2022, the West Virginia House Energy Committee passed out a bill for consideration by the full House (HB 2882) that would repeal the current law governing […]
When President Biden left for the COP26 meeting in Glasgow recently, his primary plan for reaching the greenhouse gas reduction goals in the Paris Accords was in disarray. The cause of this disarray was mainly the opposition of West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. But Biden had Plan B, which involves a two-pronged approach to sharply […]
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 […]
