, , ,

Legislature Seduced By Economic Possibilities of Large Data Centers

Being an environmentalist in West Virginia is like being Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Every morning you wake up and there is a new over-hyped scheme proposed for the economic development of the state that is heavy on the promise of new jobs but light on the details.
, ,

Safe Public River Access Proposed in Senate Bill

On March 26, 2025, the Senate Natural Resources Committee reported out SB 801. The bill is now in the Government Organization Committee. The purpose of this bill is to ensure public access to the state's rivers and streams for recreational purposes. SB…
, ,

Bills Introduced to Permit ATVs and Motorized Vehicles Throughout State Parks and Forests

At the moment, West Virginia does not allow ATVs and other motorized recreational vehicles in state parks, with Cabwaylingo State Park being the one exception. West Virginia law prohobits the Department of Natural Resources from establishing…
, , ,

New Bill Seeks to Fund Flood Emergencies

Flooding is a chronic problem in West Virginia. We know this. The Legislature also knows this. Unfortunately, the Legislature has been unwilling to put any money into the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to address the flooding problem. Now HB 3502,…
, ,

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Senator Rucker’s Anti-Science Bill

Veteran watchers of the West Virginia Legislature will have noticed the trend to hide controversial bills behind innocent titles. This is the case with SB 599 introduced by Senator Patricia Rucker from Jefferson County on February 26. The title…
, ,

Attacks on Renewables Proliferate at Legislature

It is hard enough to get any legislation promoting renewable energy passed in the West Virginia Legislature. But in 2025 there have been several bills introduced by hard-right legislators, the effect of which would be to undermine the development…
, , ,

Appalachian Hurricane Flooding Intensified by Climate Change

We have all seen the news coverage of the horrific flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, a small city often touted as protected from the effects of climate change. The truth is that Appalachia, including West Virginia,…
, , , ,

A Longer Mosquito Season This Fall Thanks to Climate Change

The worst time for mosquitos is usually late August and early September. But the longer it stays warm in the Fall, the longer mosquitos hang around. They aren’t usually killed off until the first frost, which comes later now in West Virginia…
, ,

Early Voting – The Solution to West Virginia’s Poor Voter Turnout

Election day is November 5, 2024 all across the country. In case you haven’t heard a president will be elected. But there are also many important West Virginia local and state races to be decided. The problem is that many West Virginians don’t…
, , , ,

How to Talk With a Conservative About Climate Change

We all know them. They are in our families and at our workplaces. They are the people who deny that climate change is manmade, or who claim that some scientist has proved it’s all a hoax. Sometimes it’s a matter of choosing teams. Concern…