How West Virginia Electric Utilities Stack Up
West Virginia is served by a small number of electric utilities, all of which are regulated by the Public Service Commission. Appalachian Power provides service generally in the southern half of the state. First Energy Corporation operates in…
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…
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…
Climate Change Hammers Outdoor Recreation
You may not have really noticed the impact of overheating on outdoor recreation – like the frog doesn’t notice the water in the pot slowly getting warmer. But if you play outdoors the impact on your fun is obvious.
Increasing temperatures…
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…
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…
Climate Change Drives Up Grocery Prices
Everyone has noticed the higher price of food when they shop at the grocery store. Climate change is contributing in a big way to these price increases. Depending on the particular food we talk about, climate change can be the single biggest…
New Energy Jobs – The Cure for West Virginia’s Youth Drain
In the last two decades, West Virginia’s story has been one of declining population, particularly young people of working-age, and sluggish job growth. Our representation in Congress recently dropped from three Representatives to two because…
What Is Community Solar?
Everyone is familiar with rooftop solar panels. These are installed on homes, garages and barns – wherever there is adequate sunlight. Rooftop solar panels are popular because consumers can replace some of the expensive electricity produced…
Nature-Based Flood Resiliency Can Safeguard West Virginia’s Future
Nearly all states have disaster recovery plans, and these typically include flood disaster recovery. Recovery is a different concept than resiliency, which is designed to harden communities and infrastructure against future harm. West Virginia…
