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…
Community Solar Bills Introduced in Both House and Senate
The community solar concept allows consumers who cannot install their own solar panels to participate in solar energy generated at a community facility. The concept is operating in many states, but not West Virginia. Bills promoting community…
Open Letter to the Jefferson County Planning Commission in Opposition to the Mountain Pure Water Bottling Concept Plan
Groundwater is a public resource that should not be depleted or used in excessive quantities except for the public good. The West Virginia Legislature has declared that the waters of the state, including groundwater, are valuable public natural resources held by the state for the use and benefit of its citizens.
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…
Will Carbon Offset Agreements – Or Conservation Easements — Survive in West Virginia?
If you are looking for another example of how the Legislature in West Virginia favors big industry over the little guy, look no further than SB 822, introduced in the Senate on February 16, 2024. This bill attacks carbon offset agreements and…
SB 171: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Unfortunately, the West Virginia Senate has adopted the wholly undemocratic practice of advancing bills at the opening of the annual legislative session without public notice, referral to committee or debate. Senate Bill 171, passed unanimously…
The Virginia Acorn Program – An Idea for West Virginia
This year, Virginia donors sent 12 tons of acorns and other tree seeds to the Virginia Department of Forestry to secure Virginia’s arboreal future. It is all part of a decade-old program to grow and plant hardwood seedlings in Virginia’s…
Carbon Offset Agreements at Risk
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…
Where Are We On PFAS Protection in West Virginia?
PFAS is an acronym used as shorthand for several related synthetic chemical compounds. These compounds have unique properties that make them highly stable and resistant to degradation in the environment. For that reason PFAS are called "forever…
