Energy & Environment

October 29, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginians Were Promised an Economic Revival. It Hasn’t Happened Yet.

Mountain State Spotlight - One year ago, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice promised business leaders that the state’s economy was on the verge of a boom. Continued growth in natural gas production was going to spark an industrial renaissance, bringing construction of a giant collection of spinoff factories. Read the full article. Speaking to the West…

Read More
October 29, 2020 by WVCBP
ReImagine Appalachia Coalition Details Regional Infrastructure and Investment Priorities

White papers detail Appalachian climate investment strategy for lawmakers post-election. For Immediate Release: October 29, 2020 Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV - The ReImagine Appalachia Coalition released a trio of white papers detailing needed infrastructure investments in broadband, for modernizing the region's manufacturing sector, reviving the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and promoting regenerative agriculture. Read the reports here. The…

Read More
October 27, 2020 by WVCBP
Oil, Gas Push for Millions in Tax Cuts

Beckley Register-Herald - While West Virginians are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and trying to figure out if their kids can attend school, the oil and gas industry is working with the West Virginia State Tax Department to cut its property taxes by as much as $62 million per year. Last month, the state tax…

Read More
September 28, 2020 by WVCBP
Ted Boettner: Oil, Natural Gas Industries Seek Huge Tax Breaks

Charleston Gazette-Mail - While West Virginians are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to figure out if their kids can attend school, the oil and gas industry is working with the West Virginia State Tax Department to cut its property taxes by as much as $62 million per year. Read full article. Last month,…

Read More
September 22, 2020 by WVCBP
Climate Change Guide Released by Coalition of WV Environment, Social Justice Groups

Charleston Gazette-Mail - A Citizens Guide to Climate Change, a 16-page report on the impending climate crisis and summaries of potential solutions proposed to counter it, has been released by the newly formed West Virginia Climate Alliance. "This guide is the beginning of a dialog with West Virginians," said Charleston's Perry Bryant, a member of…

Read More
September 21, 2020 by Quenton King
Ohio Researchers Show How Solar Could Help Turn Around Appalachian Economy

Energy News Network - Coal’s downturn has taken a toll on Appalachian Ohio, but solar power could be one step on a potential path forward as the region’s economy tries to rebound. Read full article. A recent analysis by Ohio University suggests that utility-scale solar projects could create tens of thousands of jobs and billions…

Read More
September 11, 2020 by WVCBP
Appalachia Coalition Creates Blueprint for Sustainable, Equitable Future

Allegheny Front - A coalition of progressive environmental and policy groups has an economic plan for the Ohio River Valley of Appalachia — including Southwestern Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. ReImagine Appalachia breaks away from traditional fossil fuel extraction, and relies on federal stimulus dollars to build a sustainable economy with an eye towards racial equality…

Read More
August 25, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
Survival is Anything but Certain for Coal Country

Energy News Network, Gillette News Record - The 28-year-old man clearly had opinions on the future of coal, but wouldn’t share them until out of earshot of a group of unemployed miners at a gas station in southern West Virginia. Read full article here. “Economically, these coal fields are dying,” he said, adding that he…

Read More
August 20, 2020 by Kelly Allen
ReImagine Appalachia Coalition Praises DNC Platform, but Identifies Room for Improvement

While the coalition applauds the platform's bold vision for the future, it says the party must do more to prioritize Appalachia and other rural communities. For Immediate Release: August 20, 2020 Contact: Kelly Allen, 304-612-4180 Charleston, WV - ReImagine Appalachia is diverse coalition of organizations from West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio that put forward a policy blueprint to rebuild Appalachian…

Read More
July 21, 2020 by WVCBP
Plan To ‘Reimagine Appalachia’ Touts Jobs, Justice and Sustainability For The Ohio Valley

West Virginia Public Broadcast, Ohio Valley Resource - A coalition of progressive policy and environmental groups has released a “blueprint” that provides a framework for how Ohio Valley communities could reap the benefits of federal action to address climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full article here. The plan, titled “Reimagine Appalachia” envisions a future economy for…

Read More