The State Journal and WOWK-TV – For the effect on West Virginia’s economy, Ted Boettner, director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said that any federal action to limit carbon pollution needs to include a plan for working West Virginians. That would include diversifying not only the state’s energy sector, but other industries such as forestry, agriculture and tourism. Read
“Instead of denying the negative impact climate change is having on our communities, state policymakers need to put pressure on the White House and Congress so working families in our state benefit from reducing carbon emissions through investments in clean energy innovation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency,” Boettner said.
He called on state policymakers to, for example, push the White House to expand its Task Force on Climate Preparedness to provide transition and economic development assistance to communities negatively impacted by a reduction in coal production to existing power plants.
