Tag: Coal
66 posts found, showing 20 per page
Newsletter article Conni Lewis February 12, 2016
WV and Coal
Coal has been mined in West Virginia since before the Civil War. We all know that it has been a significant driver of the state’s economy and the political system since the late 19th century. Both political parties have been subservient to the power of the coal industry. More
Issues: Coal
WV and Coal
Coal has been mined in West Virginia since before the Civil War. We all know that it has been a significant driver of the state’s economy and the political system since the late 19th century. Both political parties have been subservient to the power of the coal industry. More
Issues: Coal
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 31, 2016
More to Read
Recent news articles worth reading More
Issues: Coal, Energy efficiency, Oil and gas, Water
More to Read
Recent news articles worth reading More
Issues: Coal, Energy efficiency, Oil and gas, Water
Legislative Updates WVEC January 29, 2016
GREEN Vol. 26 Issue 3
Roundup of the Week’s Activities, How we live, E-Day, Great Song, Great Cause, You–yes, YOU–can make a difference!, Bills We Are Tracking More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Aluminum, Coal, Health, Social justice, Water
GREEN Vol. 26 Issue 3
Roundup of the Week’s Activities, How we live, E-Day, Great Song, Great Cause, You–yes, YOU–can make a difference!, Bills We Are Tracking More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Aluminum, Coal, Health, Social justice, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 29, 2016
Roundup of the Week’s Activities
So far, the House Judiciary Committee has not yet taken up the DEP rules, which were passed by the House Energy Committee last week. In particular, we are hoping to get some improvements to H.B. 4104, which is the vehicle for aboveground storage tank rules. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Aluminum, Coal, Legislation
Roundup of the Week’s Activities
So far, the House Judiciary Committee has not yet taken up the DEP rules, which were passed by the House Energy Committee last week. In particular, we are hoping to get some improvements to H.B. 4104, which is the vehicle for aboveground storage tank rules. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Aluminum, Coal, Legislation
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 15, 2016
Worth the Read
Various relevant articles from local media More
Issues: Coal, Fracking, Water
Worth the Read
Various relevant articles from local media More
Issues: Coal, Fracking, Water
Newsletter article Bill Price March 19, 2015
Forward
The 2015 legislative session, for the most part is done. I want to thank every citizen who called, came to a hearing, talked to the Legislator, emailed, facebooked, held a sign, brought cookies, spoke to the press, or in any way helped out. I also want to extend a huge thanks to Conni Lewis, the Legislative coordinator and the lobby team of Rob Goodwin and Vickie Wolfe who stayed at it to the bitter end. Add to that the progressive lobbyists who were present in the face of a strong wind to blow us backwards, but who never failed to try to move WV forward. Everyone tried and all worked hard. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Water
Forward
The 2015 legislative session, for the most part is done. I want to thank every citizen who called, came to a hearing, talked to the Legislator, emailed, facebooked, held a sign, brought cookies, spoke to the press, or in any way helped out. I also want to extend a huge thanks to Conni Lewis, the Legislative coordinator and the lobby team of Rob Goodwin and Vickie Wolfe who stayed at it to the bitter end. Add to that the progressive lobbyists who were present in the face of a strong wind to blow us backwards, but who never failed to try to move WV forward. Everyone tried and all worked hard. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin March 19, 2015
We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up
The 2015 Legislative Session ended late Saturday night with several major bills getting killed in the final hours. The majority of the bills that died in the final hours were bad bills as the climate this session was not very conducive to even getting good bills on the agenda. There were a few major bills that consumed the majority of the lobby team’s time this session being the Coal Jobs and Safety Act, Category A Protections for the Kanawha River, HB 2004 the Anti-Clean Power Plan bill, and SB423 the roll back of the tank bill. Of these bills Category A protections for the Kanawha River and the WVDHHR Source Water Protection Planning Rules were of the few bills we could actually encourage a yes vote on. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Coal, Marcellus, Net metering
We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up
The 2015 Legislative Session ended late Saturday night with several major bills getting killed in the final hours. The majority of the bills that died in the final hours were bad bills as the climate this session was not very conducive to even getting good bills on the agenda. There were a few major bills that consumed the majority of the lobby team’s time this session being the Coal Jobs and Safety Act, Category A Protections for the Kanawha River, HB 2004 the Anti-Clean Power Plan bill, and SB423 the roll back of the tank bill. Of these bills Category A protections for the Kanawha River and the WVDHHR Source Water Protection Planning Rules were of the few bills we could actually encourage a yes vote on. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Coal, Marcellus, Net metering
Legislative Updates WVEC March 19, 2015
GREEN Vol. 25 Issue 9
Forward, We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up,There’s even more to be concerned about, ASTA Rollback: The Final Chapter, Spring Reflections, For the Environment: What was gained, what was lost this session, More to read More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Net metering, Pollution, Renewable energy, Water
GREEN Vol. 25 Issue 9
Forward, We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up,There’s even more to be concerned about, ASTA Rollback: The Final Chapter, Spring Reflections, For the Environment: What was gained, what was lost this session, More to read More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Net metering, Pollution, Renewable energy, Water
Newsletter article Bill Price March 7, 2015
Reaction and Action
I went to the labor rally earlier today. Speech after speech was about the need for action. Call your legislators, register to vote, vote, get your friends registered, drive your friends to the polls, get on the street, march, and rally; do anything, but do something. What inspiring words! I was so moved when they asked that people boycott Speedway Stores because workers are on strike at the Marathon facility near Ashland, that I went on to Facebook and sent that out. More
Issues: Coal, Pollution, Water
Reaction and Action
I went to the labor rally earlier today. Speech after speech was about the need for action. Call your legislators, register to vote, vote, get your friends registered, drive your friends to the polls, get on the street, march, and rally; do anything, but do something. What inspiring words! I was so moved when they asked that people boycott Speedway Stores because workers are on strike at the Marathon facility near Ashland, that I went on to Facebook and sent that out. More
Issues: Coal, Pollution, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin March 7, 2015
Coal Gets a Tax Cut Through HB2675 Despite its Continued Drain on State Budget
Early in the 2015 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Coal Association unveiled its 2015 Coal Legislative Program. A copy of this proposal was posted and distributed to the public by Ken Ward, Jr at the Charleston Gazette on his Coal Tattoo Blog on January 29th. A key provision in this proposal was to eliminate a 56 cent per ton tax on coal paid into the Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Fund. More
Issues: Coal
Coal Gets a Tax Cut Through HB2675 Despite its Continued Drain on State Budget
Early in the 2015 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Coal Association unveiled its 2015 Coal Legislative Program. A copy of this proposal was posted and distributed to the public by Ken Ward, Jr at the Charleston Gazette on his Coal Tattoo Blog on January 29th. A key provision in this proposal was to eliminate a 56 cent per ton tax on coal paid into the Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Fund. More
Issues: Coal
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 20, 2015
In the press recently:
Pertaining to the "Coal Jobs and Safety Act:" W.Va. lawmakers tweaking environmental, safety regs to aid flailing coal sector (SNL Financial). Pertaining to the Fayette County train derailment: Derailment highlights crude oil train, water safety issues (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette). Pertaining to "Category A" status for the Kanawha River: Lawmakers consider change for the mighty Kanawha (MetroNews), Lawmakers urged to keep drinking water protections (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette), Kanawha drinking water rule advances (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette) More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Water
In the press recently:
Pertaining to the "Coal Jobs and Safety Act:" W.Va. lawmakers tweaking environmental, safety regs to aid flailing coal sector (SNL Financial). Pertaining to the Fayette County train derailment: Derailment highlights crude oil train, water safety issues (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette). Pertaining to "Category A" status for the Kanawha River: Lawmakers consider change for the mighty Kanawha (MetroNews), Lawmakers urged to keep drinking water protections (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette), Kanawha drinking water rule advances (by Ken Ward, Jr. in the Gazette) More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Water
Newsletter article Bill Price February 14, 2015
Crunch Time
If you’ve been reading these messages the past few weeks, you’ve seen me write about getting out of our silos and getting involved in all of the anti-water legislation that is moving through the WV Legislature this year. Over the next several days, we are in what I can only describe as “crunch time” and we need YOU. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Water
Crunch Time
If you’ve been reading these messages the past few weeks, you’ve seen me write about getting out of our silos and getting involved in all of the anti-water legislation that is moving through the WV Legislature this year. Over the next several days, we are in what I can only describe as “crunch time” and we need YOU. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin February 14, 2015
HB2004 Anti-Clean Power Plan Bill heads to Senate Floor with $500,000 Fiscal Note
On Thursday, February, 12th the Senate Judiciary committee sent HB2004 to the Senate floor with an expected vote this week. HB2004 will require legislative approval before any state plan is submitted to EPA under the proposed Clean Power Plan rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Representatives of the WVDEP, Alpha Natural Resources, and the Attorney General’s office spoke before the committee and answered questions on the proposed measure. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency
HB2004 Anti-Clean Power Plan Bill heads to Senate Floor with $500,000 Fiscal Note
On Thursday, February, 12th the Senate Judiciary committee sent HB2004 to the Senate floor with an expected vote this week. HB2004 will require legislative approval before any state plan is submitted to EPA under the proposed Clean Power Plan rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Representatives of the WVDEP, Alpha Natural Resources, and the Attorney General’s office spoke before the committee and answered questions on the proposed measure. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin February 7, 2015
Coal Industry Took a Risk with Mountaintop Removal and Are Asking Legislature for a Bail Out
House Bill 2566, the Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015, should be called the Coal Industry Bail Out Act of 2015.Testimony from Alpha Natural Resources and the WV Coal Association this week before committees in the House and Senate could not have made the intent of this act clearer. The proposal is an effort through deregulation to cut costs in a struggling industry. A major component of the bill is to create a permit shield that will attempt to enable the coal industry to escape the liability in clean-up costs of hundreds of miles of streams it has polluted through the misguided risky practice of Mountaintop Removal. More
Issues: Coal, DEP, Pollution, Water
Coal Industry Took a Risk with Mountaintop Removal and Are Asking Legislature for a Bail Out
House Bill 2566, the Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015, should be called the Coal Industry Bail Out Act of 2015.Testimony from Alpha Natural Resources and the WV Coal Association this week before committees in the House and Senate could not have made the intent of this act clearer. The proposal is an effort through deregulation to cut costs in a struggling industry. A major component of the bill is to create a permit shield that will attempt to enable the coal industry to escape the liability in clean-up costs of hundreds of miles of streams it has polluted through the misguided risky practice of Mountaintop Removal. More
Issues: Coal, DEP, Pollution, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 7, 2015
The Aluminum Rule Change is Baa-ack…
You may recall that a couple of years ago, the DEP proposed a rule change that would calculate allowable levels of aluminum in streams based on the water's hardness. During the 2014 legislative session, the Senate asked the DEP to pull the rule change, because legislators didn't think it would be a good idea to vote for dirtier water so soon after the Freedom Industries spill. More
Issues: Aluminum, Coal, DEP, Water
The Aluminum Rule Change is Baa-ack…
You may recall that a couple of years ago, the DEP proposed a rule change that would calculate allowable levels of aluminum in streams based on the water's hardness. During the 2014 legislative session, the Senate asked the DEP to pull the rule change, because legislators didn't think it would be a good idea to vote for dirtier water so soon after the Freedom Industries spill. More
Issues: Aluminum, Coal, DEP, Water
Newsletter article Conni Lewis February 7, 2015
What I know about coal and the industry
At Thursday's public hearing on the "Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015", I was proud to see environmentalists and the UMWA stand together in opposition to an assault on safety, our shared environment and, in fact, hope for the future. It's a shame that it's necessary to even have such a hearing, a shame that the coal industry even wants these changes and a shame that the industry wants people and our waters to pay the price for their actions. Environmentalists and coal miners shouldn't be adversaries, but it is in other people's interests to make it seem that way. More
Issues: Coal, Water
What I know about coal and the industry
At Thursday's public hearing on the "Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015", I was proud to see environmentalists and the UMWA stand together in opposition to an assault on safety, our shared environment and, in fact, hope for the future. It's a shame that it's necessary to even have such a hearing, a shame that the coal industry even wants these changes and a shame that the industry wants people and our waters to pay the price for their actions. Environmentalists and coal miners shouldn't be adversaries, but it is in other people's interests to make it seem that way. More
Issues: Coal, Water
Legislative Updates WVEC February 7, 2015
GREEN Vol. 25 Issue 4
How Does the WV Legislature ♥ Dirtier Water? Let Us Count the Ways, “Gutting the Aboveground Storage Tank Act”, Update on Category A, Coal Industry Took a Risk with Mountaintop Removal and Are Asking Legislature for a Bail Out, The Aluminum Rule Change is Baa-ack , What I know about coal and the industry , Net Metering Bills take on new meaning this week, Come to our press conference on Monday! & other important calendar items, Additional Reading, Bills We Are Tracking More
Issues: Coal, DEP, Net metering, Pollution, Water
GREEN Vol. 25 Issue 4
How Does the WV Legislature ♥ Dirtier Water? Let Us Count the Ways, “Gutting the Aboveground Storage Tank Act”, Update on Category A, Coal Industry Took a Risk with Mountaintop Removal and Are Asking Legislature for a Bail Out, The Aluminum Rule Change is Baa-ack , What I know about coal and the industry , Net Metering Bills take on new meaning this week, Come to our press conference on Monday! & other important calendar items, Additional Reading, Bills We Are Tracking More
Issues: Coal, DEP, Net metering, Pollution, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 7, 2015
Additional Reading
Last month the EPA released a scientific report called "Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters" that demonstrates the importance of small streams and wetlands to downstream water quality. The report is based on current scientific research, specifically 1,200 publications from peer-reviewed scientific literature. More
Issues: Climate change, Coal, Water
Additional Reading
Last month the EPA released a scientific report called "Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters" that demonstrates the importance of small streams and wetlands to downstream water quality. The report is based on current scientific research, specifically 1,200 publications from peer-reviewed scientific literature. More
Issues: Climate change, Coal, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 1, 2015
A Little More about Coal’s Wish List
Elsewhere in this issue of Green, we’ve mentioned the Coal Association’s Legislative Program 2015. Another item we'd like you to note is the Association's "request" regarding Aboveground Storage Tanks (p. 8), which reads, in part: ". . . it is clear the Association should work to amend the statute to exempt as many tanks at coal mining operations from most of the provisions of the statute as possible." More
Issues: Coal
A Little More about Coal’s Wish List
Elsewhere in this issue of Green, we’ve mentioned the Coal Association’s Legislative Program 2015. Another item we'd like you to note is the Association's "request" regarding Aboveground Storage Tanks (p. 8), which reads, in part: ". . . it is clear the Association should work to amend the statute to exempt as many tanks at coal mining operations from most of the provisions of the statute as possible." More
Issues: Coal
Newsletter article Jim Kotcon February 1, 2015
Energy Efficiency is Good for West Virginians. Amend Com Sub HB 2004.
HB 2004 amends the WV Air Pollution Control Act (22-5-20) to require legislative approval for any state plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants. The Committee Substitute also eliminates the language, 22-5-20-(c) (4), that directs a state plan include counting emissions from power plants that closed recently, as well as reductions in emissions from energy efficiency programs. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency
Energy Efficiency is Good for West Virginians. Amend Com Sub HB 2004.
HB 2004 amends the WV Air Pollution Control Act (22-5-20) to require legislative approval for any state plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants. The Committee Substitute also eliminates the language, 22-5-20-(c) (4), that directs a state plan include counting emissions from power plants that closed recently, as well as reductions in emissions from energy efficiency programs. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency