Posts by Karan Ireland

Karan Ireland

29 posts found, showing 20 per page

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Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 19, 2021
A Zombie in the Zones of Critical Concern
On January 9, 2014, a chemical (crude-MCHM) leaked into the Elk River, the sole drinking water source for Charleston and the surrounding area. Approximately 300,000 people were ordered to stop bathing in, cleaning with, or drinking the water coming out of their taps. Many became ill and visited emergency rooms. More
Issues: Aboveground tanksHealthWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 10, 2020
2020 WVEC Legislative Priorities: An Overview
Kayla and I are happy to be back again representing you this year at the Capitol. We intend to build on the relationships we made with our representatives last year. More
Issues: LegislationPollutionRenewable energyWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 10, 2020
Meet the Lobby Team 2020
Karan Ireland is back for her third year as the lobby team coordinator. Kayla Young is back for her second year as a lobbyist for the Environmental Council. More
Issues: Legislation
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 23, 2019
E-Day comments
My name is Karan Ireland and I am with the West Virginia Environmental Council. We are happy to share our space with allied groups today because environmental issues are inextricably linked to issues of fairness, equity, and equality. More
Issues: EdayWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 15, 2019
West Virginia Coal Association Bill Originated in Committee
The long awaited “Coal Bill” originated yesterday in Senate EIM. “Coal bill” is the colloquialism for the bill, usually originated in committee and pushed straight to the floor, that is written by the West Virginia Coal Association and encompasses all of their legislative goals for the year. More
Issues: Aboveground tanksCoalLegislation
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 9, 2019
Legislative Updates & How You Can Get Involved!
We are following so many bills, it would be hard to list them all here. However, here is a list that gives you an idea of the issues we are focused on and some actions you can take if you want to join us at the Capitol, or want to make a few calls from home. More
Issues: Clean electionsOil and gasPollutionRenewable energySocial justiceWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 25, 2019
Special thanks to our cookie lobbyist!
Since 2014, Lori Magana has been working hard for clean, safe water in unique and creative ways. She is known by her fans as “The Cookie Lobbyist” because of the delicious, waterdrop-shaped sugar cookies that she hands out to legislators, urging them to “Protect Our Water!” More
Issues: LegislationWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 18, 2019
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) legislation to see light of day
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are a widely available method to finance distributed energy generation projects such as rooftop solar panels or landfill bio-gas. These agreements are legal in at least 26 states, including Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia, but are NOT available in West Virginia. More
Issues: Renewable energy
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 18, 2019
Manufacturers Serve Nothing Sandwich at DEP Session on Water Quality Standards
We continue to work hard to ensure that the DEP rule on water quality standards is as protective of human health as possible. The DEP meeting was held yesterday, Thursday, January 17, at its headquarters in Kanawha City at 2:00 pm. Dozens of citizens concerned about their health and the safety of their water took time out of their days to attend the meeting More
Issues: DEPPollutionWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland January 12, 2019
Hello from the 1st Session of the 84th WV Legislature
It’s great to be back under the dome–except: there is no dome! At least not one we can see from inside the building. There is no standing around the well, eavesdropping on conversations between committee meetings this year, as the rotunda undergoes repairs. More
Issues: DEPLegislationLoggingOil and gasRenewable energyWater
Newsletter article Karan Ireland March 12, 2018
Legislative Wrap-Up
On the 10th day of the legislative session, I remember thinking, “wow, this is going to be a long sixty days.” But, as with anything, time flies when you’re having fun. Today is the last day of the 2nd session of the 83rd West Virginia Legislature, or “sine die.” The environmental bills we’ve been watching have either passed or died and all that’s left is to wait for the crack of the gavel at midnight. More
Issues: CoalEnergyForced poolingLegislationLogging
Newsletter article Karan Ireland March 3, 2018
Logging In Parks Bill (SB 270) OFFICIALLY Dead
We mentioned last week that Senator Mike Woelful released a statement that SB 270 appeared to be dead. While we were cautiously optimistic, we didn’t want to start shoveling dirt on the coffin until we knew for sure. Now that crossover has come and gone, we want to shout it from the rooftops: “THE BILL IS DEAD; NO LOGGING IN STATE PARKS thanks to YOU!! More
Issues: LegislationLogging
Newsletter article Karan Ireland March 3, 2018
Bad Utility Bill Dies on Senate Floor
In a dramatic turn of events, SB 600 which would have allowed discounted utility rates for large industrial energy users, but would have raised residential rates, was defeated on the Senate floor on crossover. More
Issues: Energy efficiencyLegislation
Mountaintop removal mining
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 24, 2018
Coal Bill Update
We’ve seen some bills race before, but SB 626 is moving so fast it’s hard to see! This bill, which relates “generally to coal mining” originated on Monday, Feb. 19 in the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining committee, was sent straight to the floor and was on third reading by Thursdat. The bill deals with surface mining applications. More
Issues: CoalLegislationSocial justice
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 24, 2018
Ding Dong the Bill is Dead (We Hope)
After several weeks of intense public pressure, it appears that the trees at Watoga State Park, and all of West Virginia’s state parks are safe! More
Issues: LegislationLogging
Power plant
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 24, 2018
SB 600- Handouts to Industry; Who’s Looking Out for Ratepayers?
SB 600 offers discounted electric rates to industrial users and manufacturers whose rates, like everyone’s, have continued to skyrocket in the past few years. However, someone is going to have to make up the cost of these discounts and, per usual, it’s not going to be the utility shareholders. It’s going to be you and me. More
Issues: EnergyLegislation
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 17, 2018
House Passes Cotenancy Bill
On Thursday, the West Virginia House of Delegates did what they had been unable to do the over the past few years: they passed the controversial cotenancy bill, aka forced pooling lite. More
Issues: Forced poolingLegislation
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 10, 2018
Environmental Stakeholders Improve Bad Water Bill
SB 290, which allows changes to water quality standards and pollution limits passed out of Senate Judiciary earlier in the week. Though we think this bill is bad and unnecessary, WVEC was part of the stakeholder process that ultimately improved the language in the bill, so we will celebrate where we can. More
Issues: PollutionWater
Coal sunset
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 10, 2018
Originating Bills in EIM
On the same agenda in Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining, we were alarmed to see two originating bills with no other descriptions. These bills have not been assigned numbers or titles at this time. More
Issues: CoalPollutionRenewable energy
Newsletter article Karan Ireland February 10, 2018
Industry Advocate Bill Pulled
SB 410- a bill to create the position of Industry Advocate at the Department of Environmental Protection appeared on the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining committee agenda on Thursday. More
Issues: DEP
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