Category: Newsletter article
Individual articles for various ‘issues’ of newsletters (i.e., articles for a GREEN Newsletter or Legislative Update).
585 posts found, showing 20 per page
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 7, 2015
Come to our press conference on Monday! & other important calendar items
Members of the WV Safe Water Roundtable are organizing a press conference to express our deep concern about the number of bills that propose to weaken water protections. We need lots of clean water fans in the room to demonstrate that citizens are alarmed about this! The press conference will be Monday, February 9 at 10:00 a.m. in the McManus conference room (252M), on the hallway near the House chamber. Be there! More
Issues: Eday, Water
Come to our press conference on Monday! & other important calendar items
Members of the WV Safe Water Roundtable are organizing a press conference to express our deep concern about the number of bills that propose to weaken water protections. We need lots of clean water fans in the room to demonstrate that citizens are alarmed about this! The press conference will be Monday, February 9 at 10:00 a.m. in the McManus conference room (252M), on the hallway near the House chamber. Be there! More
Issues: Eday, 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
Update on AREPS Repeal/Net Metering
First of all, in case you missed it: the Gazette’s Ken Ward got his hands on the Coal Association’s “West Virginia Coal Legislative Program 2015” and put it up on the Gazette’s website here. As you can see near the top of page 8, repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standard was part of coal’s “program;” they assert that “the . . . thresholds of 15% by 2020 and 25% by 2025 could negatively affect the coal burn in West Virginia.” More
Issues: Net metering
Update on AREPS Repeal/Net Metering
First of all, in case you missed it: the Gazette’s Ken Ward got his hands on the Coal Association’s “West Virginia Coal Legislative Program 2015” and put it up on the Gazette’s website here. As you can see near the top of page 8, repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standard was part of coal’s “program;” they assert that “the . . . thresholds of 15% by 2020 and 25% by 2025 could negatively affect the coal burn in West Virginia.” More
Issues: Net metering
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin February 1, 2015
WVDEP Budget and Civil Penalties
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection presented its budget last week to the House Finance Committee. The most substantive part of the discussion following the presentation from Secretary Huffman was a request from Del. Nancy Peoples Guthrie, who asked Secretary Huffman to provide to the committee information regarding when the last time civil penalties maximums were adjusted. Secretary Huffman agreed to provide that information to the committee, but volunteered the information that surface mining civil penalties have never been increased since the regulations were first established decades ago. More
Issues: DEP
WVDEP Budget and Civil Penalties
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection presented its budget last week to the House Finance Committee. The most substantive part of the discussion following the presentation from Secretary Huffman was a request from Del. Nancy Peoples Guthrie, who asked Secretary Huffman to provide to the committee information regarding when the last time civil penalties maximums were adjusted. Secretary Huffman agreed to provide that information to the committee, but volunteered the information that surface mining civil penalties have never been increased since the regulations were first established decades ago. More
Issues: DEP
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 1, 2015
Support Category A Protection for Our Waters
The DEP has proposed a rule change that would restore "Category A" protection for the Kanawha River. If the rule change is approved, West Virginia American Water would have the option of placing a second intake on the Kanawha near WVAW's Charleston treatment plant. More
Issues: Water
Support Category A Protection for Our Waters
The DEP has proposed a rule change that would restore "Category A" protection for the Kanawha River. If the rule change is approved, West Virginia American Water would have the option of placing a second intake on the Kanawha near WVAW's Charleston treatment plant. More
Issues: 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
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe February 1, 2015
Join Us for E-Day! and other important stuff . . .
E-day is scheduled for February 18th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the lower rotunda. Then join us that evening at 6:00 for our annual awards dinner at the women's club. For more information contact Marium Bria: mariumbria@gmail.com. More
Issues: DEP, Eday
Join Us for E-Day! and other important stuff . . .
E-day is scheduled for February 18th, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the lower rotunda. Then join us that evening at 6:00 for our annual awards dinner at the women's club. For more information contact Marium Bria: mariumbria@gmail.com. More
Issues: DEP, Eday
Newsletter article Bill Price January 25, 2015
Dismantling Silos
This past Friday and Saturday, I went to the Peoples’ Concerned about Chemical Safety’s conference entitled “Looking Forward”. The goals of the conference were to have residents have conversations about local chemical safety, look at how solutions that have worked elsewhere, and to be a part of local solutions to prevent water contamination. And there’s that common thread again….water contamination. More
Issues: Coal, MCHM, Water
Dismantling Silos
This past Friday and Saturday, I went to the Peoples’ Concerned about Chemical Safety’s conference entitled “Looking Forward”. The goals of the conference were to have residents have conversations about local chemical safety, look at how solutions that have worked elsewhere, and to be a part of local solutions to prevent water contamination. And there’s that common thread again….water contamination. More
Issues: Coal, MCHM, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin January 25, 2015
Can Young Innovation and Entrepreneurship Change the Course of the 2015 Regressive Legislature?
There is one thing that repealing the WV Alternative Energy and Renewal Portfolio Standard (SB1), legislation limiting flexibility in the creation of a State Clean Power Plan HB2004 / SB4, and mandating state DHHR, DNR, DEP rules are no more stringent than federal rules (HB2269) have in common. They are priority bills at the top of the 2015 Legislature’s agenda closing doors for opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. More
Issues: DEP, Energy, Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
Can Young Innovation and Entrepreneurship Change the Course of the 2015 Regressive Legislature?
There is one thing that repealing the WV Alternative Energy and Renewal Portfolio Standard (SB1), legislation limiting flexibility in the creation of a State Clean Power Plan HB2004 / SB4, and mandating state DHHR, DNR, DEP rules are no more stringent than federal rules (HB2269) have in common. They are priority bills at the top of the 2015 Legislature’s agenda closing doors for opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. More
Issues: DEP, Energy, Energy efficiency, Renewable energy
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 25, 2015
Repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standards Act Passes both Houses
In last week’s “Update,” we told you that both legislative chambers had produced committee substitutes for S.B. 1 and its companion bill H.B. 2001; these are bills that propose to repeal West Virginia’s Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standard (AREPS). Both committee substitutes retain the net metering provision of the AREPS. More
Issues: Renewable energy
Repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standards Act Passes both Houses
In last week’s “Update,” we told you that both legislative chambers had produced committee substitutes for S.B. 1 and its companion bill H.B. 2001; these are bills that propose to repeal West Virginia’s Alternative and Renewable Portfolio Standard (AREPS). Both committee substitutes retain the net metering provision of the AREPS. More
Issues: Renewable energy
Newsletter article Ken Ward January 25, 2015
Debate highlights W.Va.’s inaction on energy diversity, efficiency
As lawmakers move to dismantle West Virginia’s six-year-old alternative-energy law, they tout their action as another effort to help the state’s declining coal industry. However, state records show that the 2009 law actually does little to hurt the coal industry and maybe even less to really promote alternatives like wind energy or solar power. West Virginia’s coal-heavy utilities say they have been — and will continue to be — able to meet the law without adding new renewable generation. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency
Debate highlights W.Va.’s inaction on energy diversity, efficiency
As lawmakers move to dismantle West Virginia’s six-year-old alternative-energy law, they tout their action as another effort to help the state’s declining coal industry. However, state records show that the 2009 law actually does little to hurt the coal industry and maybe even less to really promote alternatives like wind energy or solar power. West Virginia’s coal-heavy utilities say they have been — and will continue to be — able to meet the law without adding new renewable generation. More
Issues: Coal, Energy, Energy efficiency
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 25, 2015
Here’s a Great Idea–Let’s Shoot Ourselves in Both Feet!
Friday saw the introduction of H.B. 2269, whose purpose “is to require rules of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Natural Resources and Department of Commerce be no more stringent than corresponding federal law or regulations.” Now, most of you who are reading this newsletter probably understand the relationship between “statutes” and “rules,” but here’s a thumbnail explanation. More
Issues: DEP, Regulation
Here’s a Great Idea–Let’s Shoot Ourselves in Both Feet!
Friday saw the introduction of H.B. 2269, whose purpose “is to require rules of the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Natural Resources and Department of Commerce be no more stringent than corresponding federal law or regulations.” Now, most of you who are reading this newsletter probably understand the relationship between “statutes” and “rules,” but here’s a thumbnail explanation. More
Issues: DEP, Regulation
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 25, 2015
Important Dates ‘n Other Stuff
February 18: E-day at the Capitol, followed by the WVEC's awards dinner that evening. More... More
Issues: Renewable energy, Water
Important Dates ‘n Other Stuff
February 18: E-day at the Capitol, followed by the WVEC's awards dinner that evening. More... More
Issues: Renewable energy, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 24, 2015
Bills We Are Tracking
Bills WVEC is tracking More
Issues: Legislation
Bills We Are Tracking
Bills WVEC is tracking More
Issues: Legislation
Newsletter article Conni Lewis January 18, 2015
Introducing the New Lobbying Team
To go along with a significantly new Legislature, the Environmental Council has assembled a significantly new lobby team. The introductions are short, you will know us by our work. More
Introducing the New Lobbying Team
To go along with a significantly new Legislature, the Environmental Council has assembled a significantly new lobby team. The introductions are short, you will know us by our work. More
Newsletter article John Christensen January 18, 2015
House and Senate committees take up repeal of AREP Act early on
The WV Legislature opened this week for their annual 60-day session and it is patently obvious that ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council, will be running the Republican agenda from the start. An ALEC bill SB 1 and HB 2001, the repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act (in its entirety) aka AREP was the first two bills introduced and they have already been through committees in both chambers, first in the Senate EIM committee the second day of the session and also in the house Energy committee only a few minutes later on the same afternoon. More
Issues: Energy, Renewable energy
House and Senate committees take up repeal of AREP Act early on
The WV Legislature opened this week for their annual 60-day session and it is patently obvious that ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Council, will be running the Republican agenda from the start. An ALEC bill SB 1 and HB 2001, the repeal of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act (in its entirety) aka AREP was the first two bills introduced and they have already been through committees in both chambers, first in the Senate EIM committee the second day of the session and also in the house Energy committee only a few minutes later on the same afternoon. More
Issues: Energy, Renewable energy
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 18, 2015
Yes, you can! Make a difference, that is . . .
If you’re reading this, I think it’s safe to assume that you’re someone who often receives “action alerts” from one organization or the other (such as ours), asking you to express support or opposition to some proposed government action. If you’re like me, you might sometimes think, “Aw, will it really make a difference whether I do this or not? (Notwithstanding Margaret Mead's well-worn quote.) What we witnessed in the House Energy Committee on Thursday provided clear evidence that the answer is a resounding “Yes!” More
Yes, you can! Make a difference, that is . . .
If you’re reading this, I think it’s safe to assume that you’re someone who often receives “action alerts” from one organization or the other (such as ours), asking you to express support or opposition to some proposed government action. If you’re like me, you might sometimes think, “Aw, will it really make a difference whether I do this or not? (Notwithstanding Margaret Mead's well-worn quote.) What we witnessed in the House Energy Committee on Thursday provided clear evidence that the answer is a resounding “Yes!” More
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin January 18, 2015
The January 9th Chemical Disaster and Moving Forward on Water through the Legislature
The opening week of the west Virginia legislative session will be marked for generations as the anniversary of the January 9th MCHM Chemical Disaster of 2014 that contaminated the water of 300,000 West Virginian’s including the state capitol. The 2015 Legislative session kicked off this past week marking the first anniversary of the disaster that should dominate the environmental policy discussion among law makers for generations to come. Despite the disappointing fact that Gov. Tomblin propped up coal and gas in his state of the state address last week and failed to mention the water crisis or clean up of streams in any way shape or form, there are some encouraging words from WVDEP. More
Issues: DEP, MCHM, Water
The January 9th Chemical Disaster and Moving Forward on Water through the Legislature
The opening week of the west Virginia legislative session will be marked for generations as the anniversary of the January 9th MCHM Chemical Disaster of 2014 that contaminated the water of 300,000 West Virginian’s including the state capitol. The 2015 Legislative session kicked off this past week marking the first anniversary of the disaster that should dominate the environmental policy discussion among law makers for generations to come. Despite the disappointing fact that Gov. Tomblin propped up coal and gas in his state of the state address last week and failed to mention the water crisis or clean up of streams in any way shape or form, there are some encouraging words from WVDEP. More
Issues: DEP, MCHM, Water