There’s a popular notion that politicians don’t pay mind to what voters want. Seems like, once we vote them in, most of them are done with us…until the next election.  Would it not be prudent and crucial to let them know what’s important to us while they’re making law? 

It seems that most years, we are fighting to keep funds in the DEP’s Landfill Closure program. The bill that was taken up in House Government Org on Friday, HB4443, is meant to transfer $1 from the DEP’s Landfill “tipping” fee for waste that goes into landfill, taking it from $3.50 per ton to $2.50 per ton.

This past Tuesday marks ten years since the US Supreme Court issued its decision in Citizens United v. the FEC. In the case, the Court ruled that corporations and other outside groups could not be restricted from spending money on elections. This led to the creation and growth of super PACs and the rise of dark money spending, increasing the power of the wealthiest donors and special interests to influence our elections.

This week, WV Rivers executive director, Angie Rosser, was a guest on the WV Public Broadcasting program The Legislature Today. She discussed the cumulative impacts oil & gas development is having on our environment and the dangers of HB4079, the bill that would exempt oil & gas storage tanks closest to drinking water intakes from the Aboveground Storage Tank Act (ASTA). Watch her interview here.

One of the West Virginia Environmental Council’s priorities this session is to see the passage of legislation that allows for a third-party solar financing vehicle called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). PPAs will expand access to affordable renewable energy and create jobs in West Virginia. PPAs will help our communities, businesses, tax-exempt institutions, and low-income families go solar.

A new bill led by Delegate Hansen (D-Monongalia), called the West Virginia Clean Drinking Water Act of 2020, was introduced in the House as HB4542.

Please save the date for Monday, February 17. We will be participating the in the 19th Amendment Centennial Celebration at the State Capitol. It’s also President’s Day. If you have the day off, come lobby your legislators and help spread the word about the need to protect voting rights and fight the influence of money in politics. More details will be forthcoming.