GREEN Newsletter, Volume 36 Issue 8

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Dani Parent and Cory Chase are pictured at the Solar United Neighbors table at the E-Day 2026. Photographed by Perry Bennett.

Saturday by midnight marks the end of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. Although no one’s coach will turn into a pumpkin, we still have a few missing “glass slippers.” Despite decades of struggle, a national news broadcast, and a rally for clean water, the Legislature left the southern coalfields hanging. Thousands of West Virginians will continue to go another year without clean water. The Flood Resiliency Trust Fund could still use millions more for better flood preparation and disaster mitigation. The energy bills floating through the House and Senate will prop up the coal industry and raise our electric bills and emissions at a time when the renewables industry is growing across the country.

Our lobbyists worked tirelessly this session to protect West Virginians and our environment. From public lands to data centers, they worked alongside member organizations and other partners to strategize for good. It’s through their work that flood resiliency amendments, the Ohio River Restoration resolution, and other positive advances happened in the House and Senate. Until the final moments tomorrow night, we’ll continue to work with our member organizations for the greater good. Thank you to Lucia Valentine and Kasey Russell for the hard work and dedication this session.Stay tuned next week’s GREEN newsletter for a recap of the 2026 legislative session.

Hear more about the fight for clean water in the coalfields in “Reflections on the Fight for Clean Water.” Reverend Ware and Reverend Davis of From Below gave insight on their efforts this year, how it’s impacted their communities, and their hopes for the next legislative session. 

This week’s Member Organization Spotlight highlights the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club. They’ve been busy this session fighting bad bills, too. They also recently hosted a Quilting for Community event in Morgantown and a virtual book club conversation. Creativity, art, and the environment have always gone hand-in-hand. Learn more and see photos in the Member Organization Spotlight.

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There are lots of upcoming events, including a documentary screening by the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy later this month. They’re spotlighting the environmental hero Helen McGinnis and her fight for the Dolly Sods Wilderness. Learn more about her fight and its historic impact on the state on March 28 at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

West Virginia media outlets published a plethora of great articles and audio stories in the past two weeks. If you’re looking for something to read or listen to while enjoying the early spring weather, check out our Notes & News section.

Help support our work by subscribing to and sharing our newsletter with friends and family, joining an environmental group near you, and donating to keep the fight going. We all have a role to play. What will yours be?

Click an article title or thumbnail image to read the full article (text below is only an excerpt).

Weekly Legislative Update
WVEC
The 2026 legislative session concludes by midnight on Saturday, March 14. Our lobby team is working on the ground through the final days, closely monitoring last-minute bills, floor debates, and legislative messages as measures move through the House and Senate. We will provide a full legislative wrap-up article next week. For now, here are a few of the final items we are following closely
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Data centers, Legislation

Reflections on the Fight for Safe Water
WVEC
People in the southern coalfields of West Virginia have lived without consistent access to safe water for years. For many, hope was lost decades ago, leaving them with a deep distrust of politicians. 
Issues: Coal, Water

Member Organization Spotlight
WVEC
As members of the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, we love clean water, fresh air, and wild forests. We work hard to protect the natural resources we cherish, like our Potomac Highlands, the Monongahela National Forest, the long Ohio Riverfront, the Blackwater Canyon, our native brook trout streams, and much more.
Issues: Climate change, Public lands, Water

Happenings Around the Mountain
WVEC
March 18: Charleston Green Drinks, 5:30 p.m. Fife Street Brewing | March 19: Proposed Gas-fired Power Plant near Fort Martin meeting, 7 p.m. at the Monongalia Arts Center  | March 28: Dolly Sods and the Legacy of Helen McGinnis, 6 p.m. at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge | March 24: Protecting Our Public Lands from Coal Mining, 7 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA | April 6: Good News Greenbrier County, 6 to 8 p.m. at Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center |
Issues: Event, Opportunity

Notes & News
WVEC
It seems like everything is more expensive these days — including utilities. Under Trump, utility rates rose 5% nationally in 2025. But why? It’s a complex answer, partly attributable to data centers and policy. There was a lot of great coverage from West Virginia media outlets this week and last. Settle in for some good reading. 
Issues: Coal, Data centers, Energy efficiency, Water