Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2023 Legislative session! All eyes are on the Capitol as we monitor bills to provide clean drinking water, protect our public lands, and lower utility bills by allowing Community Solar on our energy grid.

We are excited to introduce you to this year’s lobby team, which includes veteran Lucia Valentine and new lobby team member Maria Russo. We also welcome our communications coordinator, Jillian Welsh, to this amazing team. The session began on Wednesday, January 11, and we are off to a running start promoting our legislative priorities and meeting with legislators to advocate for members like you.

We are excited to announce E-Day will return in person this year on February 28! We hope you will join us by registering at the link in the announcement below. Need a little fun during this time? Enjoy a night of music with Swingstein and Robin at the Empty Glass on Thursday, January 19, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. All tips will be donated to WVECouncil to help support our work.

Please support our 2023 lobby team by donating or renewing your membership. Most of our budget is spent during the session to fund our lobby team. Please consider donating at our website or sending a check to WVEC, PO Box 1007, Charleston, WV 25324.

We look forward to bringing you the session news every Friday evening, and you can follow us for daily updates on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you have questions or comments, please get in touch with us at info@wvecouncil.org. 

Go to the WV Legislature’s website to listen in on what’s happening at the Capitol during House and Senate floor sessions, committee meetings, and public hearings. House and Senate Committee contact information is on our website.

We appreciate your support!

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

Welcome, Maria!
WVEC
Hi, everyone! My name is Maria Russo, and I am a Lobbyist for the 2023 Legislative Session with the West Virginia Environmental Council. 

Welcome back, Lucia!
WVEC
Hello! My name is Lucia Valentine, and I will be lobbying for a second time with the West Virginia Environmental Council (WVEC) during the 2023 legislative session. Outside of regular sessions, I work with WVEC as the outreach coordinator and interim lobbyist.

Welcome, Jillian!
WVEC
Hello! I am excited to join the West Virginia Environmental Council as their Communications Coordinator during the 2023 legislative session. 

Empty Glass fundraiser on 1/19
WVEC
Join Swingstein and Robin at the Empty Glass Thursday, Jan. 19. All tips will be graciously donated to the WV Environmental Council to help support our work. Enjoy a night of music and environmental action! For more details please visit the Facebook event.
Tagged: Event

2023 Legislative Priorities
WVEC
Community Solar, Orphaned Gas Well Responsibility, Adequate funding for inspectors for the WV DEP Office of Oil and Gas, Mineland Reclamation, Advanced Nuclear, Hydrogen Hub/CCS, Aboveground Storage Tank Legislation, Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality Standards/Triennial Review, Public Lands, Clean Elections/Voter Protection legislation
Tagged: Aboveground tanks, Clean elections, DEP, Orphaned wells, Pollution, Reclamation, Renewable energy, Water

Join us for E-Day at the Capitol
WVEC
E-Day is just around the corner on Tuesday, February 28! Please join environmental groups from across the state for this annual advocacy day at the WV State Capitol from 9 am - 2 pm in the Upper Rotunda House side. We are looking forward to seeing everyone face-to-face this year! 
Tagged: Event, Legislation

Pixie dust or renewable must? The debate on community solar.
WVEC
On Monday, January 9, the Joint Standing Committee on Energy (Interim) met for the final time before the start of the 86th legislative session. The hot-button topic on the agenda: community solar. 
Tagged: Community solar