The 2024 legislative session proved uniquely challenging, with lobbyists Isabel Stellato and Lucia Valentine navigating obstacles at the Capitol. We celebrate this year’s victories in their Legislative Recap. 

Despite encountering challenges, their Legislative Recap highlights significant wins like the defeat of industry-backed HB 5018, showcasing the impact of advocacy and community engagement.  

Huge thanks to YOU for contacting your lawmakers on critical issues. Your dedication made a big difference! Also, a special appreciation goes to Don Alexander, our tech support, for promptly sending our weekly newsletter and action alerts. We’re lucky to have him on our team.

Communications coordinator Jillian Welsh, our ray of sunshine literally and figuratively ensured our newsletter and action alerts hit your inboxes each week. Keeping up with that ebb and flow is not easy, but Jillian makes it look that way. 

Of course, our efforts and successes are only possible with our member groups. They provide support in many ways: technical advice on legislation, perspective on lobbying strategy, and financial support. Thank you to WV Rivers Coalition, WV Citizen Action Group, WV Highlands Conservancy, Sierra Club WV, West Virginians for Public Lands, West Virginians for Energy Freedom, Solar United Neighbors, Conservation West Virginia, and WV Surface Owners’ Rights Organization. 

As Angie Rosser moves to the National Wildlife Federation, we thank her for 12 years of leadership at WV Rivers Coalition and 12 years serving on the WVEC Board of Directors! Best wishes, Angie! As Angie moves on, the WVEC board warmly welcomes two new board members: Mike Jones, the Public Lands Campaign Coordinator for West Virginia Rivers Coalition, and Chrissy Sandy, a member of the Buckhannon River Watershed Association and the WV Chapter of Sierra Club. Look for a May newsletter article celebrating Angie and introducing our new board members.

Our next newsletter will be out in May. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay informed! Please mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting September 13 – 15 at Tygart Lake State Park.

As we transition into our year-round presence at interims and develop our 2025 legislative priorities, please consider donating and renewing your membership to continue to support our work. 

Thanks again for your support! Let’s celebrate our wins and keep pushing for change.

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2024 Legislative Session Round Up 
WVEC
Any legislator, lobbyist, or press member who spent the past two months at the Capitol can affirm that the 2024 session was anything but ordinary. One lawmaker told us it was the worst session they’d seen in over a decade. It’s not surprising, then, that while we hoped to get several proactive bills like the Orphaned Well Prevention Act and Community Solar passed, most of our efforts went toward defeating harmful bills instead.
Tagged: Legislation, Net metering, Orphaned wells, Pollution

Upcoming events
WVEC
Corridor H Visual Assessment Training at Parson's Community Center, Sunday, March 24 at 1 pm I Webinar Series: Community Air Monitoring Fundamentals, April 2024 | The Cheat River Festival in Albright, WV, May 3 and May 4 | Save the Date: WVEC Annual Meeting Sept. 13-15, 2024 | Save the Date for E-Day 2025!
Tagged: Event, Pollution

Who are West Virginia Legislators listening to when it comes to solar energy?
WVEC
Any way you slice it, West Virginians want community solar. The data are clear: nearly 70 percent of West Virginians support community solar. Yet solar-related bills did not make it onto a committee agenda this session.
Tagged: Community solar