El Niño Threat Looms
If you’ve been following climate news this month, you’ve probably heard experts project the upcoming El Niño to be one of the worst ever recorded. For folks in West Virginia, it likely means more humidity, rain, and storms. Globally, it will look more like extreme heat and droughts.
WVEC President Quenton King wrote a commentary for West Virginia Watch earlier this month about the dangerous reality of living in an increasingly hot environment.
Here’s some additional reading about the projected El Niño after you read his commentary:
NPR: Scientists warn ‘Godzilla’ El Niño could intensify climate impacts worldwide
Reuters: Ample world inventories may soften El Nino food supply shock
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: El Niño increases global health threats that require a One Health response
World Resources Institute: How Might a ‘Super El Niño’ Affect Food, Forests and Water?
Solar Gets A Moment In The Sun
This past legislative session, there was a lot of discussion about the reliability of alternative energy sources. For the first time, solar generated more electricity than coal. Read more about what that means from Tik Root of Grist HERE.You might also read ‘Beyond King Coal: Can West Virginia follow the UAE’s lead into a green future?’ from The Parkersburg News and Sentinel to learn more about how our state might play a role in a more sustainable energy future.
Data Center Roundup
There seems to be an endless supply of coverage on data centers and the development boom around the country. Here’s a a handful of articles outside of our typical coverage roundup:
Kentucky leaders should look to history to solve data center controversies
If you’ve been around a while or you’ve done your research, you know about the Garbage Wars of the 80’s and 90’s. The boom of hyperscale data centers in Appalachia has a lot of similarities. Kathryn Hargraves talks about her experiences then and how communities can use a similar playbook. Read more HERE.
Kentucky’s leaders need to just say no to data centers
Many politicians argue the future success of rural economies will be backed by data center development. Jeffrey Tyler Syck disagrees. Read more HERE.
Some Kentucky counties and cities are hitting pause on data centers
Daviess County, a community with more than 100,000 residents, passed a 12-month moratorium on data center development. Read more HERE.
The movement to stop data centers
7/10 people in America wouldn’t support a data center in their community. Read more HERE.
The Cloud Has Sound: The Unrelenting and Unseen Cost of A.I. and Data Centers
On a growing list of reasons we don’t want hyperscale data centers as our neighbors, add noise pollution. Read more HERE.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
New reports: WV at higher devastation risk under Trump decade after 2016 flood
10 years ago, catastrophic flooding devastated southern West Virginia. The state is more vulnerable to flooding today due to FEMA cuts last year. Read more HERE.
‘We will make our own decisions’: Developer balks at WV data center violation
Fundamental Data LLC is arguing that they haven’t violated any state statutes when it comes to its development of a hyperscale data center in Tucker County. Mike Tony has more details HERE.
WV transmission line pushback threatens Morrisey energy goal and shortage
Like many other states, West Virginia has a shortage of high-voltage transmission lines. Fighting that shortage comes with challenges, but without more high-voltage transmission lines, the Governor’s energy plan will be tough to accomplish. Read more HERE.
WV issues Fundamental Data a data center rule violation notice, prompting denial
Fundamental Data, a data center developer working on projects in Tucker and Grant counties, denies violating a statute. Read more about the issued violation HERE.
WV trailing other states in moves to protect ratepayers from data center impacts
Ratepayers across the country are feeling the heat of rising utility costs. The state’s PSC didn’t have a lot of suggestions for protecting them at recent interims in Canaan. Read more HERE.
EPA $4.4M Minden cleanup plan pegs residential property, New River as concern areas
The EPA has developed a new cleanup plan it says will be safe for community residents. Residents are requesting relocation — something the EPA says isn’t warranted based on the report from a New Hampshire-based environmental engineering consulting firm. Read more HERE.
Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum opens to honor labor leader and former UMWA president
The new museum honors the legacy of UMWA leader and labor activist. Read more HERE.
DEP plans radioactive dust disposal mandates after Huntington site removal failures
An order issued by DEP would require a steel mill operator in Huntington to change how they dispose of radioactive dust and waste from manufacturing. Read more HERE.
West Virginia National Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Morrisey administration blocks coal project information, out of step on energy shifts
Confusion is bubbling over a recent statement from Morrissey about a large funding request from the DOE for coal plant and natural gas projects in the state. Morrisey’s office denied a FOIA request from Charleston Gazette-Mail seeking more information. Read more HERE.
WV data center head: State got 1st application for microgrid certification this week
Chris Morris announced the state’s first microgrid certification application, but stated he couldn’t share any other details about the application. For more, read HERE.
EPA plans PFAS rule rollbacks that loom large in W.Va. after court tosses Chemours order
Last month, a memorandum from the EPA highlighted how dangerous PFAS is to various organ systems in the human body. But the memorandum wasn’t to warn the public and tout greater regulation — it weighed risks and benefits of softening compliance requirements. Read more HERE.
‘Abandonment’: Outlook dims for southern WV water funding boost despite mounting need
The Southern Coalfields need hundreds of millions for water infrastructure repairs, but the funding likely won’t happen any time soon. Rep. Riley Moore’s attempt to get federal funding failed, leaving communities without the help they need from state and national leaders. WVEC President Quenton King is quoted in the article. Read more HERE.
MSHA finds Alpha company failures led to November mine death as violations persist
MSHA has released its final report on the death of an Elkview man in a Nicholas County mine last year. The findings reveal an outdated map is to blame. Read more about the report HERE.
WV leaders dig in on data center push despite oversight gaps amid resident protests
Despite push back from communities across the state, West Virginia legislators have made it clear at recent House committee meetings that they believe data center development isn’t happening quickly enough. This comes after legislators recently attended the Data Center World industry gathering in Washington D.C. Read more HERE.
Trump administration green-lights millions to prop up struggling WV, US coal plants
Hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars will be allocated to prop up 13 coal plants across the country. Read more HERE. You might also find this New York Times reporting interesting.
Demand uncertainty, seizure threat loom ahead of PSC’s NextEra MARL project hearings
Nearly all, 4,470 of 4,586, of the public comments written to the WV PSC on MARL are in opposition to the project. Read more about MARL and those who oppose it HERE.
‘Boneheaded’: Taxpayer advocates decry Trump administration WV coal plant subsidies
Rep. Moore, Governor Morrisey, and other GOP leaders stood alongside Trump to announce the allocation of millions in taxpayer dollars to prop up the coal industry. WVEC President Quenton King is quoted in the article. Read more HERE.
New permits eyed for Mason Co. data center-tied project after eight-figure WV support
After reconfiguring a carbon-capture project and moving to build a hyperscale data center, Monarch Cloud Campus LLC is seeking a new air quality permit. Read more HERE.
WV drinking water plea poised to go unheeded in U.S. House after state-level strikeout
Parts of the state, largely the southern coalfields, have gone for years without clean water access. They’ll be left to their own devices for the foreseeable future as the U.S. House ignores cries for help. Read more HERE.
Mason County biomass plant permit surrendered amid shift to prioritize data centers
Fidelis New Energy LLC has surrendered its air quality permit to DEP and will reconfigure the original project as a data center. Read more about it HERE.
Mountain State Spotlight
West Virginia data center head shares plans for advisory council as opposition grows over lack of transparency and oversight
Chris Morris announced plans to develop an high-impact data center regulatory advisory panel made of a variety of stakeholders, including environmentalists. Read more HERE.
Residents in the Southern Coalfields have grappled with water contamination for generations. This image of contamination of Elkhorn Creek was submitted to From Below by a resident.
Trump Administration Killed Criminal Investigation of GOP Senator’s Coal Companies
The Deputy Attorney General ended a federal investigation into possible Clean Water Act violations by Sen. Justice’s coal company. Read more HERE.
U.S. House committee rejects Moore’s funding proposal for drinking water in Southern West Virginia
Rep. Moore’s $50 million request from the House Appropriations Committee was denied earlier this month — leaving the southern coalfields without the funding needed for water infrastructure projects. Read more HERE.
Appeals court overturns ruling to stop Chemours from polluting the Ohio River
A Trump appointed 4th Circuit Court judge issued the opinion overturning a previous ruling that stopped Ohio River pollution by the Chemours Chemical Company. Read more about it HERE.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Lawmakers Increasingly Voice Opposition To Energy Projects
State Democrats held a press conference at the site of the Ridgeline Facility project to express opposition to the lack of local control and other oversight to data center development. Read more about it HERE.
Lawmakers Express Frustration With Transmission Line Proposals, Increased Rates
Some state leaders are concerned about the cost to ratepayers of two major transmission line projects in the state at once. Read more about it HERE.
Climate Change Brings Armadillos To Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning
Nine-banded armadillos are being found in Kentucky due to rising temperatures, and solar surpassed coal in energy generation in May. Listen for more HERE.
State Regulators Hear From Public On Proposed Transmission Line
More than 200 people were in attendance at Monongalia County hearing for NextEra Energy’s MARL project. Read more about the hearing HERE.
Bear Killed In Charleston Showcases Rise In Encounters With Humans
A young bear was recently killed in Downtown Charleston after wandering out of nature and into the urban environment. Read more about the incident and the rise in bear encounters HERE.
State Leaders Tout Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Success In Morgantown
The Richard Mine Treatment Plant is has successfully mitigated acid mine drainage into Decker’s Creek for two years now. Read more about it HERE.
Abandoned Gas Wells Dot State, Continue Leaking
You’ll see a familiar face in this piece. None other than our friend Dave McMahon of WVSORO was interviewed for this piece on abandoned gas wells. Read it HERE. Listen to the segment on This West Virginia Week HERE.
he National Guard help move a downed tree in Georgia after Hurricane Helene. Georgia National Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
West Virginia Watch
Calmer hurricane season expected in Atlantic as worries over federal response persist
It could be a slightly less damaging hurricane season in the Southeastern and Northeastern US. Read more about NOAA’s predictions and FEMA’s payment history HERE.
WV data center head says state received first application for microgrid certification this week
Chris Morris announced a data center developer applied for microgrid certification, but said he couldn’t provide additional details on the application. Read more about the vague announcement HERE.
Trump to pump $700M into coal power in the states, as he again blasts renewable energy
$200 million in DOE grants will be used to build new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia. Hundreds of millions more will go towards funding repairs at coal plants in a dozen other states, including West Virginia. Read more about it HERE.
More cities are pressing pause on data centers as local backlash grows
Community organizing is working in places around the country. Leaders are heeding the call to protect residents from the harms of data center development. Read more HERE.
Kentucky Lantern
Five decades later, the mountains still need what they never got
The author of “Annihilating the Hillbilly” writes about his new book, which covers how industry has impacted Appalachia and the resulting mass exodus. Read more HERE.
Kentucky has numerous coal ash sites. The U.S. EPA is weakening pollution protections for them.
The initial coal ash regulations rolled out as a result of a major sludge spill in Martin County, Kentucky in 2000. The rollbacks will put all of us at great risk. Read more HERE.
Some Kentucky drinking water utilities have ‘punitive’ disconnection policies, report finds
In 2024, Kentucky American Water made about 57,000 disconnections in just 12 months. A report found the company is one of a dozen with punitive policies. Read more HERE.
