Public News Service

Solar panels on the roof of Lifeline Church of God in Princeton, W.Va. (Resource Rural)

Federal funding reduces barriers to solar for WV schools, churches

Wayne County Schools and a church in Princeton have installed solar panels with help from the Inflation Reduction Act, local grants and solar …

From 2011 to mid-2020, 95 gigawatts of coal capacity was closed or switched to another fuel and another 25 gigawatts is slated to shut down by 2025, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia’s PSC faces lawsuit over coal-plant directive

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is facing legal challenges for its 2021 directive that Appalachian Power increase the usage of three of…

According to a June 2024 survey from The Pew Research Center, 33% of Americans think installing a solar panel farm in their community would help their local economy, while just 7% think it would hurt it. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV green lights solar plant construction, advocates rally against rising utility bills

Residents in Nicholas and Clay counties could soon receive their electricity from a local solar plant, estimated to power around 90,000 homes in the …

A zombie mine is shown in Clintwood, Kentucky. (Erin Savage)

Zombie mines continue to pose environmental, health threats to Appalachia

West Virginia and other Appalachian states are littered with hundreds of "zombie mines," abandoned mines neither producing coal nor undergoing reclama…

A more diversified economy, including solar energy, is stopping the

putting people in West Virginia to work through paid on-the-job training. (Adobe Stock)">

Reimagining WV coal country by building on state’s legacy as an energy provider

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public New…

Nationwide, in the second quarter of 2022, residential solar set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)

Pressure mounts on WV’s utility regulator to preserve solar net-metering

Residents and advocacy groups will rally in Charleston this Saturday to protect net-metering for solar customers. Two of West Virginia's major …

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Clean-energy sector manufacturing may jumpstart West Virginia’s economy

Manufacturers in West Virginia employ around 7% of the state's workforce, and advocates say the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy …

More than half of West Virginians live within a mile of an oil and gas well, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New federal methane rules expected to improve WV air quality

The Environmental Protection Agency is clamping down on methane emissions, and environmental groups say West Virginians' health will benefit…

In the second quarter of 2022, nationwide residential solar set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV utilities propose slashing energy credit in half for customers with solar panels

Major utilities in West Virginia, Mon Power and Potomac Edison, want to reduce the credit their solar customers get for producing power the utilities …

Virginia and West Virginia residents say they're worried about the safety of a natural-gas pipeline that, once built, will run for more than 300 miles through their communities. (Facebook/Appalachians Against Pipelines)

Communities concerned about MVP pipeline water pollution, explosion risk

After a federal appeals court this week denied a request from a group of Virginia landowners to stop construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on t…

Nationwide, experts say aging fossil-fuel-based energy infrastructure isn't designed to withstand the extreme weather conditions driven by climate change over the next decade. (Adobe Stock)<br />

West Virginians Could Face Higher Energy Bills Under Proposed Rate Hike

West Virginia residents' electricity rates have nearly doubled over the past decade - and may soon climb higher, under a nearly $650 million rate …

Cumulative community solar capacity has grown by about 121% year over year since 2010, more than doubling in capacity on average, according to research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As Utility Cost Burden Increases, WV Counties Look to Community Solar

Interest in community solar is on the rise, as a greater share of West Virginians' household incomes go toward utility bills. Federal data show …

A new study reveals extent of the public health harms of U.S. oil and gas production, including more than $77 billion in human health damages nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

WV Among Top States for Public Health Harms from Fossil Fuels

Ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in 2016 caused more than $77 billion in human health damages …

Hundreds of environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to construction of the multi-billion-dollar natural gas Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would stretch more than 300 miles through Virginia and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

WV Enviro Groups Call MVP Greenlight a 'Terrible Precedent'

A 300-mile-long fracking pipeline project slated to cross numerous streams and rivers in West Virginia and Virginia got a major boost over the weekend…

Community solar projects can make solar energy accessible to residents who may not be able to install solar panels on their own home, according to the National Association of Home Builders. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In WV, Community Solar Gains Popularity Amid Rising Utility Bills

Amid rising energy costs and inflation, energy advocates said they have seen a jump in interest in community solar. Luanne McGovern, legislative …

Nearly a quarter of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. are expected to retire by 2029, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Aging WV Power Plant Slated to Close, Utilities Propose Keeping It Open

An aging power plant in Belmont, West Virginia is slated to shut its doors this year. But two utilities, Monongahela Power Company and Potomac Edison…

Blue hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas, using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam, and releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct, according to the National Grid Group.(Adobe Stock)

WV Ratepayers Could Foot the Bill for Proposed 'Blue' Hydrogen Hub

The federal government is on the verge of announcing which states will receive $2 billion to create "blue" hydrogen hubs, and West Virginia, along …

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 16 million metric tons of methane annually, which has the same near-term climate impact as 350 coal-fired power plants, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules Would Target Flaring at WV’s Oil, Gas Wells

Under proposed rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, oil and gas well operations across the nation would be required to strengthen …

Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits, loan guarantees and other incentives to encourage the implementation of carbon-capture technology. (Adobe Stock)">

Critics: WV Carbon Capture Hub a Boondoggle, Empty Promises

President Joe Biden's infrastructure law contains $10 billion to sow the seeds for the creation of pipelines to capture, transport and store carbon …

West Virginia has the potential to create more than 1,000 solar energy jobs, and nearly 3,000 energy efficiency jobs by 2030 and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, according to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act: A Pathway to Transition WV from Coal

West Virginia residents stand to gain from the tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation, supported by Sen. Joe Manchin…

A court has ruled the Mountain Valley Pipeline can change its crossing method for around 180 bodies of water and wetlands, and dig tunnels under, rather than through, them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Routing MV Pipeline Under Streams, Wetlands Called Habitat Risk

Mountain Valley Pipeline developers are now allowed to dig tunnels below streams and wetlands, and environmental groups say they are concerned about …

Use of solar and wind power has grown at a rapid rate over the past decade or so, but as of 2018 those sources still account for around 4% of all the energy used in the United States, according to research from the Pew Charitable Trusts. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Ukraine Crisis a Reminder to Break Dependence on Fossil Fuels

As the crisis in Ukraine continues, experts argued investments in clean energy will lower costs for Americans and reduce dependence on foreign oil …

A 2021 study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters found pollution from tailpipe emissions in the northeastern U.S. is carried across state lines and can affect the health of people living in downwind states. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA Could Restore States’ Authority to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions

States will soon be able to set their own tailpipe-emissions limits stricter than the federal government's, thanks to an expected rollback of a Trump-…

Despite a drop in global carbon emissions in 2020 due to the pandemic, worldwide CO2 emissions are estimated to be around 34 billion tons. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Putting Price on Carbon Could Benefit West Virginians

Tax credits and direct payments to companies that capture and store their carbon emissions underground are a key feature of the climate provisions out…

Abandoned coal mines across the country have left communities grappling with unusable land and polluted water. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Communities Await Abandoned Coal Mine Lands Program Funds

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Biden administration's recently passed infrastructure law provides $11.3 billion in abandoned mine land clean-up funding for 2…

There are hundreds of natural-gas processing facilities in the nation, and more than half of these plants would meet the Toxics Release Inventory's chemical reporting thresholds for 21 different toxic chemicals, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules: Natural-Gas Facilities to Show Air-Pollution Data

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Natural-gas processing plants in West Virginia and around the country will soon have to start publicly reporting the chemicals …

Around 32% of Americans plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year, a decline from 35% last year, according to a recent survey from GasBuddy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Gas-Powered WV Drivers Pinched at the Pump This Thanksgiving

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia gas prices continue to climb, and experts say drivers can expect to shell out more money for gas through next year…

In 2020, the residential sector used 3.66 trillion Kilowatt hours of electricity, making up 96% of U.S. total electricity sales, according to data from the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Biden’s Build Back Better Act Could Help Consumers Save on Energy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Energy experts say the expanded rebates and tax credits proposed in President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act could …

Cutting greenhouse-gas emissions as part of an effort to slow climate change also reduces air pollutants, such as fine particulate matter, that harm human health, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates: Build Back Better Act’s Tax Credits Will Benefit WV Families

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Experts say the consumer rebates outlined in President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act will help families save money as they …

Supporters of the 30 Million Solar Homes Initiative say over the next five years, it would create $69 billion in electric-bill savings. (Adobe Stock)

Report: More Solar Homes Would Benefit Rural Economies

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A report outlines how federal efforts to bring solar energy to one in four American households could bring clean energy to …

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm addresses reporters at the White House earlier this year. (Cameron Smith/Wikimedia Commons)

Energy Secretary Tours West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Clean-energy supporters say U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm's visit to the state on Friday signals the administration's …

This feeder line in Monongalia County is part of the larger Mountain Valley Pipeline under construction to bring gas from West Virginia to Virginia. (Jim Kotcon)

Report Questions Mountain Valley Pipeline's Financial Viability

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline may not be needed because natural-gas demand in the Southeast is expected to decline over …

Expanding broadband and modernizing West Virginia's electric grid could generate more than 15,000 new jobs, according to a new study. (Adobe stock)

Report: Infrastructure Plan Could Bring Thousands of Jobs to WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - With the Senate considering President Joe Biden's massive infrastructure plan, a new study finds that West Virginia stands to …

Legal and regulatory challenges have increased the cost of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project by more than 50%. (Alexandr Anastasin/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Urge Higher Fines for Mountain Valley Pipeline Project

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- The multibillion-dollar Mountain Valley Pipeline Project is being fined more than $300,000 for excessive erosion and sediment …

West Virginia could gain more than 1,100 jobs if the state shifts from coal power to renewable energy by 2035, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: WV Shift to Renewable Energy Could Lower Bills, Boost Economy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With more coal plants idling or shutting down during the pandemic, a new report makes the case for boosting West Virginia's …

From 2016 to 2019, more than 200,000 clean-energy jobs were created and the sector was projected to add another 71,000 in 2020 until the pandemic hit. (Adobe stock)

Report: Clean-Energy Jobs Plummet During Pandemic

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The nation's clean-energy industry has been hit hard by the pandemic's economic downturn, and a new report urges policymakers to …

The candy darter is one endangered fish species that conservation groups want to protect from the effects of pipeline construction in Virginia and West Virginia. (Native Fish Coalition)<br /><br />

WV Groups Laud Court "Freeze" on Pipeline Construction

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Conservation groups are applauding a federal court ruling that blocks permit approval to construct the Mountain Valley Pipeline …

A new nature preserve in West Virginia represents an innovative approach to restoring land polluted by former coal mines. (Flickr)

WV Land Polluted by Coal Mines Transforms into Recreation Area

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As a result of a lawsuit over water pollution from mining, a tract of land that once housed surface mines is being repurposed as …

A federal judge ruled that Bluestone Coal Corp. will have to pay penalties and cleanup costs for leaking selenium from mines into McDowell County streams. (Wikimedia Commons)

Judge Finds WV Governor’s Coal Company Liable for Pollution Violations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - After a group of environmental activists filed a lawsuit last year, a federal judge ruled this week that a coal company owned by …

Atlantic Coast Pipeline construction in Upshur County, West Virginia in 2018. (Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition)

Cancellation of Atlantic Coast Pipeline Called Victory for Environmentalists

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Climate-change activists celebrated the landmark decision to abandon the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline project Sunday…

The Supreme Court paved the way for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. (Wikimedia Commons)

Environmentalists: Supreme Court Pipeline Ruling a “Disaster”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Just after the Supreme Court released its ruling on LGBTQ rights on Monday, the high court announced another decision that has …

A West Virginia Senate bill aims to let power companies offer regulated solar energy to businesses and households, in a state that currently offers no solar power. (SolarWorld)

Groups See WV Solar Bill as a ‘Step Forward’

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A bill that passed unanimously in the West Virginia Senate is being seen by environmental groups as an important step toward …

Members of Appalachians Against Pipelines protest against the Mountain View Pipeline in West Virginia in 2018. (Appalachians Against Pipelines/Facebook)

WV Bill Would Criminalize Peaceful Environmental Protests

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Environmental groups spoke out this week against a West Virginia House of Delegates bill that would make peaceful protests …

An investigation by Rolling Stone magazine found the waste brine from Marcellus wells is radioactive enough to be seen as a threat to workers and the public. (Vivian Stockman/Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition)

Investigation: Marcellus Waste 'Too Hot' for Release by Nuke Plant

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- A federal loophole means millions of tons and billions of gallons of radioactive natural gas waste are being disposed of as if …

A West Virginia community is solving a clean tap-water crisis with hydropanels that make water out of air. (Zero Mass Water)

WV County Tackles Clean Water Crisis with New Hydropanels

KIMBALL, W.Va. – In McDowell County, West Virginia, access to clean tap water is a challenge for many. That's why one community is trying …

Falling solar-panel prices have made renewable energy increasingly reasonable for businesses such as the Twin Spruce Marina in Morgantown. (Twin Spruce Marina)

Solar Tour Highlights Potential for West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – This weekend, tours of West Virginia solar sites helped illuminate how sunlight might make more electricity here, and help …

W. Va. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw has a degree in chemistry, but makes his living as an attorney for natural-gas companies. (W. Va. Legislature)

Hanshaw Discusses Climate Change, But Won’t Call It By Name

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – In an unprecedented statewide video conference on Tuesday, West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw took …

Victims of black lung have described the incurable lung disease as feeling like you are drowning on dry land. (Jack Corn/U.S. Archives/Wikipedia)

Rise In Black Lung May Be Due to Mining Thinner Coal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The return of black lung to Appalachia may be due to the coal industry here mining thinner seams of high-priced met coal…

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WV: Energy Policy