New Research Explores Thriving Plants On Former Coal Lands, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, a WVU researcher is studying a plant that can help restore surface mine properties by creating missing topsoil and capturing carbon out of the air and storing it underground. The above ground plants can also be used as biomass which can be turned into biofuels or even particle board.

News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Jennifer Kane, a postdoctoral student in plant and soil sciences from the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. Kane is studying the plant Miscanthus. She grew up in Raleigh County and has first-hand knowledge of the abandoned mine lands she is looking to improve.

Also, in this show, an entire city in Jefferson County, Kentucky is slated to disappear, thanks to a relatively new law in the state. But few know the city of Poplar Hills even exists. WFPL’s Justin Hicks reports the city government went defunct years ago and now the state is trying to get rid of these so-called “ghost cities.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University and Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning