W.Va. Ranks Last On State Climate, Health Scorecard

West Virginia landed on the bottom of a scorecard that measures climate and health.

The Commonwealth Fund ranks West Virginia last on its State Scorecard on Climate, Health and Health Care.

The New York-based nonprofit cites the state’s overwhelming reliance on coal to generate electricity. Coal produces 86% of West Virginia’s electricity, more than any state.

Kentucky, also heavily reliant on coal, ranks just above West Virginia on the scorecard.

Other neighboring states fare far better. Maryland and Pennsylvania rank 7 and 9, respectively. Virginia ranks at 18 and Ohio at 31.

West Virginia also scores low on energy efficiency and health care sector greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2020, the nonprofit said, West Virginia’s health care sector had among the highest per-capita emissions of carbon dioxide.