Energy & Environment Story Archives - Page 2 of 331 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

PSC Chair: EPA Rules Would Threaten W.Va. Power Plant Upgrades

PSC Chair Charlotte Lane said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules would jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in the state’s coal fleet.

The chair of the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) has joined the effort to block new federal power plant rules.

PSC Chair Charlotte Lane said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules would jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in the state’s coal fleet.

In 2021, the PSC approved $448 million in upgrades to three Appalachian Power plants to comply with EPA regulations in place at the time. The company’s electricity customers are paying the cost, and the upgrades were supposed to keep the plants operating through 2040.

EPA’s new rules will require them to capture 90 percent of their carbon dioxide or shut down.

In a brief to the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., Lane wrote that carbon capture would be too expensive and the plants would shut down several years earlier than planned.

That would make the investments the PSC approved in 2021 “unnecessary white elephants burdening the ratepayers of West Virginia,” Lane wrote.

In an unsigned order Friday, the D.C. Circuit denied an application for an administrative stay on the power plant rules by Republican states, including West Virginia.

Appalachian Power is an underwriter of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Water, Sewer Providers Must Assess Security Risks As Cyberattacks Rise

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is requiring all water and sewer providers in the state to complete cybersecurity assessments, following an uptick in cyberattacks nationally.

In late 2023, reports of foreign cyberattacks targeting local water systems across the United States spurred calls for providers to strengthen their cyber protections nationwide.

Now, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) announced it will require all water and sewer utility providers across West Virginia to complete cybersecurity investigations.

The investigations require providers to assess their cyber risks, with financial support from federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Water and sewer systems will also be required to develop long-term cybersecurity plans, and appoint an employee to oversee plan compliance.

“This is a seriously developing problem across the nation and the Public Service Commission wants to be in the forefront of helping assure the safety of data concerning utilities and their customers,” PSC Chairman Charlotte Lane said in a press release Thursday. “These attacks are widespread and will become more common, we fear, as we rely more and more on computers in our daily lives and in running our businesses.”

The PSC-prompted investigations mark another step in a months-long effort to reinforce water system cybersecurity in West Virginia as cyberattacks have continued to rise nationally.

In January, the Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) — part of the West Virginia Department of Health Bureau of Public Health — began coordinating cyberattack prevention initiatives with water providers across the state.

OEHS also coordinated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to spread awareness about free cybersecurity assessments offered by the federal agency.

Water and sewer providers in West Virginia will be required to complete their investigations by July 15 — 60 days after the PSC order was released.

W.Va. Receives Nearly $30 Million To Plug Abandoned Oil, Gas Wells

Abandoned oil and gas wells can leak pollutants into groundwater, surface water and the air. But a new $30 million investment aims to clean up these hazards across West Virginia.

Abandoned oil and gas wells can leak pollutants into groundwater, surface water and the air. But a new federal investment aims to clean up these hazards across West Virginia.

The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) awarded West Virginia nearly $29.2 million Monday. The funds are part of a national effort to clean up legacy pollutants, which are environmental hazards left behind by industrial activity.

West Virginia’s funds will plug roughly 200 orphaned oil and gas wells, while also bringing new employment opportunities to the state.

“I’ve seen firsthand the urgent need to address these hazardous sites, many of which are actively leaking oil and releasing methane gas,” said Deb Haaland, United States secretary of the Interior, in a Monday press release.

In 2022, the DOI granted the state an initial $25 million to get the plugging process started. DOI officials hope the new funds will advance that effort and reduce the state’s overall leakage of greenhouse gasses.

“These investments are good for our climate, for the health of our communities, and for American workers,” Haaland said.

Pipeline Problems, Student Protests And A Voter’s Guide, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, a pipeline safety watchdog said federal regulators “should be on notice” about a pressure test failure on the Mountain Valley Pipeline earlier this month.

On this West Virginia Morning, a pipeline safety watchdog said federal regulators “should be on notice” about a pressure test failure on the Mountain Valley Pipeline earlier this month.

Plus, students at West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus demonstrated in support of Palestine for the second time in as many weeks. Reporter Chris Schulz covered the protest from downtown Morgantown.

With the May 14 primary election fast approaching, nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight has created a statewide voter’s guide. West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Editor-in-Chief Ken Ward about the guide and how to access it.

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 Shepherd University.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Chris Schulz 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

Continuing Education Emergencies And Special Session Priorities This West Virginia Week

This week the U.S. Department of Education is launching a multimillion-dollar program to help boost the completion of FAFSA nationwide. We’ll also learn more about the state’s largest methamphetamine seizure in history. And we’ll hear about a rupture in the Mountain Valley Pipeline during a pressure test.

On this West Virginia Week, the U.S. Department of Education is launching a multimillion-dollar program to help boost the completion of FAFSA nationwide. We’ll also learn more about the state’s largest methamphetamine seizure in history. And we’ll hear about a rupture in the Mountain Valley Pipeline during a pressure test.

We’ll talk about a state of emergency declared at an Eastern Panhandle middle school and what led to the declaration. We’ll dive into what Gov. Jim Justice says will be top priorities during the upcoming special session. And we’ll learn about a tornado that touched down in Hancock County Tuesday night.

Emily Rice is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Mountain Valley Pipeline, Children’s Mental Health And Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, Curtis Tate tells us about problems with the Mountain Valley Pipeline as it nears completion, Emily Rice discusses children’s mental health with state expert and Mountain Stage brings us the Song of the Week with Watchhouse performing “The Wolves.”

On this West Virginia Morning, Curtis Tate tells us about problems with the Mountain Valley Pipeline as it nears completion, Emily Rice discusses children’s mental health with state expert and Mountain Stage brings us the Song of the Week with Watchhouse performing “The Wolves.”