Energy & Environment Story Archives - Page 3 of 358 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Reporter Roundtable Talks Budget, Energy And FOIA Legislation

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the coal and natural gas industries play a large role in the state’s economy and the West Virginia Legislature pays close attention to what’s happening in terms of severance taxes, jobs and economic development. For our weekly reporter roundtable, WVPB reporters Briana Heaney and Curtis Tate are joined by Energy & Environment Reporter Sarah Elbeshbishi with the nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, the coal and natural gas industries play a large role in the state’s economy and the West Virginia Legislature pays close attention to what’s happening in terms of severance taxes, jobs and economic development. For our weekly reporter roundtable, WVPB reporters Briana Heaney and Curtis Tate are joined by Energy & Environment Reporter Sarah Elbeshbishi with the nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight.

The Senate met on Friday and passed several bills without discussion. Some of those had previously garnered debate. One such bill was House Bill 2172, adding an athletic trainer to the Board of Physical Therapy.

And each week throughout this legislative session, our high school reporters have filed stories that interest them as teens, but also as members of the community. This week, Emma Browning and Malia Saar wanted to look into legislation affecting the foster care system in the state.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

House, Senate Agree To Favor Land Reuse Groups In Derelict Property Sales

A policy that grants land reuse groups purchasing priority during the sale of tax-delinquent, derelict properties has received wide support in the West Virginia Legislature.

Under current state law, land banks and land reuse groups get first crack at buying properties placed under public auction for tax delinquency. These are groups that identify properties in poor condition and restore or sell them for public use — creating new spaces for things like housing or commercial development.

The policy is set to end in July, but Senate Bill 538 would remove the sunset date and make the policy permanent. The bill passed the West Virginia Senate on March 19, and received the stamp of approval from the West Virginia House of Delegates by a vote of 88 to 10 on Thursday, with two members absent or not voting.

During discussions on the House floor, Del. Chris Phillips, R-Barbour, said the bill would reduce the number of derelict properties across the state.

“It’s to help clean up chronically dilapidated properties,” he said. “It’s really aimed at frequent flyers or landowners in the state that keep purchasing these properties, letting them further and further degrade.”

But Del. Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson, said he worried the bill was prioritizing certain entities.

“We’re allowing certain entities to have first right. Why are we doing that?” Ridenour said. “This, to me, looks like we’re giving advantage to certain entities without giving advantage to the public at large.”

But Phillips said the policy has helped clean up properties statewide at a rate faster than possible for private entities.

Speaking in favor of the bill, Del. Carl Roop, R-Raleigh, also said that land reuse groups can restore a property and then sell it publicly, returning it to the market in a better condition.

“This will give us a way of cleaning up the property, getting the property back on the tax rolls, and letting other people throughout the community buy the property,” Roop said.

Ultimately, a majority of the chamber voted in favor of the bill. It now returns to the Senate for one last review before getting sent to the governor’s desk for final consideration.

House Passes Bill To Let Data Centers Operate Microgrids

The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill today that would allow data centers to establish microgrids — self-contained sites that generate their own power.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey asked lawmakers to consider the policy last month.

Morrisey and other proponents of House Bill 2014 hope giving developers more control over their energy resources could attract more data centers – and new jobs – to the state. That includes Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison.

“We’re looking for an opportunity to compete in West Virginia through an ever-changing landscape of technological innovation,” Riley said on the House floor Tuesday.

Data centers use large amounts of energy, and advocates say microgrids ensure a site can meet its energy demands without straining the grid residents, schools and businesses depend on.

But Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, worries the bill would mean data centers wouldn’t have to help shoulder energy costs, which could leave electricity rates just as high for residents.

“Should we enact this legislation and attract these data centers, we are not going to attract ratepayers that are able to spread the fixed costs,” he said during floor discussion Tuesday. “Now I don’t know — if we were to have data centers come here without these microgrids — whether it would lower your power bills. But it doesn’t appear like, with the microgrid, that there’s any opportunity for that.”

Despite the delegate’s concerns, a majority of members of the House gave the bill its stamp of approval. House Bill 2014 passed by a vote of 88 to 12, and now heads to the West Virginia Senate for further review.

Legislation Could Affect Teachers, Plus Mine Safety Measures At Risk, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, we discuss the role education has played in this year’s legislative session, from proposed teacher pay bumps to bills addressing student discipline.

On this West Virginia Morning, we discuss the role education has played in this year’s legislative session, from proposed teacher pay bumps to bills addressing student discipline.

News Director Eric Douglas caught up with Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, to discuss how legislation currently under consideration could impact the state’s educators.

Also in this episode, Justin Hicks with Kentucky Public Radio walks us through possible risks to mine safety caused by dual efforts to cut federal spending and boost mineral production from President Donald Trump.

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 and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young 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

Pandemic-Era Vinyl Gets Re-Released And Natural Gas Leader Talks Industry, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, this month marked five years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of public spaces across the United States. The Cornelius Eady Trio, a ban organized around Tennessee poet and professor Cornelius Eady, used that time to create art.

On this West Virginia Morning, this month marked five years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of public spaces across the United States. The Cornelius Eady Trio, a ban organized around Tennessee poet and professor Cornelius Eady, used that time to create art.

The trio recorded “Don’t Get Dead: Pandemic Folk Songs by the Cornelius Eady Trio.” As Mason Adams reported for Inside Appalachia, the record was recently re-released on vinyl.

Plus, leaders from the natural gas industry met with Gov. Patrick Morrisey at the State Capitol last week for a roundtable discussion. Afterward, Curtis Tate spoke with Jim Crews, chairman of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia, about gas pipelines, data centers and the challenge of ordering gas turbines for new plants.

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 and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young 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

Statewide Camping Ban, Requirements For SNAP And One City Cracks Down On Shoplifting, This West Virginia Week

Top story of the week include a legislative debate over a proposed statewide camping ban and what should be expected of SNAP recipients. Also: the hopes for a comeback of the coal industry and why one city has cracked down on shoplifting.

On this West Virginia Week, legislators debate a statewide camping ban and what should be expected of residents who get SNAP benefits. We’ll take a look at the hopes for a comeback of the coal industry and why one city has cracked down on shoplifting.

Maria Young 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, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.