FERC Nixes Plan to Subsidize Coal, Nuclear
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has rejected a proposal by the United States Department of Energy to provide subsidies to coal and nuclear power plants. The proposal came out of [...]
By John McFerrin The January meeting was a time of transitions, and more transitions to come. This was the first Board meeting presided over by new President Larry Thomas. It [...]
Pipeline Compliance Surveillance Initiative Launched
A citizen initiative to monitor construction activities of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is being launched by the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance (ABRA), a coalition of over 50 organizations in Virginia [...]
THE IMPORTANCE OF WEST VIRGINIA’S STATE PARKS
By Doug Wood Senate Bill 270 and House Bill 4182, introduced by Governor Justice at the urging of Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher, Division of Forestry Director Barry Cook, and Dept. [...]
Logging in State Parks: Just What Are Other States Doing?
By Doug Wood Many of our state parks and one state natural area have trails that pass through magnificent mature forests that attract hikers. An economic study and a market [...]
What Kind of a “Healthy” Forest Do We Want?
By John McFerrin In all the discussion of whether we should timber in West Virginia’s state parks, there are a couple of terms that people use, saying them as if [...]
By Cindy Rank Out with the old, in with the new. At least that’s the traditional expression about the advent of each new year. Then again some of the old [...]
Meanwhile, Over in North Carolina
When last the Voice reported on North Carolina’s review of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (December, 2017), North Carolina was still asking for more information from the developers. North Carolina’s decision [...]
Transfer of Pleasants Power Station Denied
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has denied a request by First Energy to sell its Pleasants Power Station to Mon Power and Potomac Edison. First Energy said that it [...]
Governor Justice Has Plan for State Parks: Timberrrrrr!
By John McFerrin A bill to allow commercial logging in West Virginia’s State Parks has been introduced in the West Virginia Legislature. The bill, Senate Bill 270 (SB270) and House [...]
West Virginia Land Trust Protects View from Bickle Knob
The West Virginia Land Trust has acquired a 123 acre parcel of land on Bickle Knob. It had to borrow the money for the acquisition; now it has undertaken a [...]
Groups Appeal FERC Approval of Atlantic Coast Pipeline
The Southern Environmental Law Center and Appalachian Mountain Advocates filed a challenge in federal court on behalf of 11 conservation groups challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to permit [...]
Governor’s Plan to Log State Parks Is a Bad Idea
By Robert Beanblossom I retired after 42 years with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources and worked both for our state park system and the Division of Forestry. I am [...]
Could Logging in Parks Help Wildlife?
By Doug Wood When the Division of Forestry tries to justify logging in state parks, it sometimes says that it wants to help wildlife. While it does not fully articulate [...]
West Virginia Environmental Council in Midst of Legislative Mayhem
By Frank Young Legislative Session Preparations: The West Virginia Environmental Council (WVEC, aka “E-Council”) is, as its name suggests, a council or coalition of several environmental organizations whose general purposes [...]
Corridor H: Must a Bad Project Be Badly Done?
By Hugh Rogers One day last September, I drove over to the Cherry Fork end of South Haddix Trail in northern Randolph County. Our friend Barbara Weaner, who lives at [...]
Another Year, Another Full Plate
By Larry Thomas January started the new year with a lot of activity. I believe you could say it came in like a lion. From the proposed pipelines, proposed logging [...]
