Recommended Reading for January 2021

December  2020 –  Jan. 2, 2021 MOVCA Selected Media Postings

Compiled by Cindy Taylor

Appearing in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel:

Saturday, December 26, 2020  Op-Ed by Thomas Minney & Beth Wheatley, The Nature Conservancy in WV

“Energy, climate innovation a building block to W.Va.’s future”

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/local-columns/2020/12/energy-climate-innovation-a-building-block-to-w-va-s-future/

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2021 Letter-to-the-editor by Ron Teska, Belleville, WV

“Hungry Hook”

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2020/12/hungry-hook/

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2021 Local News Article by Tyler Bennett

“Mid-Ohio Valley transportation planners seek public input”

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2020/12/mid-ohio-valley-transportation-planners-seek-public-input/

Appearing in The Marietta Times:

Monday, December 14, 2020  Letter-to-the-Editor by Jim Grecni

“We should not tolerate corruption”

https://www.mariettatimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2020/12/we-should-not-tolerate-corruption/

Appearing on-line in Charleston Gazette-Mail:

Tuesday, December 29, 2020  Opinion by Michael J. Hicks, professor at Ball State U, Muncie, Indiana

“Michael J. Hicks: Coal isn’t returning, and it has hurt growth in WV”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/michael-j-hicks-coal-isnt-returning-and-it-has-hurt-growth-in-wv-opinion/article_4e2a5024-b224-523e-bf22-858dcae25bc7.html

Tuesday December 15, 2020  News article by Mike Tony, Staff writer

“Report suggests WV must embrace renewable energy for economic growth”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/report-suggests-wv-must-embrace-renewable-energy-for-economic-growth/article_d5af1ff5-ef49-5db0-a20a-4aa98bf80e39.html

Monday, December 14, 2020 Opinion by Eric Engle, Parkersburg, WV

“Eric Engle: Where’s the accountability?”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/eric-engle-wheres-the-accountability-opinion/article_5b5ccfca-0fd2-51a7-9215-60ae3a639e69.html

Saturday December 5, 2020 Op-ed by Ted Boettner

“Ted Boettner: Embracing clean energy vital to WV’s future”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/ted-boettner-embracing-clean-energy-vital-to-wvs-future/article_524c48ef-ed5f-5d73-a23c-fe3d282d4325.html

Appearing in The Athens News:

Tuesday, December 1, 2020  Letter to the Editor by Aaron Dunbar, Lowell, OH

“Repeal House Bill 6”

https://www.athensnews.com/opinion/letters/repeal-house-bill-6/article_a4c827f9-40fe-5a7d-8691-d3c742e3bf02.html

Appearing on-line in WV Public Broadcasting and WOUB (PBS):

Monday, December 28, 2020 News Article by Andy Chow/ Statehouse News Bureau

“2020 Year In Review – Despite Nuclear Bailout Scandal, Republican Leaders Keep HB6”

2020 Year In Review – Despite Nuclear Bailout Scandal, Republican Leaders Keep HB6

Tuesday, December 1, 2020 News Article  (audio and text) by Karen Kasler/Statehouse News Bureau

“Chair of Committee Hearing Nuclear Bailout Repeal Bills Puts Forward A Delay”

Chair Of Committee Hearing Nuclear Bailout Repeal Bills Puts Foward A Delay

Appearing on-line in The Bargain Hunter (Weekly news magazine serving Ohio Counties: Holmes, Tuscarawas, Wayne, and the surrounding area. Stark, Medina, Summit and Cuyahoga):

Friday, January 1, 2020 Column by Randi Pokladnik

“Ignorance is bliss in the U.S.”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/col-randi-pokladnik/ignorance-is-bliss-in-the-u-s

Sunday, December 20, 2020 Column by Randi Pokladnik

“The North Pole is in trouble”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/col-randi-pokladnik/the-north-pole-is-in-trouble

Saturday, December 5, 2020 Column by Randi Pokladnik

“Christmas gifts for the environmentalist in your life”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/col-randi-pokladnik/christmas-gifts-for-the-environmentalist-in-your-life

Appearing on-line in Mountain State Spotlight(independent, civic news organization):

December 8, 2020  Environment Article by Ken Ward, Jr.

“Federal regulators are rewriting environmental rules so a massive pipeline can be built across West Virginia”

Federal regulators are rewriting environmental rules so a massive pipeline can be built across West Virginia

Available on-line The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition OHVEC.org

December 8, 2020 OVEC Press release:

“550 Groups Ask Biden to Solve Plastic Pollution Crisis With Eight Executive Actions”: Presidential Plastics Action Plan Urges Incoming President to Stop New Plastic Production, Regulate Petrochemical Industry, Reduce Plastic Pollution

550 Groups Ask Biden to Solve Plastic Pollution Crisis With Eight Executive Actions

Appearing on-line on Ohio River Valley Institute (an independent, nonprofit research and communications center – “Sound research for a more sustainable, equitable, democratic, and prosperous Appalachia”:

December 14, 2020   Research article by Eric de Place

“Plastic Market Trends Are Bad News for Appalachian Cracker Plans: What Peak Plastic Means for the Petchem Buildout”

Plastic Market Trends Are Bad News for Appalachia Cracker Plans

Appearing on-line on EarthJustice website (a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization)

December 17, 2020  News release Contacts:  Miranda Fox, Earthjustice; Autumn Long, SUN; Emmett Pepper, EEWV;   Gary Zuckett, WVCAG.

“FirstEnergy Drops $250 Million Proposal for Aging Coal-Powered Plants”

https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2020/firstenergy-drops-250-million-proposal-for-aging-coal-fired-power-plants

Appearing on-line on Solar Power World

December 21, 2020 (updated Dec. 28) News Article by Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief of Solar Power World

“Solar investment tax credit extended at 26% for two additional years”

Solar investment tax credit extended at 26% for two additional years

Appearing on-line on WTAP

December 29, 2020 News article by Laura Bowen, WTAP reporter

“Fire leaves Ritchie County without paper recycling center”

https://www.wtap.com/2020/12/30/fire-leaves-ritchie-county-without-paper-recycling-center/

Appearing on WOWK TV (Huntington)

December 21, 2020  Community Feature by Natalie Wades   (Video and Article)

“Environmental groups want stricter regulations for Ohio River”

Environmental groups want stricter regulations for Ohio River

(Eric Engle, Ex. Committee of Sierra Club WV Chapter, and Angie Rosser, Ex. Director of WV Rivers are interviewed)

Grassroots Actions –  PETITIONS to sign:

 Sierra Club’s Petition:

“Demand the EPA Protect the Ohio River from Pollution”

https://addup.sierraclub.org/campaigns/demand-the-epa-protect-the-ohio-river-from-pollution

Join us in petition the U.S. EPA to create numeric nutrient standards for the Ohio River

Report available on-line WVU College of Law, Center for Energy and Sustainable Development

December 14, 2020 Report released by WVU College of Law, Center for Energy and Sustainable Development

“West Virginia’s Energy Future: Ramping Up Renewable Energy to Decrease Costs, Reduce Risks, and Strengthen Economic Opportunities for West Virginia”

https://energy.law.wvu.edu/research-publications     Full report:

Report available on-line by Concerned Health Professionals of NY & Physicians for Social Responsibility

December 14, 2020 Released by Concerned Health Professionals of NY & Physicians for Social Responsibility headed by Dr. Sandra Steingraber. This Fracking Science Compendium, 7^th ed. :

“Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking (Unconventional Gas and Oil Extraction) Seventh Edition”

Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking (Unconventional Gas and Oil Extraction) Seventh Edition, December 14, 2020

NATIONAL Attention to Appalachia: US House Committee on Natural Resources:

APPALACHIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE VIRTUAL FORUM

December 9, 2020 9am House Committee on Natural Resources: Democrats presented:

“Environmental Justice Now Tour: Appalachia” (The virtual forum was recorded live, link below)

https://www.facebook.com/NRDems/videos/392767432035313

Panel: Julie Bledsoe, Statewide Organizing for Community empowerment; Alex Cole, Ohio Environmental Coalition; Gabby Gillespie, Southern Appalachian mountain stewards Sierra Club Organizer, Virginia