Recommended readings for March 2021

Appearing in The Marietta Times:

Thursday, February 4, 2021  Letter-to-the-Editor by Victor Elam, Marietta, OH

“Everybody lives downstream”

https://www.mariettatimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2021/02/everybody-lives-downstream/

Appearing in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel:

Saturday, February 6, 2021 Letter-to-the-Editor by Charles Pickering, Williamstown, WV

“Support PPAs in West Virginia”

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2021/02/support-ppas-in-west-virginia/

Appearing on-line in the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

 Thursday February 25, 2021 Energy and Environment news article by Mike Tony, staff writer

“New report predicts power of investments in clean energy infrastructure in WV”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/new-report-predicts-power-of-investments-in-clean-energy-infrastructure-in-wv/article_aa5a4473-df72-53ec-a217-b43ae38b8634.html

Friday, February 19, 2021  Op-Ed by Eric Engle, chairman of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action

“Eric Engle: Legislation that would create jobs and save money”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/eric-engle-legislation-that-would-create-jobs-and-save-money-opinion/article_6b947033-d52d-5d26-9365-32f2aceaff36.html

Monday, February 8, 2010 Op-Ed by Eric Engle, chairman of Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action

“Eric Engle: WV delegation’s balk at climate plan senseless”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/eric-engle-wv-delegations-balk-at-climate-plan-senseless-opinion/article_e1195ae6-a219-56b9-bff4-d86b58d008df.html

Friday, February 5, 2011 Opinion by Hoppy Kercheval

“Hoppy Kercheval: WV should beef up staff of gas, oil inspectors”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/hoppy-kercheval-wv-should-beef-up-staff-of-gas-oil-inspectors-opinion/article_6ef26e56-cc23-5f13-87e7-3cbfe6d44a56.html

Thursday, February 4, 2021   News Article by Mike Tony, Staff writer

“Environmental groups, state lawmakers focus on budget shortfall hurting DEP oil and gas well oversight capability”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/environmental-groups-state-lawmakers-focus-on-budget-shortfall-hurting-dep-oil-and-gas-well-oversight/article_1765e2c1-aa70-5b49-9281-c032b789d8a6.html

Wednesday, January 27, 2021  Energy and Environment news article by Mike Tony, Staff writer

“State and federal environmental priorities come into focus during West Virginia Center on Climate Change Webinar’

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/state-and-federal-environmental-priorities-come-into-focus-during-west-virginia-center-on-climate-change/article_0e9cc8c6-682b-5292-894f-4e52037cddb2.html

Appearing on-line in The Columbus Dispatch:

February 4, 2021 News article by Beth Burger

“Thousands of gallons of fracking waste spilled from Noble County well”

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/02/04/thousands-gallons-flthousands-of-gallouid-spilled-oil-and-gas-well-noble-co-damage-and-cause-unclear/4397912001/

Appearing on-line in The Athens News:

Wednesday, January 27, 2021  Letter to the Editor by Aaron Dunbar, Athens, OH

“Keystone XL Pipeline interests by politicians insincere”

https://www.athensnews.com/opinion/letters/keystone-xl-pipeline-interests-by-politicians-insincere/article_bd985e16-cfe8-5872-805a-d21f2e9437fa.html

Appearing on-line in The Times Leader, Martin’s Ferry, OH:

Saturday, February 6, 2021 Local News Article by Robert A. DeFrank, Staff Writer

“Panel discusses economic future of oil and gas”

https://www.timesleaderonline.com/news/local-news/2021/02/panel-discusses-economic-future-of-oil-and-gas/

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):

Sunday, February 28, 2021 Column by Dr. Randi Pokladnik

“Polystyrene and your food is a bad combination”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/col-randi-pokladnik/polystyrene-and-your-food-is-a-bad-combination

Monday, January 28, 2021 Column  by Randi Pokladnik, Ph.D.

“When the ability to dissent is taken away”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/col-randi-pokladnik/when-the-ability-to-dissent-is-taken-away

Sunday, January 17 Column  by Randi Pokladnik, Ph.D.

“Greenwashing hydrogen gas as a clean fuel source”

https://thebargainhunter.com/news/columnists/source

Appearing on-line in  Hoots and Hollers  a blog of Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC):

February 26, 2021

“People’s Public Hearing on HB 2598: Compelling Testimony”

(Includes text of testimony presented by Eric Engle and link to recording of the Hearing:

February 22, 2021 Article by Randi Pokladnik

“The Truth About Polystyrene”

February 9, 2021

“Plastics and Petrochemicals: How They affect You and the Environment”

At the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, thanks to grants from the Center, Health, Environment & Justice and The Story of Stuff, OVEC volunteer Dr. Randi Pokladnik conducted a series of workshops at community meetings in and around the Ohio River Valley.

You can register to watch recording of three of Randi Pokladnik’s presentations

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/plastics-and-petrochemicals-how-they-affect-you-and-the-environment/

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”:

February 10, 2021  ORVI announces New Report by Sean O’Leary, Senior Researcher

“New Report: Natural Gas Counties’ Economies Suffered As Production Boomed”

Link to download report (updated Feb. 12, 2021):

“The Natural Gas Fracking Boom and Appalachia’s Lost Economic Decade”

Appalachia’s Natural Gas Counties: Contributing more to the U.S. economy and getting less in return

February 8, 2021  Short Video (3 – 4 minutes) presented by Ohio River Valley Institute

“How Appalachia’s shale gas boom became an economic bust”

February 5, 2021 Article by Erin Brock Carlson, WVU and Martina Angela Caretta, Lund University

“Living with natural gas pipelines” – Appalachian landowners describe fear, anxiety and loss

(Article republished from Feb. 3, 2021 article see The Conversation)

https://theconversation.com/living-with-natural-gas-pipelines-appalachian-landowners-describe-fear-anxiety-and-loss-152586

Available on-line on ReImagine Appalachia and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), Amherst, MA: 

February 2021   ReImagine Appalachia shares Summary of results from PERI economic recovery program analysis:

“West Virginia Job Impact Brief” – ReImagine Appalachia blueprint creates 41,000 Jobs in West Virginia

February  2021 Report by Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institution (PERI) authored by Robert Pollin, Jeannette Wicks-Lim, Shouvik Chakraborty, and Gregor Semieniuk

Impacts of the ReImagine Appalachia & Clean Energy Transition Programs for West Virginia: Job Creation, Economic Recovery, and Long-Term Sustainability.  Download available at this site:

Thursday, February 25, 2021  Zoom Meeting of Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) presenting study:

 Overview of the ReImagine Appalachia Climate Infrastructure Plan which would create 41,100 family-sustaining jobs in West Virginia. Angie Rosser, Robert Pollin (lead author of report), Delegate Evan Hansen, Quenton King, Mayor Steve Williams and Josh Sword.  38-minute Recording available:

https://m.facebook.com/PERIatUMass/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

Available on-line on ENERGY NEWS NETWORK:

February 26, 2021 News article by Kathiann M. Kowalski

“Critics fear investors’ push for profits could thwart other FirstEnergy priorities”

February 23, 2021 News article by Kathiann M. Kowalski

“Ohio refinery city joins coalition to support local clean energy transitions”

Tuesday February 9, 2021  Research Article by Kathiann M. Kowalski, Reporter from Cleveland

“Ohio geologists study potential for geothermal in abandoned coal mines”

Featuring research by geologists at Ohio University, Athens, OH.

Available on-line on DeSmog (headquartered in Seattle, Washington):

Thursday, February 18, 2021  News article by Justin Nobel

“Fire at Oil and Gas Waste Site Raises Safety Concerns Around Possible Radioactive Accidents”

https://www.desmogblog.com/2021/02/18/fire-oil-gas-waste-petta-dallas-pike-safety-radioactivity

Article feasters news of fire at WV facility that processes radioactive oilfield waste generated from fracking and Petta facility in Cambridge, OH and concerns about TENORM – Technologically Enhanced Radioactive Materials

Available on-line on Forbes:

February 4, 2021  Energy News article by Ken Silverstein, Senior Contributor

“Will The Fracking Boom Ever Translate Into Jobs And Income For Appalachia’s Residents?”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2021/02/04/will-the-fracking-boom-ever-translate-into-jobs-and-income-for-appalachias-residents/?sh=1d5adb9d37d6

 Reporting on the news of the February 3, 2021 conference hosted by Ohio River Valley Institute (see Events)

EVENTS:

Monday, March 1, 2021, 9am  Virtual Public Hearing before House Judiciary Committee promoted by WV Citizen Action Group. Registration is by 2/26/21 required.

People’s Public Hearing on Water Quality Standards Rule HB 2389

Friday, February 26, 2021, 8am  Public Hearing organized by WV Rivers Coalition, WV Environmental Council, WV Citizen Action Group, WV Sierra Club , OVEC and other co-sponsors including MOVCA.

Peoples’s Public Hearing on HB 2598- altering the definition of an aboveground storage tank (exemptions for oil & gas tanks from Aboveground Storage Tank Act) . For more information and registration to speak, see:

https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/hb2598alert

 Hearing was posted live to Facebook and an YouTube Recording is posted by OVEC WV at this link:

Thursday, February 18, 2021, 7pm    Zoom Public Event hosted by MOVCA (registration required)

Co-sponsors: FactOhio/The Ohio Health Project, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, West Virginia Citizen Action Group and made possible with generous funding from the Dunn Foundation and MOVCA donors.

Livestreamed Lecture by Dr. Sandra Steingraber presenting findings from the recently released 7th edition of The Compendium of Scientific , Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking

   For more information and link to download the full compendium released December 14, 2020 by Concerned Health Professionals of NY and Physicians for Social Responsibility see:  https://concernedhealthny.org

Monday, February 15, 2021, 6 pm  Zoom Meeting by Ohio Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Call for Moral Revival: (Registration required)

“Healthier Days Ahead!!! . . . And how we can make sure of it !!!!”

Ben Hunkler from Concerned Ohio River Residents will  tell about project stopping PTTG cracker plant. Thailand-based petrochemical and refining company named PTT Global Chemical has proposed to build an ethane chemical “cracker” plant in Dilles Bottom, oh, about 5 mises south of Shadyside, OH and directly across the Ohio River from Moundsville, WV. Another proposed petrochemical project is the Appalachian Storage hub , a misleading term used to describe a mega-infrastructure project that would greatly expand unconventional oil and gas drilling (fracking ) in our state and region, If built, this petrochemical complex would include five or more cracker plants and regulating stations.  We will discuss the impact these new facilities would have on our health and environment and how they coincide with the poor Peoples Campaign 14 policy priorities.   

Thursday, Feb 4, 2021  3:00 PM   Public Zoom Event by OVEC – Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

“Press Conference: Legislative Response to WVDEF Oil and Gas Budget & Layoffs”

Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 10:30 am  Forum Hosted by Ohio River Valley Institute (posted to YouTube)

“Critical Condition: ‘The Shale Crescent’ and the Dream of an Appalachian Petrochemical Boom”

Panelists Kathy Hipple, Prof. of Finance at Bard College, John Hanger, energy consultant and former Pennsylvania DEP Secretary, and Anne Keller, industry consultant and former Wood-Mackenzie analyst discuss the future of regional petrochemical buildout in the Ohio Valley.

Omitted from previous month listing:

Monday, January 25, 2021  Zoom Program Hosted by West Virginia Center on Climate Change

“What Now?- – Climate Solutions in 2021, and Securing a Just Transition for West Virginia”

Of Interest:  International Report – (mentioned by Dr. Steingraber)

Available on-line on Common Dreams:

Thursday February 18, 2012  News Article by Brett Wilkins, staff writer

“UN Head Decries ‘Senseless and Suicidal’ Destruction of Nature as New Report Urges Systemic Solutions”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/un-head-decries-senseless-and-suicidal-destruction-nature-new-report-urges-systemic

Article about The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report, entitled “Making Peace With Nature: A scientific blueprint to tackle climate, biodiversity, and pollution emergencies” released Feb 2021 Download at this site: https://wedocs.unep.org/xmlui/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34948/MPN.pdf

Tuesday, February 9, 2021   News Article by Jake Johnson, staff writer

“With 10-point Declaration, Global Coalition of Top Energy Experts Says: ‘100% Renewables Is Possible’ ”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/09/10-point-declaration-global-coalition-top-energy-experts-says-100-renewables

      Article about JOINT DECLARATION of the Global 10% RE Strategy Group. Download at this site:

SEE also RELATED EVENT- February 9, 2021  Recorded presentation at CleanTech Business Club Meeting

“Joint Declaration of The Global 100% RE Strategy Group at CleanTech Club Thought Leaders”

Featuring the Authors of Joint Declaration of The Global 100% RE Strategy Group: Prof. Andrew Blakers (Australian National University);

Hans-Josef Fell (Energy Watch Group); Prof. Brian Vad Mathiesen (Aalborg University); Prof. Eicke Weber (ESMC, CBC, US Berkley em.)

Prof. Christian Breyer (LUT University); Prof. Mark Z. Jacobson (Stanford University); Tony Seba (RethinkX)