Suggested Readings for May 2022

MOVCA April 2022 Selected Media Postings

Appearing on-line in the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

April 30, 2022 Energy and Environment article by Mike Tony

“Researchers, industry experts say numbers don’t add up for Appalachia’s largest gas and oil well owner of WV’s well inspectors”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/researchers-industry-experts-say-numbers-dont-add-up-for-appalachias-largest-gas-and-oil-well/article_43dfce05-0167-5b53-a4f3-8b6dd48c65ff.html

April 25, 2022  Op-Ed by Dan Taylor, Appalachian regional field organizer for the BlueGreen Alliance

“Dan Taylor” WV, with help, is posed to lead in clean energy”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/dan-taylor-wv-with-help-is-poised-to-lead-in-clean-energy-opinion/article_910121de-5565-5a12-b24b-73490aca94c7.html

April 22, 2022  Energy and Environment Article by Mike Tony

“PSC approves FirstEnergy’s utility-scale solar projects, but with new requirements before construction can begin”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/psc-approves-firstenergys-utility-scale-solar-projects-but-with-new-requirements-before-construction-can-begin/article_94a42451-44e8-56f0-9344-5ef950f0c68d.html

April 21., 2022 Editorial

“Gazette-Mail editorial: Coal won’t keep lights on, if rate hikes persist”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/editorial/gazette-mail-editorial-coal-wont-keep-lights-on-if-rate-hikes-persist/article_fc4af7a4-0ee8-532c-86d1-380c0ab49891.html

April 19, 2022 Op-Ed by Evan Hansen, Morgantown, WV House of Delegates 51st District

“Evan Hansen: How a federal carbon tax would benefit WV”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/evan-hansen-how-a-federal-carbon-tax-would-benefit-wv-opinion/article_0300edcb-7fe1-5ec5-b210-9ccb54ab57e6.html

April 7, 2022 Column by James Van Nostrand

“Van Nostrand: Bailing our coal on the backs of ratepayers”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/van-nostrand-bailing-out-coal-on-the-backs-of-ratepayers-opinion/article_881010fd-e3c0-5676-b09d-cc946dea85b5.html

Available from Ohio Capital Journal:

April 29, 2022 Article by Jake Zuckerman

“Clean energy future? Fossil fuel boondoggle? Chamber pushes for hydrogen hub in Ohio”

April 26,  2022 Article by Jacob Fischler

“On Earth Day, Biden signs order to catalog and conserve old-growth forests”

April 11,  2022 Article by Jacob Fischler

“Biden goal for U.S. transition to electric vehicles cast into doubt at U.S. Senate hearing”

Appearing on-line on WV Public Broadcasting or WOUB (PBS) or NPR:

April 28, 2022 Energy and Environment Article by Shepherd Snyder (text and 1:00 audio)

“Canaan Valley Institute Kicking Off Green Infrastructure Program In Berkeley County”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-28/canaan-valley-institute-kicking-off-green-infrastructure-program-in-berkeley-county

April 19, 2022 Energy and Environment Article by Curtis Tate

“Law Will Allow State To Boycott Banks That Shun Fossil Fuels”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-19/law-will-allow-state-to-boycott-banks-that-shun-fossil-fuels

April 13, 2022 Energy and Environment Article by Curtis Tate

“Mason County Lands Coal Processing Plant, 500 Jobs”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-13/mason-county-lands-coal-processing-plant-500-jobs

April 12, 2022 Energy and Environment by Chris Schultz  Text and Audio (3:28)

“A Weekend Of Protest Ends On A Spiritual Note”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-12/a-weekend-of-protest-ends-on-a-spiritual-note

April 11, 2022 Energy and Environment Article by Curtis Tate

“Mountain Valley Pipeline Wins Key Federal Approval”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-11/mountain-valley-pipeline-wins-key-federal-approval

April 7, 2022 Energy and Environment Article by Curtis Tate

“Coal Plants Customers Will Pay To Upgrade Sat Idle For Parts of 2021”

https://www.wvpublic.org/energy-environment/2022-04-07/coal-plants-customers-will-pay-to-upgrade-sat-idle-for-parts-of-2021

April 7, 2022 Science article by Rina Torchinsky

“Solar panels that can generate electricity at night have been developed at Stanford”

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/07/1091320428/solar-panels-that-can-generate-electricity-at-night-have-been-developed-at-stanf

April 4, 2022 Climate Article by Lauren Sommer  Text and  4-min Audio heard on All Things Considered

“It’s not too late to stave off the climate crisis, U.N. report finds. Here’s how”

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/04/1090577162/climate-change-un-ipcc-report

Available on WTAP:

Sunday April 10, 2022    WTAP’s News at Six  

Video coverage of Manchin Protest at Grant Town Power Plant.

https://www.vuit.com/publishers/352/wtap#vod:20393484    (Amelia Walker interviewed)

Available from WTFR.COM:

April 4, 2022 Article by John Lynch

“West Virginia to have state’s largest solar farm on former mine site”

https://www.wtrf.com/west-virginia/west-virginia-to-have-states-largest-solar-farm-on-former-mine-site/

Appearing on-line on Ohio River Valley Institute https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org :

Thursday, April 21,2022 7-8:30PM Online EVENT – Virtual Public Information Session

“Ohio River Valley Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Hub” see recording link below:

Recording titled “Western PA Leaders Host Hydrogen Hub Information Session” posted to YouTube April 22, 2022

April 21, 2022 Blog article  by Eric de Place

“Why Worry About the Future of the Plastics Industry? Public Opinion.” The second of three reasons why petrochemical-to-plastic schemes are in jeopardy.

https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/why-worry-about-the-future-of-the-plastics-industry-public-opinion/

April 15, 2022  YouTube VIDEO (3:05) posted by ORVI Video about Why petrochemicals are failing Appalachia

“Petrochemical dreams are collapsing in Appalachia”

April 12, 2022 Report by Ted Boettner, Kathy Hipple, and Antony Ingraffea

“Diversified Energy: A Business Model Built to Fail Appalachia”

https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/diversified-energy-a-business-model-built-to-fail-appalachia/

April 4, 2022 Blog Article by Eric de Place

“Why Worry About the Future of the Plastics Industry? Bans.” The first of the three reasons why petrochemical-to-plastic schemes are in jeopardy.

https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/why-worry-about-the-future-of-the-plastics-industry-bans/

April 4, 2022 YouTube VIDEO (2:01) posted by ORVI

“Are hydrogen and carbon capture worth the hype?”

Available from West Virginia Rivers:

April 18, 2022 Article by Morgan King, climate campaign coordinator

“Committing to Our Future- The West Virginia Climate Pledge”

See also “Take the West Virginia Climate Pledge”

Available on ReImagine Appalachia:

April 18, 2022 Press Release

“Press Statement: Appalachian groups urge Biden, Congress to ensure climate action helps energy transition communities”

MOVCA is a one of the groups included in the sign-on letter.

Available on West Virginia Climate Alliance:

April 4, 2022 Press Release

“World’s Climate Scientists Lay Out a Path to Mitigate Climate Change”

https://www.wvclimatealliance.org/blog/2022/4/worlds-climate-scientists-lay-out-a-path-to-mitigate-the-climate-change

Available on The Appalachian Chronicle:

April 14, 2022  Article by Michael M. Barrick and YouTube link to view Documentary (45:45) Mountain Media Productions

“Maury Johnson: Fierce Friend of Mother Earth” A Citizen Activist Explains His Determined Efforts to Stop The Mountain Valley Pipeline

NATIONAL ATTENTION & Relevant to our region:

Available on Politico:

April 11, 2022  Article by Adam Cancryn and Eugene Daniels

“The new White House rule: Do not talk about Joe Manchin”

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/11/white-house-joe-manchin-biden-00024340

Available on Inside Climate News:

April 23, 2022  Politics & Policy article by James Bruggers, Reporter, SE, National Environmental Reporting Network

“Two US Electrical Grid Operators Claim That New Rules For Coal Ash Could Make Electricity Supplies Less Reliable” The companies’ comments may factor into a lawsuit filed this month by a utilities group that objects to EPA’s enforcement of coal ash rules.

Available on YaleEnvironment360:

April 13, 2022 Industry article by Beth Gardiner

“Amid Hopes and Fears, A Plastics Boom in Appalachia Is On Hold”

https://e360.yale.edu/features/plans-to-make-appalachia-a-plastics-hub-face-growing-hurdles

Available on Energy Storage News:

March 23, 2022 News article by Andy Colthorpe  (This article was omitted from the March listing)

“Co-balt-free lithium battery gigafactory to help transition West Virginia away from coal economy”

Available on truthout.org:

April 8, 2022 Article by Candice Bernd, senior editor/staff reporter at Truthout

“West Virginians Gear Up for “Coal Baron Blockade” at Joe Manchin’s Coal Plant”

https://truthout.org/articles/west-virginians-gear-up-for-coal-baron-blockade-at-joe-manchins-coal-plant/

Available on E & E News:

April 26, 2022 ClimateWire article by Scott Waldman
“Manchin energy mantra collides with reality in W.Va.”

RESOURCES, RESEARCH, and SOLUTIONS:

Available from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) : 

April 4, 2022       REPORT released by IPCC  

Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Working Group III Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report

Available from National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

April 7, 2022 Research News

“Increase in atmospheric methane set another record during 2021” Carbon dioxide levels also record a big jump

https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/increase-in-atmospheric-methane-set-another-record-during-2021

Available from University of Rochester Medical Center: 

April 11, 2022 RESEARCH by Elaine L Hill & Lala Ma published in Journal of Health Economics

“Study Links Fracking, Drinking Water Pollution, and Infant Health”

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/study-links-fracking-drinking-water-pollution-and-infant-heath

Available on the Science & Environmental Health Network  SEHN.org:

April 11, 2022  Factual RESEACH by Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, Science Director SEHN

“Carbon Dioxide Fact Sheet” (including link to download)

https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2022/4/11/carbon-dioxide-fact-sheet

Available from Physicians for Social Responsibility/The Science and Environmental Health Network:

April 8, 2022 11:30 am  Recording of Online webinar about Carbon Capture and links for other Resources

“Examining Carbon Capture Through Public Health and Environmental Justice Lenses”

Available on Carbon Capture and Storage Facts.org (sponsored by the Science & Environmental Health Network):

“What is Carbon Capture and Storage”

https://www.carboncapturefacts.org

“Carbon capture and storage is dangerous, expensive, wasteful, and unnecessary.”  Overview and Facts

https://www.carboncapturefacts.org/capture-overview

Available from Concerned Health Professionals on NY:

April 28, 2022  Announcement of Compendium released and link to download

Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking and Associated Gas and Oil Infrastructure, Eighth Edition, April 28, 2022

https://concernedhealthny.org/compendium/

Available from Phys.org:

April 28, 2022  Article by Georgetown University Medical Center

“New study finds climate change could spark the next pandemic”

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-climate-pandemic.html

April 27, 2022 Chemistry article authored by University of Texas at Austin

“Plastic-eating enzyme could eliminate billions of tons of landfill waste”

https://phys.org/news/2022-04-plastic-eating-enzyme-billions-tons-landfill.html or directly from UT at this link:

https://news.utexas.edu/2022/04/27/plastic-eating-enzyme-could-eliminate-billions-of-tons-of-landfill-waste/

Available from Electrek:

April 28m 2022  Article by Michelle Lewis

“The US generated a record 18% of its electricity from wind and solar in March”

Available on RollingStone:

April 20, 2022  Article by Jeff Goodell

“The Climate Fight Isn’t Lost. Here Are 10 Ways to Win”

The clock is running on the climate crisis, but we have the tools and knowledge- and the crickets- that we need.