Suggested Readings for May 2023

MOVCA Selected Media Postings April 2023

Compiled by Cindy Taylor

Appearing in The Marietta Times:

April 24, 2023  Local News by Clara Noelle; Photo by Clara Noelle shows Adeline Bailey with MOVCA’s tabling

https://www.mariettatimes.com/news/2023/04/24th-earth-day-celebration-a-success/
Image of article in Marietta Times

Appearing online in The Parkersburg News and Sentinel: 

April 27, 2023 Business Article by Steven Allen Adams

“Future of Pleasants Power still murky following PSC order”

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/business/2023/04/future-of-pleasants-power-still-murky-following-psc-order/

April 8, 2023    Op-Ed by Craig Straight, Pleasants Power Station production supervisor

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/local-columns/2023/04/op-ed-wvpsc-should-approve-mon-powers-temporary-rate-increase/

Available on the Charleston Gazette-Mail:  

See full list of articles by Mike Tony, Environment and Energy Reporter

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/users/profile/mike%20tony/

April 27, 2023 2023 Article by Mike Tony, Energy and Environment Reporter

“EPA’s first Clean Water Act enforcement action on PFAS discharges targets Chemours facility in Wood County”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/epas-first-clean-water-act-enforcement-action-on-pfas-discharges-targets-chemours-facility-in-wood/article_11e7cc07-3038-596f-bb9f-1c85a221730b.html

   Eric Engle is quoted.

April 25, 2023 Article by Mike Tony, Energy and Environment Reporter

“PSC greenlights Mon Power, Potomac Edison talks toward Pleasant Power Station takeover, holds off on surcharge approval”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/psc-greenlights-mon-power-potomac-edison-talks-toward-pleasants-power-station-takeover-holds-off-on/article_fc14d896-69e2-5aeb-84d3-f503e058ee97.html

April 14, 2023 Article by Mike Tony, Energy and Environment Reporter

“FirstEnergy utilities report potential new costs, “significant risks” amid $36M rate hike proposal in Pleasants plant pursuit”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/firstenergy-utilities-report-potential-new-costs-significant-risks-amid-36m-rate-hike-proposal-in-pleasants/article_9fcda35d-4371-5afb-a846-a0074e82fa03.html

April 10, 2023 Article by Mike Tony, Energy and Environment Reporter

“FirstEnergy subsidiaries’ $36M rate hike proposal to keep Pleasants plant open drawing strong reaction”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/firstenergy-subsidiaries-36m-rate-hike-proposal-to-keep-pleasants-plant-open-drawing-strong-reaction/article_e5fa3e28-9b9c-590a-a3f4-8c5821150f20.html

April 1, 2023  Op-Ed by Eric Engle

“Eric Engle: Say ‘no’ to Pleasants Power Station sale”

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/opinion/op_ed_commentaries/eric-engle-say-no-to-pleasants-power-station-sale-opinion/article_da1e4a87-7ece-51b8-8668-c721348ffb44.html

Available on The Athens County Independent:

March 29, 2023  Article by Sam Stecklow

“Torch fracking injection wells received waste containing ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS: data”

Available on the Columbus Dispatch:

April 24, 2023 Letter-to-the Editor by Aaron Dunbar

“Public land being stolen”

https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/letters/2023/04/24/letters-democrats-dont-really-want-an-assault-rifle-ban-fracking-in-ohio-guns-must-die/70122054007/

Available on WTAP:

April 30, 2023 Article by Chase Campbell    Article and video

“Discussing the future of the Pleasants Power Station”

https://www.wtap.com/2023/05/01/discussing-future-pleasants-power-station/

Eric Engle, MOVCA Board President, is interviewed and quoted.

April 27, 2023 Article by Chase Campbell    Article and video

“Discussing the EPA’s recent action against PFAS pollution”

https://www.wtap.com/2023/04/28/discussing-epas-recent-action-against-pfas-pollution/

Eric Engle, MOVCA Board President, is interviewed and quoted.

April 26, 2023 Article by Chase Campbell    Article and video

“Environmental Protection Agency ordering Chemours to address PFAS pollution”

https://www.wtap.com/2023/04/26/environmental-protection-agency-ordering-chemours-address-pfas-pollution/

April 25, 2023 Article by Chase Campbell    Article and video

“WVPSC approves interim solution to keep Pleasants Power Station open”

https://www.wtap.com/2023/04/25/wvpsc-approves-interim-solution-keep-pleasants-power-station-open/

April 22, 2023 Article by Brittany Morgan  article and video

“WVUP Ecohawks celebrate and educate on Earth Day”

https://www.wtap.com/content/news/WVUP-Ecohawks-celebrate-and-educate-on-Earth-Day-508901681.html

MOVCA participated in event

April 22, 2023 Feature by Jacob Krantz  video

24th annual Earth Day celebration held on Armory lawn

https://www.wtap.com/2023/04/22/24th-annual-earth-day-celebration-held-armory-lawn/

Available on WKBN 27 (Youngstown):

April 10, 2023  Local News: EAST PALESTINE TRAIN DERAILMENT Feature by Chelsea Simeon

 “Truck carrying toxic soil from East Palestine overturns in Columbiana County”

https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/east-palestine-train-derailment/truck-carrying-toxic-soil-from-east-palestine-overturns-in-columbiana-county/

Available on Journal of Sustainability Education: (missing from previous media listing)

March 27, 2023 Article by Kathryn Williamson, Jamie Shinn, Deb Hemler and Sandra M. Fallon

“A Case Study for Climate Change Teacher Professional Development in West Virginia”

    “inspired by a similar effort by Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, a West Virginia-based civic organization”

See The West Virginia Climate Change Professional Development Project (WVCCPD)

https://sites.google.com/view/wvclimatechangepd/home

Available on West Virginians For Energy Freedom https://www.energyfreedomwv.org

April 26, 2023

“PSC Issues Order on Pleasants”

https://www.energyfreedomwv.org/updates/2023/4/26/psc-issues-order-on-pleasants

April 21 2023 News article by Steven Allen Adams
WV News: Public weighs in at West Virginia PSC hearing for Pleasants Power Station”

https://www.energyfreedomwv.org/updates/2023/4/21/wv-news-public-weighs-in-at-west-virginia-psc-hearing-for-pleasants-power-station-plan

https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/public-weighs-in-at-west-virginia-psc-hearing-for-pleasants-power-plan/article_64b3d244-dfc5-11ed-b022-db43fb80b41e.html

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

April 17, 2023  Article by Jacqueline Ebner, Ph.D., Kathy Hippie, Nick Messenger, and Irina Spector, MBA

“Green Steel in the Ohio River Valley: The Timing is Right for the Rebirth of a Clean, Green Steel Industry”

https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/green-steel-in-the-ohio-river-valley-the-timing-is-right-for-the-rebirth-of-a-clean-green-steel-industry/

Available  on-line on WV Rivers https://wvrivers.org  :

April 18, 2023 News about American Rivers (national nonprofit) report of our Nation’s most endangered rivers.

“Ohio River Named 2nd Most Endangered River”

Appearing on-line on  ReImagine Appalachia: Check out all events here: https://reimagineappalachia.org/events/

April 28, 2023 Community Event (Zoom) Description, recording and resources links

“Full employment for All of Appalachia: Listening Session”

April 27, 2023, 2-3 pm Community Event (Zoom) Description, recording and resources links

“Solar Project Pipeline Fireside Chat”

April 18, 2023 Article by Annie Regan Links to playlists and events in PA, WV, and OH

“How to Celebrate Earth Day in Appalachia”

April 13, 2023, 1pm Community Event (Zoom) Description, recording and resources links

“Green Locomotives Can Be a Big Driver for Jobs in the Region”  Webinar

April 13, 2023 12:00 – 1:00  Community Event (Zoom) Description, recording and resources links

“Solar-Powered Faith Communities and Houses of Worship: Saving Money and Ethical Labor”

April 12, 2023 12:00 – 1:00 Community Event (Zoom) Description, recording and resources links

“Social Media 101 Training”

Available on Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services: https://www.fairshake-els.org  

See Community Democracy Resources & Tools: https://www.fairshake-els.org/community-resources

See Ambassador Community https://www.fairshake-els.org/ambassador-community 

 April 20, 2023 10-4pm in Parkersburg, WV

Available on Interfaith Power and Light:

April 24, 2023 Action Alert

“Tell EPS to Finalize Strong Mercury Pollution Protections”

https://interfaithpowerandlight.org/blog/2023/04/24/tell-epa-to-finalize-strong-mercury-pollution-protections/

April 13, 2023 Press Release

“Interfaith Power & Light Demands Accountability from Toyota Following New Electric Vehicle Announcement”

https://interfaithpowerandlight.org/blog/2023/04/13/interfaith-power-and-light-toyota-delivery/

Faith Leaders delivered a letter with roughly 15,500 signatures to Toyota’s US headquarters asking the company to commit to full electrification by 2035 without exception

Available on Citizens’ Climate Lobby https://citizensclimatelobby.org  :

April 27, 2023 CCL statement on House passage of IRA rollbacks

April 27, 2023 (posted) Citizens’ Climate Radio – Description  and link for listening

“Episode 83: The Not-So-Cool Effects of Air Conditioning on Climate Change”

April 20, 2023 statement on attempts to repeal IRA climate provisions

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

April 20, 2023  Associated Press Environment feature

“The U.S. plans new protections for old forests facing pressure from climate change”

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/20/1171066279/old-growth-forests-protections-climate-change

April 20, 2023  Climate feature by Seyma Bayram

“The Colorado and Ohio rivers are among the ‘most endangered’ in America. Here’s why”

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/20/1170931581/the-colorado-and-ohio-rivers-are-among-the-most-endangered-in-america-heres-why

April 16, 2023 Jeff Brady feature text and audio. Heard on All Things Considered

“A 15-year-old law would end fossil fuels in federal buildings, but it’s on hold”

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/10/1164652146/part-of-a-law-to-have-federal-buildings-stop-using-natural-gas-was-never-impleme

April 6, 2023 Article by Gabriel Scotto

“Ohio University researchers will use a federal grant to find environmentally friendly uses for coal”

https://woub.org/2023/04/06/ohio-university-researchers-grant-coal/

OVERVIEWS and IMPORTANT ISSUES/ NEWS/ INFO

Available on EarthJustice:

April 5, 2023 Press Release

“EPA Moves to Strengthen Protections Against Toxic Power Plant Pollution”

https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/epa-moves-to-strengthen-protections-against-toxic-power-plant-air-pollution

Available on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

April 26, 2023 EPA Press Release

“EPA takes first-ever federal Clean Water Act enforcement action to address PFAS discharges at Washington Works facility near Parkersburg, W. Va.”

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-first-ever-federal-clean-water-act-enforcement-action-address-pfas

Tool available from EPA

EJScreen: EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool

https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

Available online from The Guardian:

April 25, 2023 Article by Fiona Harvey, Environmental editor

“John Kerry: relying on technology to remove carbon dioxide is ‘dangerous’”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/25/john-kerry-relying-technology-remove-carbon-dioxide-dangerous

April 19, 2023 Article by Nina Kakhani

“Nearly 120 million people in US exposed to unhealthy levels of soot and smog- report”

American Lung Association’s study also found great disparity between coasts, with 10 of 11 most polluted counties in California

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/19/us-air-pollution-unhealthy-levels-smog-soot-california

April 7, 2023 Article by Nina Lakhani

“Green groups sue to stop Ohio from leasing state parks for oil and gas drilling”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/07/ohio-environmental-groups-state-parks-leasing-oil-and-gas

April 6, 2023 Article by Damian Carrington, Environment editor

“ ‘Forever chemicals’ linked to infertility in women, study shows”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/06/forever-chemicals-infertility-women-pfas-blood

March 19, 2023 Climate Crisis Article by Oliver Milman  (omitted from last month’s report)

“ ‘We have money and power’: older Americans to blockade banks in climate protest”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/19/climate-crisis-protest-environment-third-act-bill-mckibben

Available on Inside Climate News:

April 4, 2023 Politics & Policy Article by Phil McKenna, Emma Ricketts

“Environmental Advocates Protest Outside EPA Headquarters Over the Slow Pace of New Climate and Clean Air Regulations”

April 3, 2023 Science Article by Phil McKenna

“Potent Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depleting Chemicals Called CFCs Are Back on the Rise Following an International Ban, a New Study Finds”

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03042023/cfc-ban-rise/

March 21, 2023 Justice Article by James Bruggers (omitted last month report)

“From Gas Wells to Rubber Ducks to Incineration, the Plastics Lifecycle Causes ‘Horrific Harm’ to the Planet and People, Report Shows”

Available on E 8 E NEWS:

April 21, 2023 Article by E.A. Crunden ;  Emma Dumain

“Biden order tackles environmental justice”

Available on Science and Environmental Health Networkhttps://www.sehn.org/sehn

April 24, 2023

“April 2023 Networker: A Fracked Nation” Editor’s note- Carmi Orenstein, MPH, CHPHY Program Director, SEHN

https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2023/4/24/april-2023-networker-a-fracked-nation

April 24, 2023 Feature by Sandra Steingraber, SEHN senior scientist

“The RePercussion Section: A Short History of Fracking”

https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2023/4/20/the-repercussion-section-a-short-history-of-fracking

April 24, 2023 Orenstein has conversation with Ranjana Bhandari, Founder and Ex. Director. Of Liveable Arlington

“The Moral Urgency of Stopping this Intergenerational Theft”

https://www.sehn.org/sehn/2023/4/20/the-moral-urgency-of-stopping-this-intergenerational-theft

RESEARCH/ REPORTS/ RESOURCES

Available online on Grist:

April 21, 2023 Article by Kate Yoder, Staff writer

“A common talking point about climate change gets it all wrong, new study says”

https://grist.org/language/climate-talking-point-wrong-psychological-distance-study/

Available from American Rivers https://www.americanrivers.org

 “America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023”

#2 Ohio River: https://mostendangeredrivers.org/river/ohio-river/

Available on Union of Concerned Scientists:

April 24, 2023  Article by John Rogers, Energy Campaign Analytic Lead

“Renewables Have Pulled Ahead of Coal. What’s Next?”

Research Available from American Lung Association:

2023 State of the Air 

https://www.lung.org/research/sota

Available from Co2.Earth:

See Earth’s CO2 Home Page:

https://www.co2.earth/earths-co2-main-page

 Measurements from Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii (NOAA):  421.00ppm in March 2023; 418.81ppm March 2022

April 13, 2023 CSAS / GISS  Global Warming Update

https://www.co2.earth/global-warming-update

Available online on World Meteorological Organization (WMO):

April 21, 2023 Press release by WMO

“WMO annual report highlights continuous advance of climate change”

https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-annual-report-highlights-continuous-advance-of-climate-change

April 19, 2023 Press release by WMO

“New study shows Earth energy imbalance”

https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/new-study-shows-earth-energy-imbalance

April 13, 2023 Press release by WMO

“It was the second joint warmest March on record”

https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/it-was-second-joint-warmest-march-record

RECOMMENDED BY PERRY BRYANT:

Available from Rewire America  https://www.rewiringamerica.org

See a great calculator on what you can save in IRA tax credits and rebates.

“YOUR  SAVINGS CALCULATOR: How much money can you get with the Inflation Reduction Act?”

https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator

Available from Appalachian Solar Finance Fund Supported by Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative. https://solarfinancefund.org   and https://appvoices.org/new-economy/appalachian-solar-finance-fund/

The Solar Finance Fund (SSF) provides grants and technical assistance to unlock the economic development potential of otherwise viable solar projects that face barriers unique to Central Appalachia. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, public entities and local businesses that serve as community anchors.

Contact Autumn Long at autumn.long@appvoices.org

Available from Yale Climate Connections:

April 28, 2023 Article about new tool available from American Forests. Text with links and Audio by YCC team

“This tool helps communities identify areas lacking trees – and advocate for more” (available from American Forests)

April 28, 2023 Article by Michael Svoboda

“A grove of tree books for Arbor Day”

April 19, 2023 Article by Samantha Harrington

“’In every breath we take’: How climate change impacts pollen allergies”

April 18, 2023 Article by Donald Wright

“In ‘No Miracles Needed,’ the technical solutions to climate change are clear. The political ones? Not so much”

April 14, 2023 Article by Dana Nuccitelli

“Drastic climate action is the best course for economic growth, new study finds”

April 12, 2023 Article by Daisy Simmons

“Where to find training, fellowships, and classes on climate journalism”