Mike Tony

The Appalachian The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, better known as ARCH2, has scheduled a community open house at West Virginia State University in Institute, at which it has invited anyone interested to learn about its projects, ask questions and speak with representatives of companies behind the federally supported enterprise. Amid persistent criticism the project could be an economic and environmental boondoggle, the open house will be held Thursday Nov. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at West Virginia State University’s Wilson University Union building.

Voters in West Virginia have five candidates to choose from in the race for governor and though none have ever held that office, many have served in government. The frontrunners in the race are Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, 56, R-Harpers Ferry and Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, 68, D-Huntington. Also on the ballot are Erika Klie Kolenich, 45, Libertarian-Buckhannon; Chase Linko-Looper, 30, Mountain-Charleston; and S. Marshall Wilson, Constitution-Hedgesville.

A proposed amendment to the West Virginia Constitution would ban medically assisted suicide in the state. The proposed measure will be on the 2024 general election ballot for West Virginia voters to consider following House Joint Resolution 28, which would add to the Constitution that “No person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.”

Union Carbide Corp. environmental contamination is under review following a $200,000 penalty a federal judge ruled the company owes for Clean Water Act violations at a South Charleston site. The site, known as the Filmont dump, is an inactive landfill.

West Virginia greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources nearly quintupled the national rate in 2023, reflecting the Mountain State's status as a coal-reliant energy producer. Roughly two-thirds of West Virginia’s emissions came from coal plants, according to data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Recent court setbacks underscore the gap between West Virginia and the United States in the transition away from coal-fired power to renewable energy. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has been one of the leading proponents of clinging to coal.

Meetings to be held to gather public input on the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, or ARCH2, and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection administration of Methane Emission Reduction Program funding conflict. The conflict has drawn the ire of community and environmental health advocates.

By Mike Tony [email protected] The Tri-State's TRUSTED news source. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to Herald-Dispatch.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved rate hikes that will keep bills climbing for Mountaineer Gas and Hope Gas customers. The rate increases will cover infrastructure replacement and expansion costs.

Another Trump administration would threaten the Inflation Reduction Act, which has encouraged hundreds of millions of dollars in energy manufacturing investments in West Virginia amid its struggle through a national and global energy transition. The Inflation Reduction Act has made unprecedented funding available to boost the renewable energy industry and fight the climate crisis in West Virginia and nationwide.