By Morgan King, WV CAG Climate and Energy Program Manager
Citizen science remains at threat this week. SB 575 would limit community air monitoring by invalidating data collected by local air sensors and threaten our democracy through legislative overreach. Take action here! Contact members of the Senate Government Organization and tell them that you want to be able to monitor your air to protect your health! We just installed two new sensors since the bill was introduced last week, one in Dunbar and the other in Logan, West Virginia.
You can view your air quality at map.purpleair.com and stay tuned for more air quality sensor installations. If you might be interested in hosting one in your neck of the woods, reach out to climate@wvcag.orgÂ
Last week, SB 627 was introduced and referenced to Senate Economic Development. This bill would reverse the ban on leasing state-owned pore spaces beneath state parks. This is particularly timely as West Virginia just received primacy, or regulatory oversight and power over Class VI wells for carbon dioxide injection – a dangerous step toward enabling the dirty hydrogen hub in our state.Â
Just two years ago, the legislature opened up our state forests, wildlife management areas, and other lands under the Division of Natural Resource’s jurisdiction for carbon injection to prepare for primacy and the hydrogen hub. They are trying to finish the job by sacrificing our state parks to the risks of greenhouse gases infiltrating groundwater, contaminating soil, and polluting air, alongside induced seismicity potential (earthquakes). SB 627 has already passed the Senate Economic Development Committee. Contact your Senators and tell them to protect our state parks. Tell them to vote NO on SB 627.Â
As a steering committee member, we worked with the People Over Petro Coalition to create and coordinate a billboard and website raising awareness about greenwashing and the risks of plastic burning, called advanced recycling by industry. Check out the billboard in Quincy, West Virginia, along Route 60!Â
Want to get involved in our legislative work advocating for our environment at the state capitol or our organizing work installing air sensors and fighting back about dirty energy projects? Then check out our next climate committee meeting on March 12th at 6 pm! Register here and view the Facebook event here.