By Morgan King, Climate and Energy Program Manager
On a warm mid-September evening, a packed house of around 70 community members in the Point Pleasant area gathered at the Point Pleasant River Museum. Extra chairs were pulled from storage, and overflow was accommodated outside the meeting room, as more than double the expected turnout arrived. Many folks spent their Tuesday evening after work learning about the proposed developments north of Point Pleasant in Mason County, where the local American folklore legend, Mothman, was first sighted and remains a local legend.
The Fidelis Energy Complex Proposal
Including a bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) plant, a gas-based hydrogen production facility, carbon pipelines, carbon injection wells, and a data center, Fidelis New Energy aims to construct a massive and potentially hazardous energy complex on land along the Ohio River, where the old Mason County airport once operated. There are residential neighborhoods adjacent to this currently undeveloped land, posing concerns about air, water, and soil contamination in areas where the community lives, works, prays, and plays.
From Concern to Collective Action
Ultimately, dozens of folks migrated outside of the meeting room to the second floor of the river museum for more space to hold a community discussion on how to take action on these proposals. The first of these several proposals – the BECCS plant – was the first piece of the regulatory process to go out for public comment after Fidelis New Energy applied for an air construction permit with the WV Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) Division of Air Quality.
The meeting concluded that folks wanted an in-person public meeting and hearing with WV DEP, as well as an extension on the already short comment period. So, attendees and even a public official submitted those requests. For many, this was their first time engaging with the state agency or elected officials in this way. For those who had experience advocating for themselves in government settings, this was the first time a gathering was hosted on these developments by Fidelis; the company, county commission, elected officials, and WV DEP never offered a space to give information, answer questions, and field concerns.
A Small Win and the Road Ahead
By lunchtime the next day, WV DEP granted an extension to the public comment period and an in-person public meeting in Point Pleasant. A couple of weeks later, at the end of September, a follow-up community meeting was held with WV CAG and Fairshake Environmental Legal Services to prepare residents for the (frequently demoralizing) public hearing process before the WV DEP. For example, there is often a question-and-answer period at the meeting, followed by the opportunity to provide verbal comments for the WVDEP record. Yet, the questions asked are not on the record. If one wanted a question to be on the record, they would have to repeat it in the verbal comment period. Isn’t that frustrating and confusing!?
By the time the October 7th WV DEP public meeting arrived, residents asked thoughtful questions, provided intelligent and moving comments, and participated in the public regulatory process. Still, there were more questions than answers following the official public meeting. Any moment now, a final decision on the air construction permit can be issued. It will come as no surprise if the permit is granted. WV DEP’s role is to issue permits – they say it themselves. To my knowledge, they have never denied a permit based on public concern or outrage.
Continuing the Fight
This is only the beginning of a long fight for environmental justice along the Ohio River, a place that is no stranger to cumulative impacts on local health and the environment. We will keep you updated on the process and inform you of opportunities to get involved if you wish to support efforts to resist dangerous and dirty energy developments in Mothman’s backyard.
In the meantime, you can support our work by becoming a member of WV CAG for just $15 per year ($1.25 per month). This allows you to help shape our legislative priorities, vote in board elections, and more!