The following topics are in the current edition of the Mountain State Sierran magazine. To see these articles go here. To go to prior issues click on the picture of the front page shown below.
Bending Over Backwards for Data Centers Hits Local Opposition
Betsy Jaeger Lawson reports on the recent activities regarding a proposed data center in Tucker County, West Virginia.
Building Bridges: Partnering for Environmental and Social Justice
Bill Price, the new chairperson of the West Virginia Sierra Club Chapter gives his "View From the Chair" regarding partnering for environmental and social justice.
Spring in the Mountains: Renewal, Resistance, and Responsibility
Honey May, the Sierra Club West Virginia Chapter's Executive Director discusses the recent chapter elections, welcomes new members, and thanks departing members.
Bills We Can't Afford: Utility Rate Increases and Energy Burden In WV
Jim Kotcon discusses recent rate increases from electricity utilities in the state. He states that we should contact our legislators to demand policies to lower costs.
Turning Pollution Into an Asset: Finding Rare Earths in Acid Mine DrainageFinding Rare Earths in Acid Mine Drainage
Betsy Jaeger Lawson reports on the presence of rare earths in acid mine drainage and notes that several sites in West Virginia have been developed to recover rare earths.
Opposing Corridor H Wardensville – Next Steps?
Bonnie McKeown of the Stewards of the Potomac Highlands updates us with information about the fight to prevent Corridor H being expanded between Wardensville, WV and the Virginia state line.
Fast, Focused, and High-Stakes for Water and Communities
Anna Saab, Communications Coordinator of the WV Environmental Coalition notes that the 2026 WV Legislators are moving rapidly to introduce multiple bills relating to flood control, water safety, and data center development.
West Virginia’s Water Crisis: A Decades-Old Public Health Emergency
Brad Davis reports on a water crisis in southern West Virginia due to its history of coal mining.
Southern West Virginia Historical Outing and Cleanup
Lisa Di Bartolomeo talks about an event occuring on April 17 and 18 in Matewan, WV to learn the history of the area, take some hikes, and do a road clean-up.
Plug-In Solar: The New Kid on the Block
Cory Chase, WV Program Associate of Solar United Neighbors describes plug-in solar panels, a quick and easy way to use solar power to generate electricity
Living Off the Grid: A Lifetime Journey to Adopt Solar Energy
Jenny Thacker describes her experiences with installing solar panels on her house.
Executive Committee Member Carol Culvyhouse
Carol Culvyhouse, a member of the Executive Committee briefly introduces herself.
WV Chapter ExCom Welcomes Daria Jones
Daria Jones, a member of the Executive Committee briefly introduces herself.
WV Activist and Author Huey Perry to Offer Webinar Talk
Legendary author and activist Huey Perry, a veteran of President Johnson’s War on Poverty in the 1960s, will offer a talk on his book They’ll Cut Off Your Project and his experiences organizing folks in Mingo County to oppose exploitation and corruption, on Monday, March 2, from 6:30-8 p.m.
Quilting for Community
Lisa Di Bartolomeo describes a community effort in Morgantown, WV to create a "Log Cabin" quilt by Earth Day on April 22.
Students’ Charity Concert Raises Awareness for Environmental Advocacy
Greyson Pool, a Sierra Student Coalition membeer, reports on a charity concert called Sierra Swing that occurred at 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown, WV in January this year.
Outings
Describes future outings in West Virginia organized by the WV Sierra Club and its chapters.
Re-enchantment: Recognizing Our Connection with Nature
Adrienne Epley Brown discusses the way Nature brings a sense of awe, connectedness, and curiousity to us.
Spring 2026
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The West Virginians for Energy Freedom is organizing a petition for West Virginians to sign that supports increased monitoring and control of electricity costs. They note that "West Virginians deserve affordable, reliable, and fair utility services. This Ratepayer Bill of Rights states that all residents and businesses must be treated fairly and transparently by all electric, gas, and water utilities regulated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC). it includes the following issues:
1. The right to fair and reasonable rates.
2. The right to reliable and safe service.
3. The right to transparent and accurate billing.
4. The right to fair disconnection protections.
5. The right to energy assistance and efficiency.
6. The right to renewable energy access,
7. The right to fair representation and dispute resolution.
Go here to see more and to sign the petition. The group, together with the WV Sierra Club, recently had a public meeting in Morgantown. It is described in the Events and Activities page.
In response to the 2022 Biden Administration executive order, last December the U.S. Forest Service released a Notice of Intent for a nationwide forest plan amendment to conserve old-growth forests across the National Forest System. On June 20, USDA released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the National Old Growth Amendment (NOGA). NOGA focuses on threats to Western forests, such as wildfires, drought, insects, and disease, while ignoring the likelihood of flood risk and the benefits that Eastern old-growth forests can provide in terms of reducing runoff. Furthermore, it advocates continued logging for forest maintenance, disregarding the executive order to encourage mature and old-growth ecosystems. The Sierra Club urges that “the Administration and the USFS hear overwhelming public support for conserving our mature and old-growth forests across the country.
The Dominion-Post newspaper announced in its March 31, 2023 edition that "Over the next three years, researchers with the West Virginia University Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions will try to gain a robust understanding of where and why leaks of methane and other gases happen and their effects on local air quality and global climate.
"With the support of $5.5 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding, the project, led by Derek Johnson, associate professor at the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, will focus on methane emissions — a planet-warming greenhouse gas — from liquid storage tanks across West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio...
"Johnson said he believes the project has the potential to generate findings with impact on national and global practices and technologies."
Sierra Club Links
Mon Group Facebook page
Eastern Panhandle Group Facebook page
West Virginia Chapter web pages and Facebook page
Main organization web pages and Facebook page
Contact us at SCWVMG@gmail.com