LWVWV members January 2022

members@lists.lwvwv.org

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LWV-WV Action Alert & Legislative Update
by Julie Archer 16 Jan '22

16 Jan '22

Dear LWV-WV Members, First things first. As you know, the WV Legislature is now in session. On the second day, members of the House of Delegates started moving a bill that would ban abortions at 15 weeks, just like a Mississippi law under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill (HB 4004), would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, well below viability and the line set forth by _Roe v. Wade_. HB 4004 and HB 4005, which imposes invasive, cruel, unnecessary requirements regarding disposal of fetal tissue, have both passed the passed through the House Health committee and are on their way to Judiciary. This is a red alert moment for reproductive freedom. Now is the time to be heard. There will be a public hearing tomorrow (Jan. 17) at 3 PM [1] on these bills in the House of Delegates Chamber at the State Capitol. At this time, the hearing is limited to in-person participation, which may be difficult, if not impossible, due to the impending winter storm. As such, members are asked to contact their members via other means. The League of Women Voters supports the right of individuals to make their own reproductive choices, and opposes laws intended to restrict access to abortion. Additionally, the League supports equitable access to a basic level of care that covers reproductive health services including abortion. The right to decide if or when to have a child is essential to a person's ability to make highly personal decisions about their body and their future. It is essential for social, economic, and racial equality. We can't stand by while politicians try to restrict people's personal freedoms and take away their health care. Find your legislators here. [2] --- Additionally, related to the legislative session, are a number of events this week related to the LWV-WV's priorities for 2022. (See complete list priorities below.) Tuesday, January 18 - 6-7:15 PM - Information Session on the Feasibility of Advanced Nuclear in WV - The WV Environmental Council (WVEC) and others are hosting for an informational session on both the benefits and risks of repowering coal plant sites for advanced nuclear energy development or small modular reactors (SMRs) in West Virginia followed by a presentation from state legislators on the political landscape around proposed nuclear legislation and a Q&A discussion. Register here [3]. Thursday, January 20 - Environment Day (E-Day) - Hosted by the WVEC - Initially, scheduled as an in-person event, E-Day has been cancelled due to COVID concerns. A possible virtual event will take place latter in the session. In the meantime, check out WVEC's first newsletter of the year [4] to learn more about what they'll be watching for this year. You can sign up for their weekly legislative updates here [5]. Thursday, January 20, 6-7 PM - Health Care for All WV's Civic Engagement Training - (Virtual/Zoom) - How do you contact and build relationships with your representatives? - How do you track a bill from start to finish? - How do you use the West Virginia Legislature page? - How do you support state healthcare legislation? Learn how to find your representative(s), build relationships with them, and share what's most important to you as a West Virginian. Register here [6]. (Note: LWV-WV is a member of the Health Care for All WV coalition.) Friday, January 21 - Fairness WV Fight for Freedom Day of Action for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ equality. Although initially an in person lobby day, this event is now a virtual day of activities. Register here [7]. --- The LWV-WV has identified three main areas as legislative priorities for 2022. These represent only the primary focus areas for the League for the coming year. We will continue to work with partners on other issues. Democracy The right to vote and equal access to the ballot are pillars of our democracy and guiding principles for the LWV. We will: * Oppose restrictions on voter registration or voting. * Advocate for methods to increase voter turnout, based on lessons learned from the 2020 elections. * Prioritize measures to make voting easier, while protecting election security, including no-excuse absentee voting and expanded options for ballot return and early in-person voting. * Support legislation to modernize election methods, reduce taxpayer costs, and reduce administrative burden. * Oppose any effort to make political spending less transparent. * Support measures to increase transparency and public participation in the next redistricting process. Social Justice The LWV is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion because, to succeed in the 21st Century, West Virginia must be welcoming for all. We will: * Oppose legislative efforts to suppress civil and Constitutional rights. * Support legislation to ban discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity in education, employment, and housing for all West Virginians regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. * Support health care for all West Virginians including expanded Medicaid coverage, subsidies for affordable coverage under the ACA, measures to eliminate disparities in health care availability and outcomes for Black and other minority communities, and access to evidence-based treatment and harm reduction strategies to save lives affected by substance use disorders. * Advocate for state and local budgets that cover essential services and protect our most vulnerable. Environmental Protection Climate change is no longer a distant or future threat. The LWV is committed to protecting the planet along with the health and safety of all West Virginians. We will: * Support updating water quality standards to strengthen protections for human health, and support measures to expand access to water service that meets these standards. * Target strategic management of natural resources to protect the planet for this and future generations. * Advocate for environmental priorities that are coupled with a creative and just transition for workers in fossil fuel industries. * Oppose facilities that add, expand, or preserve dependence on fossil fuels. Best, Julie ----- Julie Archer (she/her/hers) Co-President (304) 610-9094 (cell) Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/events/3299913780237668 [2] https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/ [3] https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpf-CrpjwpHtC21edh2ww08sUmhpKA5R… [4] https://wvecouncil.org/green-volume-32-issue-1/ [5] https://wvecouncil.org/action-alerts-signup/ [6] https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtcuiorjIjHN0-CUgLF_72HKinaCMAFg… [7] https://fairnesswv.org/2021/11/05/mark-you-calendar-for-the-fairness-for-al…

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LWVMM January 2022 Newsletter
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 13 Jan '22

13 Jan '22

Sending this on behalf of LWVMM. Local Leagues are encouraged to send their newsletters to the statewide email list. Happy new year from LWV-Morgantown/Monongalia County! View this email in your browser [1] January 2022 _Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy._ CONTENTS * Fall Member Meeting * LWV-MM Report on Voters Service * LWV-MM Report on Redistricting * Communications * LWV-MM Report on Social Justice Priorities * LWV-MM Report on Broadband Access * JOIN US * MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION * WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! _FALL MEMBER MEETING_ Our Fall meeting was held October 24 via Zoom. This was not a business meeting, so our only agenda item was to hear from guest speaker Carye Blaney, Monongalia County Clerk. Carye spoke about how she felt Mon County would be affected by the voting rights bills that are being considered in Congress. Carye stated that she is very confident in the accuracy and security of elections in this County. Our voting machines are the most up-to-date available and nowhere do they connect to the internet. She feels we could easily meet all the criteria recommended in the voting rights bills but stated that some West Virginia counties would have difficulty. The smaller, less economically secure counties have outdated equipment and very small County Clerk staff so they would need funds and assistance in order to meet the requirements. _LWV-MM REPORT ON VOTERS SERVICE_ We are watching the two bills currently blocked in the United States Senate: The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom To Vote Act. The latter is sponsored by Senator Manchin. John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act The Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed barriers to Black enfranchisement, banning poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures preventing African Americans from voting. A major portion of the VRA was effectively gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013 and numerous states, most in the South, responded almost immediately with new voter suppression laws. The John R. Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act seeks to reinstate much of those protections. This bill was passed by the House on August 24, 2021 along partisan lines with no Republican votes in favor. It was introduced in the Senate in October 2021, but cloture on the motion to proceed was rejected on November 3. Freedom to Vote Act The Freedom To Vote Act is a modified version of the For The People Act. Senator Manchin and others wrote the FTV Act in hopes of gathering Republican support but so far that has not happened. Cloture on the motion to proceed was rejected on October 20. Proponents of the bill point to ever-intensifying actions in states to pass laws aimed at reducing voters' access to elections and giving state legislatures the ability to overturn the outcomes of elections. What Happens Now? Since mid-December, President Biden has recognized voting rights legislation as the most critical action that needs to be taken up by Congress now. This means the priority is to focus on filibuster reform, especially for voting rights. The new LWV-US slogan on filibuster reform is _Fix It or Nix It_ because, without reform or repeal, a minority of the Senate will continue to hold voting rights bills hostage. A vote on filibuster repeal or reform is expected by January 17. 2022 Mid-Term Elections The Voters Service committee will be actively planning for candidate forums during the 2022 election season. - Vicki Conner _LWV-MM REPORT ON REDISTRICTING_ What District Am I In? Redistricting and the move to single-member Delegate districts have significantly changed boundaries for Mon County. Mon is now in Congressional District 2, is split between new state Senate Districts 2 and 13, and has 6 new Delegate districts that will elect one Delegate each. Carye Blaney, Monongalia County Clerk, has made a new interactive map available for Monongalia County. Use it to find your new districts at the link below. Just type in your address and tell the map to search for it. Thank you, Carye! https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b03055801196406fa273… [2] - Judy Ball _COMMUNICATIONS_ Judy Ball, Marly Ynigues, and Vicki Conner are working with a WVU student intern, Abagail Carte, to build a new website for LWV-MM. The goal is to have a site that provides easily accessible information for our members and the public, which will attract more interest in the activities of the League. We expect the site to go live in the Spring and will send updated information to League members as appropriate. - Vicki Conner _LWV-MM REPORT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE PRIORITIES_ Warming Shelters LWV-MM presented a statement to Morgantown City Council on Nov. 30 to advocate for the City to open a winter warming shelter Downtown in addition to the one operating at Hazel's House of Hope. We also asked that all warming shelters be seasonal, not temperature-dependent (and open on other cold days beyond the scheduled timeframe) to provide stability of access to emergency resources. The Board has created a committee to address warming shelter concerns. Please contact Marly Ynigues at marlydubvee(a)gmail.com if you'd like to get involved. Read the full statement by LWVWV-MM [3]. See coverage in the Dominion Post [4]. Police Review Board LWV-MM supported the Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board. A December judicial ruling has prevented the City of Morgantown from implementing the Board or appointing members. LWV-MM urges the City to appeal the decision by advocating for stated uses of the Board (e.g., providing feedback on public safety policy) other than the use that was ruled against (disciplinary advising). - Marly Ynigues, Social Justice Chair _LWV-MM REPORT ON BROADBAND ACCESS_ According to FCC data, at least 30% of our state's rural homes and businesses currently lack adequate broadband access, leaving West Virginia with one of the nation's lowest broadband connectivity rates. Broadband expansion in West Virginia has been hindered by the cost of extending networks into mountainous rural areas. The state Broadband Office estimates that a combination of federal, state, local government, and private resources will expand broadband availability to at least 200,000 new locations in West Virginia. Governor Justice announced the plan in October and expects that roughly $718 million will be allocated for the project by Fall 2022. The funds will be allocated through competitive programs that draw matching funds from private-sector and local government partners, generating more than $1 billion in total broadband investment. Details of a news release from October 2021 can be seen here: https://governor.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2021/Pages/Gov.-Justice-announc… [5] - Vicki Conner JOIN US The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization. Providing nonpartisan information and promoting democracy count among our major priorities. Join or renew your membership in the League today to help us carry on this mission. Also, feel free to forward this email to your friends who may be interested in the League's activities. We are eager to add to our ranks. Renew Your Membership Today! [6] MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION When you become a member of the Morgantown-Monongalia County League of Women Voters, you are also a member of the LWV-US and the LWV-WV. Membership in the League is open to all persons (not just women) over the age of 16. Annual dues are $48 for an individual, $72 for a household (two at the same address), and $5 for a student. Checks should be made to LWV Morgantown-Mon County and mailed to: Lyndell Millecchia, 476 Lawnview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. You can also pay with credit card or PayPal at http://tinyurl.com/paylwvmm [7]. Dues must be received by December 31 to meet the LWV-US membership deadline. If you are unsure about whether your dues are paid, email Lyndell at millecchia(a)comcast.net. The League also welcomes and encourages contributions to support our work. Membership dues and contributions to the League of Women Voters are not deductible as personal or business expenses for tax purposes. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! We apologize to new member Kenneth Martis whose name we misspelled in the October Newsletter. _Copyright (c) 2022 League of Women Voters Morgantown Monongalia, All rights reserved._ Add us to your address book [8] [9] Links: ------ [1] https://mailchi.mp/4a6339b2427c/spring-2021-member-newsletter-15616323?e=ac… [2] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [3] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [4] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [5] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [6] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [7] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&… [8] https://lwvwv.us20.list-manage.com/vcard?u=4cfc532d297ffd33b5a9c2322&id… [9] http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&amp…

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WV Climate Alliance webinar about Advanced Nuclear
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 12 Jan '22

12 Jan '22

Greetings from Nyoka, Information regarding a webinar on Advanced Nuclear sponsored by WV Climate Alliance and others is found below. This webinar is not advocating for Advanced Nuclear Facilities but is for the purpose of Information and Education on the subject. It seems that there is quite a bit of interest in bringing these facilities to WV. Here is some supportive information and background on the need to become informed on the issue of Advanced Nuclear Reactors. https://energycentral.com/news/advanced-nuclear-reactors-touted-retiring-co… Here is the registration link Bit.ly/AdvancedNuclear [1] The event will be held on January 18th at 6 pm Links: ------ [1] http://Bit.ly/AdvancedNuclear

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Sat 1/08 at 3pm MTG W/ Seneca Lake Guardian/Cryptocurrency mining and the use of Fossil Fuels for Energy Sources, Environmental Impact
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 07 Jan '22

07 Jan '22

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday 1/08 at 3 pm for this _very important _meeting on Cryptocurrency Mining from Fossil Fuel Energy Sources. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85343653174 Seneca Lake Guardian is a New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation with 501(c)(3) and is dedicated to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes, its residents and visitors, its rural community character, and its agricultural and tourist related businesses through public education, citizen participation, engagement with decision makers, and networking with like-minded organizations. https://senecalakeguardian.org/Greenidge-Bitcoin-Mining [1] See an interview with Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian here on CBS news. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/bitcoin-mining-and-its-environmental-costs/#x We are extremely grateful that Seneca Lake Guardian could arrange this meeting with us on such short notice. _On information and belief_, the proposed facility at 5900 Morgantown Industrial Park will be converting electricity from an onsite natural gas well and operating 24/7 to run blockchain data. Full clarification on the function of the facility has yet to be disclosed. The outrageous amount of energy required to run and cool Bitcoin mining facilities has hastened the purchase of entire coal fired power plants to run their operations, such has already been reported for the plant in Grant Town WV. A special Thank You to Paula Hunt, Duane Nichols and Jim Kotcon and others for their work on completing comments that helped prompt the public meeting next Tuesday regarding the Air Quality Permit Application R13-3533 (Marion Energy Partners LLC - Science Facility) pending approval by the WVDEP. I am again providing information regarding the DEP public meeting on 1/11 at 6pm below. See the Green Arrow. Also see more here at https://www.frackcheckwv.net/2022/01/03/proposed-%E2%80%9Cscience-facility%… Thank you! Nyoka Baker Chapman LWVWV Board of Directors LWV of the Huntington Area Board of Directors LWVWV Natural Resources Committee LWVWV Fair Maps Committee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 304 710 2812 The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, but is engaged in local, state, and national issues of importance to our communities. The League works to influence public policy through advocacy and education. League membership is open to all men and women age 16 or older. More at: www.lwv.org [2] (National) and www.lwvwv.org [3] (WV). DEP to Hold Public Meeting and Extend Public Comment Period The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, to provide information and receive comments regarding Marion Energy Partners LLC's air quality permit application. Marion Energy Partners has proposed to construct a data processing facility located at 5900 Morgantown Industrial Park, Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, at 39.60559 latitude and -79.98176 longitude. The DAQ will hold the public meeting virtually at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Instructions for providing oral comments at the virtual public meeting are provided below. Representatives from the DAQ will conduct the meeting regarding the construction application submitted by Marion Energy Partners on August 18, 2021. To participate online or by telephone, registration is required by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. To register, please complete the registration form at: https://forms.gle/vZvJirkUKayGee1W7 [4]. To register to provide oral comments, please indicate "yes" you want to provide oral comments on the record when you register. A confirmation email will be sent with information on how to join the public meeting. If you do not have internet access and want to register to participate via telephone, please contact Sandie Adkins or Stephanie Hammonds at (304) 926-0475. Oral comments are limited to five (5) minutes. Video demonstrations and screen sharing by commenters is not permitted. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2022: · Email written comments to Edward.S.Andrews(a)wv.gov with "Marion Energy Partners Comments" in the subject line, or · Mail hard copy comments to Edward Andrews, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street, SE, Charleston, WV 25304. Instructions for downloading additional information, including copies of the draft permit, application, and all other supporting materials relevant to the permit decision is available at: https://dep.wv.gov/daq/permitting/Pages/NSR-Permit-Applications.aspx [5]. Links: ------ [1] https://senecalakeguardian.org/Greenidge-Bitcoin-Mining [2] http://www.lwv.org/ [3] http://www.lwvwv.org/ [4] https://forms.gle/vZvJirkUKayGee1W7 [5] https://dep.wv.gov/daq/permitting/Pages/NSR-Permit-Applications.aspx

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LWVWV members January 2022