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
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
This is an addendum to the Huntington Bulletin in regards to the
section:
Running for Office Workshop
By: Martha Woodward
The League is partnering with the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism
Broadcasting Department to film a Running for Office Workshop November
30. Because we will miss the deadline for the Newsletter with the
connection information we will put that out by email and media after we
have it. We expect to distribute the program across the state to
encourage new candidates to run. Of course presentations such as this
work best with an audience, but that is not yet possible. So, publishing
it far and wide is our best option at the moment.
Here is the video link! https://youtu.be/Qbc2mpJGigI
Downloadable file:
https://livemarshall-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/stanley50_marshall_ed…
Should you share it widely? Yes!
The Huntington Area LWV prepared this video (Martha Woodward mostly,
with wonderful help from Marshall's broadcasting staff and faculty)
available on YouTube. While it is locally based, it is true across the
state. WE are interested in sharing it widely. Please take a look and
see if you can use it in your area. We were careful to make it bi- and
non-partisan.
Questions or comments, contact Martha Woodward or me.
Betty Barrett
> League Friends, Local League Presidents and State Board,
> Attached is the League of Women's December newsletter. Enjoy and Merry Christmas to each of you.
>
> BJ & Patricia
Greetings everyone.
Just a reminder that there will be a Climate Rally tomorrow in Charleston.
See the info below. The LWVWV will have a booth there where we will be
accepting Hopes, Prayers and Wishes for our climate future to add to a
current project (spurred by the Climate Rally) a Climate Time Capsule to be
opened in 2050. The MU James E. Morrow Library special collections will
archive until then! We are certainly working to see that IPCC goals of
zero emissions by that date will be met. It will also house timely news
articles and efforts made by WV citizens and organizations to help curb
climate change. As well, copies of requests made to our WV senators to
keep the climate initiatives in the reconciliation bill and the Build Back
Better plan. https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/ and more.
Please see the attached Climate Capsule Cover below. *IF ANY OF YOU HAVE
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CLIMATE TIME CAPSULE, PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO ME. *
There us still time to do so over the weekend! I won't complete the
assembly until next week Nyoka.
🕊
<https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014552/313611208/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>
There's nothing scarier than climate change and its debilitating impacts.
From devastating floods and deadly heat waves to the health and economic
costs of inaction, climate change is deeply affecting our West Virginia
communities.
Join us *Saturday, October 30 from 1 - 2:30 p.m*, for a *HALLOWEEN RALLY
for CLIMATE ACTION*
<https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014560/313611251/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>,
in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building, 300 Virginia
St. E., in downtown Charleston WV.
Our goal is to let Senator Joe Manchin hear a wide variety of West
Virginian voices, urging him to protect our land and people by standing
with clean energy. We'll have music, speakers, a climate action
opportunity, a photo booth to send a climate message and more. We'll hear a
virtual address to the rally from Dr. Michael E. Mann one of the world's
leading climate scientists.
NOTE: This is a COVID mask-wearing outdoor event. Please wear masks if you
come. You're welcome to wear Halloween ones, too! If you aren't vaccinated,
please get with your local Health Department, physician or local healthcare
provider. Your health matters.
PARKING: There are lots of parking spaces in the nearby Town Center Mall
parking garage and on local streets.
*Thank you for taking action with West Virginia Citizen Action!*
<https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014552/313611208/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>
There's nothing scarier than climate change and its debilitating impacts.
From devastating floods and deadly heat waves to the health and economic
costs of inaction, climate change is deeply affecting our West Virginia
communities.
Join us *Saturday, October 30 from 1 - 2:30 p.m*, for a *HALLOWEEN RALLY
for CLIMATE ACTION*
<https://click.everyaction.com/k/38014560/313611251/-961530893?nvep=ew0KICAi…>,
in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse Building, 300 Virginia
St. E., in downtown Charleston WV.
Our goal is to let Senator Joe Manchin hear a wide variety of West
Virginian voices, urging him to protect our land and people by standing
with clean energy. We'll have music, speakers, a climate action
opportunity, a photo booth to send a climate message and more. We'll hear a
virtual address to the rally from Dr. Michael E. Mann one of the world's
leading climate scientists.
NOTE: This is a COVID mask-wearing outdoor event. Please wear masks if you
come. You're welcome to wear Halloween ones, too! If you aren't vaccinated,
please get with your local Health Department, physician or local healthcare
provider. Your health matters.
PARKING: There are lots of parking spaces in the nearby Town Center Mall
parking garage and on local streets.
*Thank you for taking action with West Virginia Citizen Action!*
The WV Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting is continuing to
hold public hearings now through September 16. The next public hearing
is tomorrow, August 17, in Martinsburg. Dates for three virtual public
hearings have yet to be announced. See the full schedule and other
redistricting information and resources compiled by our Fair Maps
Committee here. [1]
-----
The West Virginia Climate Alliance and a number of other organizations
are holding a virtual public forum on Tuesday, August 24th from 7 to
8:30 pm. Climate, Jobs and Justice: A public forum on West Virginia's
future is designed to educate and inform the public where climate policy
stands in Congress and what people can do to impact this policy. Collin
O'Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, will be
joined by Pam Nixon of West Virginia NAACP, Jeremy Richardson of Unions
of Concerned Scientist, and Sean O'Leary of Ohio River Valley Institute.
It's a great lineup.
Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom [2]
Over the next two months we will either adopt significant policy
addressing the climate crisis or fail once again to make meaningful
reforms. Please share the attached invitation with anyone who might be
interested.
-----
On August 26, please grab your favorite drink and join Planned
Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic for their Cocktails for a Cause:
Celebration of Suffrage. Panelists include: South Carolina State Senator
Margie Bright Matthews; Executive Director of the New North Carolina
Project, Aimy Steele; and Effie Kallas, Co-President of the League of
Women Voters of West Virginia. Register for FREE today. [3] Thursday,
August 26, 2021
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
As we commemorate the 101st anniversary of suffrage for many American
women, we also recognize the ongoing fight for voting rights. States
across the country have introduced a surge of legislation that would
make it harder to cast a ballot, particularly targeting people of color,
people with low-income, and young people. Voter suppression directly
impedes our ability to control our bodies and plan our futures. These
political attacks are a tremendous threat to what we stand for.
Cocktails for a Cause [4] will feature an exciting panel discussion on
Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic's role in getting out the vote
in 2022, and standing against voter suppression. Register today! [5]
Your support makes it possible for Planned Parenthood Votes! West
Virginia PAC to expand and protect reproductive health and rights in
West Virginia.
BECOME AN EVENT SPONSOR [6] or register here for free. [7]
-----
Julie Archer (she/her/hers)
Co-President
(304) 610-9094 (cell)
Links:
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[1] https://lwvwv.org/redistricting-information-resources/
[2]
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsceuvqzkqHtWHMZ-j7Pw3KjMLmBd9zP…
[3]
https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838848/300105240/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…
[4]
https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838858/300105247/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…
[5]
https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838863/300105254/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…
[6]
https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838870/300105260/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…
[7]
https://click.everyaction.com/k/33838877/300105271/1311666298?nvep=ew0KICAi…
We're sharing this important Action Alert from our friends at the WV
Rivers Coalition.
All Hands on Deck: WV Water Protections Under Revision
A recent a policy decision by the WVDEP related to water quality
standards creates a loophole to allow industries to dump more toxins in
our source water.
This proposal is part of a second round of human health criteria
revisions - the portion of our water quality standards that protects our
health from dangerous pollutants like cancer causing toxins, chemicals
known to cause birth-defects, and poisons like cyanide.
Submit comments on the proposal today! [1]
This policy is dangerous for West Virginia. Not only will it allow more
toxins in our drinking water sources, it creates a shortcut for
polluters to allow EVEN MORE toxins in our water with less public
involvement.
Ways this policy puts our health and our water at risk:
* The proposal creates a loophole for industry to further weaken the
human health criteria on a case-by-case basis if industry funds a study
that sways the WVDEP to decide that water and fish can handle more
toxins.
* This is handout to big corporations, who can afford the studies.
Hint: chemical manufacturers asked for this loophole, so we are pretty
sure they can afford these studies and are confident they believe they
can demonstrate results in their favor.
* There is already a process in place to revise water quality
standards. The revision sidesteps that procedure by creating a shortcut
that reduces scrutiny and public input in decision-making.
* The loophole exacerbates environmental justice issues by allowing
more toxins in waters near industrialized areas, which are often poorer
communities that are already struggling with problems related to social,
economic, and environmental justice.
* On top of all these factors, it's just plain old bad policy. It's_
_vague and sets a precedent for further weakening of water quality
standards statewide.
This is an all hand on deck call to action!
You can submit comments on the proposal through July 19 here [1]. It's
important for the WVDEP to hear personalized responses from commenters.
Think about how the policy change would affect you and your loved ones
personally.
In addition to submitting written comments, please plan to join the
virtual public hearing on the proposal on July 19 at 6:00PM [2].
Links:
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[1] https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/hhc2021/index.html
[2] https://dep.wv.gov/events/Pages/event.aspx?eventid=363
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this email reversed that dates for the
Morgantown & Martinsburg Young WV rallies.
Today kicks off a Week of Action organized by Young West Virginia [1].
They are hosting rallies across the state to help garner community
action in support of the For the People Act, John Lewis Voting Rights
Advancement Act, and D.C. Statehood. These pro-democracy reforms are our
once in a generation opportunity to protect our freedom to vote, end
partisan and racial gerrymandering, and get dark money out of politics.
Join a rally near you. Events are happening in:
* Monday July 26, Charleston - RSVP here [2] - Facebook Event [3]
* Tuesday July 27, Huntington - RSVP here [4] - Facebook Event [5]
* Thursday July 29, Bluefield - RSVP here [6] - Facebook Event [7]
* Friday July 30, Morgantown - RSVP here [8]
* Saturday July 31, Martinsburg - RSVP here [9]
Join Young WV's week of action and play a part in fulfilling the promise
of our democracy.
This week is also the start of a series of listening sessions hosted by
the Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting, with public hearings
in Winfield (Tuesday 7/27) and Logan (Thursday 7/29). All 12 in-person
public hearings will take place from 6 to 8 PM, with doors opening at
5:30 PM to begin the sign-in process. Anyone who would like to be
guaranteed an opportunity to speak during the hearings will need to be
present to sign in by 6 PM.
See the full schedule and other redistricting information and resources
compiled by our Fair Maps Committee here. [10]
Let's take advantage of the upcoming hearings to let legislators know
that when it comes to our districts, we want a transparent process we
can trust, where communities remain whole and where voters have an equal
voice.
Thanks for all you do!
Julie
--
Julie Archer
Co-President, League of Women Voters of West Virginia
(304) 610-9094 (cell)
Links:
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[1] https://www.facebook.com/youngwestvirginia/
[2] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402408/
[3] https://www.facebook.com/events/1658370897701899
[4] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402409/
[5] https://www.facebook.com/events/308223144373789
[6] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402410/
[7] https://www.facebook.com/events/1307742959661053
[8] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402411/
[9] https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/402412/
[10] https://lwvwv.org/redistricting-information-resources/