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In West Virginia, the Senate race outcome may change the trajectory of US climate policy
Sen. Joe Manchin’s retirement could shift West Virginia's influence on U.S. climate policy, with the upcoming Senate race set to determine whether the state continues to bolster fossil fuels or embrace clean energy.
James Bruggers and Marianne Lavelle report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Sen. Joe Manchin, a pivotal figure in U.S. climate policy, will retire, impacting future climate action.
- The race to fill his seat sees Republican Gov. Jim Justice, a fossil fuel supporter, leading against Democrat Glenn Elliott, who advocates for climate action.
- West Virginia has historically influenced national energy policy, often resisting robust climate initiatives.
Key quote:
"I truly believe with all my heart that God wants us to progress and like it or not, civilization only progresses with abundant cheap energy."
— Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia
Why this matters:
The impending election will be a battleground for energy policy, with candidates likely to diverge sharply on their approaches to climate change. The outcome could determine whether West Virginia continues its legacy of coal and natural gas production or shifts towards embracing clean energy solutions. This transition is not just a political issue but one that deeply affects the state's economy and the livelihood of its residents, many of whom rely on the fossil fuel industry for jobs.
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W.Va. governor’s efforts to save coal plant raise conflict-of-interest concerns
Gov. Jim Justice in 2019 helped pass a tax break for a struggling coal plant. The plant's owners later settled a lawsuit against the Justice family’s coal business was for a fraction of what the plant owners were asking.
Jim Justice-owned Bluestone Coke sued over water pollution In Alabama
The complaint alleges that Bluestone is in violation of the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into a stream that exceed levels allowed by its permit.
Newsletter
West Virginia governor's coal empire sued by the federal government
The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department, seeks millions in unpaid environmental fines as Gov. Jim Justice begins his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Think Manchin has coal connections? Meet his rival.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is wealthier and more popular and has a bigger fossil fuel empire than the senator he wants to unseat.
God will help us fix climate change, so 'drill baby drill,' West Virginia governor says
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said that God will “give us time” to fix climate change—“if” it exists, he emphasized—if the U.S. acts now to increase fossil fuel production to respond to the burgeoning energy crisis thanks to the invasion of Ukraine.
Justice-owned mines to reopen in the midst of Kentucky reclamation lawsuit
Jay Justice, son of Jim Justice, governor of West Virginia, with whom he owns several mining companies, just announced the re-opening of four mines in Kentucky.
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