By Matthew Hill
Register-Herald Reporter
April 12, 2008 11:33 pm
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Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand — but are they green?
Not according to a study released last October by Forbes’ magazine’s Web site, which ranked the Mountain State dead last in the magazine’s first-ever list of America’s “Greenest” states. New Jersey, an unexpected environmental Eden, actually ranked in the top 10.
The study found West Virginia posted poorly in every category, charged with having the fourth-largest carbon footprint and the fourth-worst water cleanliness. The state, it concluded, has more toxic waste to manage per capita than all but three states.
The magazine placed Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana and West Virginia at the bottom, noting that “all suffer from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption, and no clear plans to do anything about it. Expect them to remain that way.”
Scoring 14.2 out of a possible 50 in the researchers’ criteria, West Virginia released or disposed of 97.1 million pounds of toxic waste and exceeded its Clean Water Act permit levels by an average of 679 percent in 2005.
Each state was ranked in six equally weighted categories — carbon footprint, air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, policy initiatives and energy consumption.
And therein lies the rub, said West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer, who strongly questioned the study’s methodology.
“There is clearly no science behind the categories that were picked,” she argued, describing the research criteria used by the magazine as focused more on “bean counting” issues than “true environmental quality issues.”
For instance, Timmermeyer noted, states that don’t produce a large quantity of carbon dioxide get an apparent pass. “There may be a state that’s not an energy producer. We produce a lot of electricity. We export 70 percent of the energy we produce to these states.”
Factors used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether areas are in compliance with federal environmental standards are more accurate indicators, Timmermeyer asserted.
She found problems with the study’s assessment of hazardous waste management as well.
“To me, it’s about, ‘How is that waste being managed in your state? Is it being regulated from cradle to grave? Is it being transported and stored properly?’ That’s better than just examining if you produce a lot of waste. These people are picking six different weighted categories. If you asked every American, you would get six different ones.”
Timmermeyer also pointed out the study did not take into account that the state Legislature passed a bill last year that does an inventory of so-called greenhouse gases.
“That was a huge step for a state with a carbon-based economy,” she stated. “We want to be a part of that discussion. The study doesn’t mention anything like that.”
According to Timmermeyer, her agency is set to release its third bi-annual State of the Environment report for West Virginia. She said the DEP is attempting thereby to establish a “baseline” for future leaders to gauge the state’s environmental progress. Timmermeyer already sees vast improvements since the first report was issued in 2004.
“The governor’s energy plan is moving us toward that,” she asserted when asked if West Virginia has the potential to become a greener state.
“We’re looking at renewable sources of energy in the state. Certainly, everyone understands that coal is part of the mix. Our emphasis is on clean coal technology. We’re certainly looking at ways to try to help get that market started here in West Virginia. We will definitely make West Virginia a greener state.”
As an example of leading by example, DEP’s headquarters in Kanawha City is certified as a “green building,” she explained, adding she hopes to see more state buildings move in that conceptual direction.
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The green-buildings concept is one of several policy initiatives being promoted by the West Virginia Environmental Council, which posted a link to the Forbes article on its Web site. In fact, several bills were introduced in the Legislature this year that the group hopes to see come to fruition in the 2009 session.
Among those are increasing energy efficiency for state agencies, enhanced regulations for a green-building program and improved auto fuel-efficiency standards.
“It makes no sense for the taxpayer to pay the fuel bills for these big SUVs (sport utility vehicles) used by state agencies. The Forbes study clearly highlights some important issues in West Virginia’s environment,” WVEC president Jim Kotcon contended.
“The state should be developing plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging energy conservation and expanding enforcement of environmental rules and standards. The Legislature has really dropped the ball this year in trying to rectify many of those problems. We hope to see progress next year. West Virginia can do better.”
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In a statement released Friday by Lara Cottingham, Rep. Nick Rahall’s press secretary, the congressman has been working on a synergy of environmental protection and clean coal-based energy.
Rahall, Cottingham said, has made “development of water and sewer systems to help deliver clean, safe drinking water to residents throughout his district one of his highest priorities.” The Beckley Democrat has also pressed for “better and more consistent oversight” of coal-mining practices and for stringent enforcement of clean water laws.
Cottingham noted Rahall’s work in developing the Connected Technology Corridors program, which provides more high-tech jobs, cuts down on commute times and proffers “cleaner, greener” employment to help broaden the region’s economic base.
She observed the 3rd District congressman is a key proponent of the state’s growing tourism industry, which relies on West Virginia’s “healthy natural setting as a key selling point.”
Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s office also issued a statement Friday in which the senator asserted the Mountain State “has always been a place of breathtaking beauty. People from around the nation and the world come to our state to take in our incredible natural wonders.”
West Virginia is a coal state, and “we’ve always been proud of that,” Rockefeller, D-W.Va., declared, adding that coal from this state helps provide nearly half the nation’s electricity. “Clearly, coal is going to play an important role in our state and national economy for years to come.”
Rockefeller urged investment in research and technology that would allow the state to continue to harness the benefits of clean coal. “We need a Manhattan-like project that will bring together the best and brightest scientific minds, along with West Virginia ingenuity, to examine ways to improve carbon capture and clean coal technologies.”
If such actions are undertaken, the senator said, “West Virginia can be a national and global leader in addressing climate change.”
— E-mail:
mhill@register-herald.com
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