Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee from West Virginia has announced significant federal funding for various projects across the state. These initiatives support economic development, education, environmental cleanup, and drug interdiction, among other critical areas. Funding to the state is on the way from several federal agencies, including HHS, ONDCP, EPA, and DOI.
HHS Funding: Approximately $50 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will include funding of over $5 million to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR) to help state health departments track and prevent overdoses and identify drug threats. Another $2 million will support the HHS Black Lung and Coal Miner Clinics Program, and nearly $2 million is allocated to the West Virginia Cancer Prevention and Control Program.
ONDCP Funding: More than $27 million in funding from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will go to two regions of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program. This funding is aimed at aiding law enforcement efforts to intercept deadly drugs, including fentanyl, within West Virginia communities.
EPA Funding: Senator Capito helped secure roughly $10 million in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This funding, made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will support various environmental programs, including Brownfields cleanup, water pollution control projects, and the clean school bus program.
DOI Funding: Substantial grant funding from the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is also on the way. West Virginia will receive $28.67 million for Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization payments and $4.16 million in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) awards for counties with federal lands.
In other news this week, the ADVANCE Act is expected to reach President Biden's desk as bipartisan legislation with a goal of boosting nuclear energy and economic growth to facilitate the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors around the country. The ADVANCE Act will streamline the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) licensing processes, making it more efficient and affordable for companies to innovate in nuclear technologies.
Senator Capito emphasized the potential for repurposing abandoned coal sites for nuclear power, which could provide a new source of clean energy and create numerous jobs in the state saying, "West Virginia is perfectly suited for this because some of our abandoned, coal-fire powerplants for instance that still have the transmission, we can put these smaller reactors on them and then create the employment and economic base that energy production provides.”
Coinciding with these developments, the award-winning documentary "Devil Put the Coal in the Ground" has been released today on Video on Demand. This poignant film explores the devastating legacy of the coal industry in West Virginia, highlighting the multi-generational impact on the state's people, land, and communities. The documentary has won several awards since it hit the festival circuit in 2020 and is essential viewing for those interested in environmental issues and the coal industry's effects on West Virginia.
The state has a long way to go, as it is consistently low-ranked in green initiatives due to its coal-history. However, other recent coverage we've highlighted this year shows promising steps to repurpose coal sites and improve air and water quality across the state:
West Virginia’s Solar Initiative: In a notable effort to repurpose former coal mines, West Virginia has launched a solar power generation project that will convert two former coal sites into a 250 MW solar PV system. This initiative is expected to power approximately 39,000 homes and create around 400 construction jobs. The project also includes the establishment of a national Coal Transition Workforce Center to retrain workers for the clean energy economy.
EPA's Directive on Air Pollutants: The EPA has issued a new directive requiring over 200 chemical plants to significantly reduce harmful air pollutant emissions. This initiative is part of the Biden administration's Cancer Moonshot Initiative and aims to reduce cancer risks for communities near industrial zones by 96%.
Battery Manufacturing in West Virginia: West Virginia is attracting new industries, such as battery manufacturing plants, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Companies like Sparkz Inc. and Form Energy will produce energy storage devices, creating hundreds of jobs and contributing to the state’s economic diversification.
On a lighter note, remote workers might find West Virginia's Ascend WV program appealing. Launched in 2021, it offers financial incentives to remote workers that are able and willing to relocate to the state’s picturesque areas.
