West Virginia Midterm Elections
by Chris Craig
The upcoming mid-term elections will be crucial in determining the future of our nation and our state, including the health of our population and of our planet.
Your vote is important.
Early voting runs in all West Virginia counties October 21-31, and election day is November 3. You can check on your registration status, find voting locations for your precinct, and find sample ballots at: sos.wv.gov/elections
The Sierra Club West Virginia Chapter has endorsed several candidates for state delegate positions because of their proven or promised support of the environment. Please consider our endorsement for these excellent candidates when voting:
Michael Mosteller District 21 (Putnam County)
Mike Pushkin District 54 (Kanawha County)
Kayla Young District 56 (Kanawha County)
Evan Hansen District 79 (Monongalia County)
Olivia Miller District 80 (Monongalia County)
Elizabeth Sanchez District 94 (Berkeley County)
Lucia Valentine District 97 (Berkeley-Jefferson Counties)
Marta Beck District 98 (Jefferson County)
Jenny Thacker District 100 (Jefferson County)
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Solar balcony systems let renters and homeowners generate electricity at home by plugging compact solar panels directly into a standard wall outlet. This can lower energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year while putting less stress on the grid during heat waves. California, Utah and Maine have signed bills allowing their use.
photo: Nikolai Twin: Creative Commons License
The 2027 session of the Legislature will see new legislators and several new committee chairs, but a lot of the same issues.
We will be supporting legislation to allow:
- "Balcony solar" (an easily installed plug-in solar panel for homeowners and renters)
- Orphan Well Protection Act
- Ratepayer Bill of Rights
Other key legislative issues for the Sierra Club will include:
- Reform of data center legislation (HB2014)
- Efforts to promote renewable energy in West Virginia
- A proposed rule from the PSC to maintain coal-fired power plants at a 69% Capacity Factor
- Legislation to implement Governor Morrisey's 50-by-50 Plan (to triple electric generation in West Virginia)
- Efforts to provide clean drinking water and flood protection
We will also continue opposition to expected bills to rollback Aboveground Storage Tank rules, restrict community air monitoring, open public lands to off road vehicles, and efforts to mandate more coal consumption.
Contact jkotcon@gmail.com for details, and to learn how you can make a difference for West Virginia.
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photo by Lisa Di Bartolomeo
We’re all focused on affordability right now—whether it’s groceries, health insurance, or power bills. Unfortunately, our state’s utility companies are more concerned about profits than consumer affordability. The latest example of this concern is FirstEnergy’s new gas plant proposed for Ft. Martin, just outside of Morgantown.
Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, wants to build a 1,200 MW gas plant at their Ft. Martin generating facility. The price tag? At least $2.48 billion. Who would pay? MonPower customers would, regardless of whether the plant ever generates a single watt or even whether construction is completed. Who would benefit? FirstEnergy shareholders and speculative data centers that haven’t even been proposed yet.
If you don’t think this deal is good for ratepayers, you’re not alone.
Corridor H Update
by Loki Kern
The release of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Parsons–Davis section of Corridor H / Route 48 has been delayed. Originally expected on October 5, 2026, the new release date is now November 5, 2026.
Go North is anxiously awaiting this document to see whether the West Virginia Division of Highways seriously studied both proposed alignments, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), or whether the analysis favors WVDOH’s preferred ROPA alignment.
What happens next? A public comment period will follow the SDEIS release. This will be an important opportunity to review the study, raise concerns, and put the state and federal highway agencies on notice about issues that could potentially form the basis for legal action.
We’ll share more information and ways to take action as soon as the SDEIS is released.
There is a better route that will minimize damage to one of the most rugged and beautiful areas in our state.
photo: Betsy Lawson
Just upstream from Sharpsburg, MD on the C&O Canal towpath, Killiansburg Cave once provided refuge for area residents during the 1862 Battle of Antietam. In May, Sierra riders found it a more peaceful setting.
Photo by Tammy Vincent.
Sunday, October 18
Day Hike: Poor House Farm, Berkeley County, WV
Distance/Difficulty: 4.5 miles/EASY to MODERATE
Duration: 2.5 hours
Bring: Plenty of water and a snack. Dress in layers and shoes that are appropriate for the weather conditions.
Meet: 10 a.m. at Poor House Farm, Kester Pavilion, Almshouse Road, Martinsburg, WV
Leader: Tammy Vincent, tammy.vincent.is@gmail.com, 208-866-8422
Nearest town: Nollville, WV
Saturday, November 7
Afternoon Hike: Sweet Run State Park, Purcellville, MD
Distance/Difficulty: 4.5 miles/EASY to MODERATE
Duration: 3.0 hours
Meet: 3 p.m. Sweet Run State Park parking lot near the restrooms, 11661 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro, VA
Leader: Tammy Vincent, tammy.vincent.is@gmail.com, 208-866-8422
Nearest town: Purcellville, VA
Saturday, November 14
Day Hike: Appalachian Trail – Shippensburg Road to Caledonia State Park, PA
Distance/Difficulty: 10.5 miles/MODERATE
Duration: 6.5 hours
Bring: Water, a bagged lunch, and perhaps a snack. Wear layers for variable temperatures, and hiking poles or a walking stick may be helpful.
Meet: 9:30 a.m. Caledonia State Park, Lot #2, 101 Pine Grove Rd., Fayetteville, PA
Leader: Chris Craig, ccraig@laurellodge.com, 304-433-1260
Nearest town: Fayetteville, PA
Saturday, December 5
Day Hike: Tuscarora Trail, Great Northern Mountain, Capon Springs, WV
Distance/Difficulty: 8.5 miles/MODERATE
Duration: 5 hours
Bring: Water and lunch. Dress in layers for varying temperatures. Hiking poles may be helpful for some.
Meet: 9:30 a.m. Shiloh Church parking lot, 0.3 miles south of Lehew Rd (WV 23/3) on WV 259. From there we will carpool to the hike start at Dry Gap, WV.
Leader: Chris Craig, ccraig@laurellodge.com, 304-433-1260
Nearest town: Capon Springs, WV
Sunday, December 27
Day Hike: Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs, WV
Distance/Difficulty: 5 miles/MODERATE
Duration: 3.0 hours
Meet: 10 a.m. Cacapon State Park Nature Center, Picnic Circle, off U.S. 522, Unger, WV
Leader: Tammy Vincent, tammy.vincent.is@gmail.com, 208-866-8422
Nearest town: Berkley Springs, WV
Visit our West Virginia Chapter Website at: sierraclub.org/west-virginia
