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Wind industry tax rates under fire | West Virginia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Christina Lengyel | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-12 11:56:00

(The Center Square) – A bill aimed at removing a 2007 tax break from wind energy producers has legislators at odds over the supremacy of coal in West Virginia’s economy.

Senate Bill 439 would clarify that “wind power projects are not pollution control facilities,” which are taxed at salvage value. The clarification would subject them to real property taxes.

Supporters of the bill say the change would add millions in tax revenue to the state and take away an unfair advantage over the coal industry. Those who oppose it say the wind industry, which employs West Virginians and is an essential component of a clean-energy future, would suffer a huge blow.

“We’re getting ready to pull the rug out from underneath one company that is in my district — 2,200 people — a significant energy change within their business structure,” said Sen. Glenn Jeffries, R-Putnam.

He and other opponents argue for what they call an “all energy” policy, encouraging the incentivization of all energy production, including coal, rather than disincentivizing wind power production.

The bill’s sponsor and chair of the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining committee Sen. Chris Rose, R-Monongalia, said the wind industry profits “at the expense of our hardworking coal and natural gas industries,” which he called “a slap in the face to the men and women who have powered this state for generations, digging coal and drilling gas to keep America running.”

“It’s time we put West Virginia’s energy backbone – our fossil fuel workers and communities – first,” said Rose. “These industries don’t just provide jobs; they sustain entire communities, fund our schools, and keep our lights on.”

For the bill’s sponsors, it’s about more than just jobs. Its passage would signal alignment with the Trump administration and shifting energy policies at the national level. They warn that the benefits of investing in the wind industry are short-lived as federal subsidies and clean-energy initiatives disappear.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the federal government is once again prioritizing American energy independence, cutting red tape, and empowering states to harness their natural resources,” said Rose. “SB 439 is West Virginia’s way of stepping up to the plate.”

West Virginia Metro News reported on a memo from the state’s Chamber of Commerce arguing against the bill. The Chamber asserted that the shift would send the wrong message about their state both nationally and globally.

“Over the past several years our state has secured some major economic development projects that will provide a better livelihood to our citizens and propel us towards the goal of being a better place to live, work and raise a family,” wrote the Chamber.

“Those developments came, however, because of commitments that we as a state made. Legislation like SB 439 will send a loud and clear message that West Virginia cannot be trusted to uphold ‘its end of the deal.’ That is why we are urging no further action on this bill.”

The bill passed from the Senate committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining and currently awaits consideration by the Finance committee.

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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

Katie's August 6 Evening Forecast

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www.youtube.com – WOAY TV – 2025-08-06 16:47:31

SUMMARY: Katie’s August 6 Evening Forecast reports a comfortable, humid Wednesday evening with humidity above 50% in most areas except Summersville at 49%. Temperatures will drop into the 70s and 60s overnight. Tonight remains mostly dry with clouds to the east. Tomorrow may bring scattered sprinkles from lunchtime through evening, but no major disruptions expected. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than usual, in the mid to upper 70s. The weekend promises pleasant weather with highs around 80-82°F, perfect for outdoor events and the fair. Overall, no major weather problems are expected in the coming days.

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Historically redlined communities have slower EMS response times

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westvirginiawatch.com – Nada Hassanein – 2025-08-05 10:53:00


A new study published in JAMA Network Open finds that historically redlined communities experience slower emergency medical service (EMS) response times. Redlining was a discriminatory practice that denied mortgages to Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, marking them as “hazardous.” Researchers mapped EMS centers across 236 cities and found that residents in these redlined “D” neighborhoods had nearly three times higher odds of lacking rapid EMS access compared to “A”-graded, more affluent, predominantly white areas. Over 2.2 million people nationwide lack EMS response within five minutes, critical for life-threatening emergencies. The disparities contribute to broader health inequities linked to structural racism.

by Nada Hassanein, West Virginia Watch
August 5, 2025

Residents of historically redlined communities experience slower response times from emergency medical services, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open.

Redlining refers to the discriminatory practice under which the federal government and banks systematically denied mortgages to Black and Hispanic residents. The practice deemed neighborhoods with higher proportions of nonwhite residents to be undesirable and financially risky for mortgage lending.

Researchers mapped locations of EMS centers across 236 cities and analyzed maps produced in the 1930s by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation. The government agency, created as part of the New Deal, consistently ranked majority-Black areas as “hazardous” for lending. Redlining has been illegal since enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968.

The research team calculated average EMS response times using the location of ambulance, fire and rescue services and historical traffic data. “Rapid” response was defined as five minutes or less, the benchmark set by the National Fire Protection Association for high-priority patients with life-threatening conditions.

The team found that more than 2.2 million people lack rapid EMS access. Areas historically graded “D” — financially “hazardous” for mortgage lending — had a significantly higher proportion of residents (roughly 7%) without rapid EMS access, compared with about 4% of residents in historically “most desirable” A-graded neighborhoods. D-graded neighborhoods had higher proportions of Black residents, whereas A-graded neighborhoods had more white residents.

Disparities were particularly acute in the Great Lakes region, the authors note. The odds of lacking rapid access to EMS were nearly three times higher for residents in historically D-graded neighborhoods, compared with A-graded neighborhoods in that region.

The findings add to the evidence linking policies rooted in structural racism to health disparities.

Research has shown redlined neighborhoods still disproportionately grapple with a multitude of health disparities, lower life expectancy and more exposure to air pollution.

The study found a racial disparity in where EMS stations are located, with fewer EMS stations in urban communities of color. Better tracking and accountability of EMS response times in communities could help address the issue, the researchers wrote.

Delays in emergency care are associated with higher mortality rates. For traumatic injuries, timely care is critical during what EMS professionals call the “golden hour,” or the first 60 minutes after an injury.

Other research has pointed to disparities in emergency response times. EMS response times for patients with cardiac arrest, for example, were 10% longer for low-income ZIP codes than high-income ZIP codes, according to a national study published in JAMA Network Open in 2018.

The study received funding support from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.

The post Historically redlined communities have slower EMS response times appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content presents a fact-based exploration of how historical redlining—an explicitly racial and economic discriminatory practice—continues to impact disparities in emergency medical service response times. It highlights systemic inequalities and racial disparities consistent with social justice concerns more frequently emphasized in center-left discourse. The piece supports the view that structural racism has long-term effects and implicitly advocates for policy attention and accountability in emergency services, aligning with a center-left perspective on addressing inequality and promoting equity in public services. However, it maintains a measured tone and relies heavily on research and data, avoiding overt partisan rhetoric.

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Boone St. crossing unsafe to walk across

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www.youtube.com – WSAZ NewsChannel 3 – 2025-08-04 16:42:57

SUMMARY: A coal train with 220 cars, weighing 54 million pounds, derailed late Saturday night in Saint Albans. Due to the derailment, the police department warns that the crossing at the Boone Street tunnel is unsafe for pedestrians. CSX, the railroad company, states that track repair equipment will be moved periodically through the area, further increasing the hazard. Residents are strongly advised not to walk across the Boone Street crossing until repairs are completed and it is deemed safe. Authorities continue monitoring the situation to ensure public safety during the ongoing repair work.

Boone St. crossing unsafe to walk across

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