CHARLESTON, W.Va. - So far this year, the U.S. has seen the worst oil spill in its history and the worst coal mine accident in four decades. Some experts say one big problem is that, after more than a century of mining and drilling, the easy-to-get reserves are gone.
Evan Hanson, president of Downstream Strategies in Morgantown, helped write a recent report on the remaining central Appalachian coal, and points to the problem.
"The easiest to access, most productive coal reserves are slowly but surely being mined out. That means that it's becoming more difficult and more expensive to mine coal here."
According to Hanson, once the easy reserves have been used up, the industries face increasing challenges.
"The coal seams we're mining now are thinner than they were decades ago, and further underground. So, those coal seams would be more difficult to get at, they'd be more expensive."
John Curtis is a professor of geology at the Colorado School of Mines and an expert on natural gas supplies. He says all the easy onshore oil reserves in the U.S. have been drilled, which means we have to drill into deeper, more challenging layers of rock.
"Any time we go to environments that are deeper, it often involves higher temperatures and certainly involves higher pressures. So, it is a continuing technological challenge."
Curtis says in response, the oil industry is becoming more technologically sophisticated, and is drilling off-shore more often.
The state's coal industry insists there are plenty of reserves. The U.S. Senate is currently debating a bill designed in part to move the county away from fossil fuels. A version of the bill has already passed the House.
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Despite different outcomes - New York's first offshore wind farm came online and New Jersey had one canceled - both states are benefiting from offshore wind. Job creation and economic growth are predicted, as New Jersey's decarbonization efforts could create 20,000 jobs.
The New Jersey Wind Port being developed in Salem County is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs.
Caren Fitzpatrick, former Atlantic County Commissioner, said it's time the area had a viable industry again.
"They used to be known for growing asparagus and harvesting oysters. And due to blight and overfishing, those industries went away. They're starting to come back now, but they're not big enough to support the families that live in this area," Fitzpatrick argued.
After Ocean Wind's cancellation, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is moving on. This year, it has approved two projects that would power close to 2 million homes, create 27,000 jobs and provide a $3 billion boost to the state's economy.
Beyond job growth and economic development, New Jersey Assemblymember Carol Murphy, D-Cinnaminson, contended public health will also improve as the state shifts to cleaner energy sources.
"The transition from fossil fuel to clean energy power will improve air quality, water quality, reduces cases of medical illness such as asthma, heart disease and cancer, and this will save billions of dollars in healthcare costs," she explained.
Offshore wind projects have faced tough odds to get this far. Misinformation has made the public skeptical. But lawmakers in both states have signed letters voicing their commitment to these projects.
New York Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, D-Schenectady, said it's only the beginning.
"Let's continue to push forward for a brighter, cleaner future for all here in New York, but for the entire country as we move forward. Together, we can harness the power of offshore wind to build a better tomorrow, and in Schenectady we're doing it one turbine at a time," Santabarbara said.
With the South Fork Wind Farm online, attention is turning to other projects like Empire Wind 1, the first offshore wind project connected to New York City's grid. In March, the developer's agreement was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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Later this month, Indigenous leaders will speak before a United Nations panel about their ongoing concerns with a controversial oil pipeline in the Great Lakes region.
Enbridge Energy's Line 5 operation is likely to come up when the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues convenes in New York.
Back in the Midwest, organizations such as Earthjustice represent the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
The tribe has been contesting Line 5 in Wisconsin as Enbridge seeks to re-route the pipeline.
Earthjustice Senior Attorney Stefanie Tsosie said the proposal isn't an improvement in minimizing the effect on tribal lands.
"The Bad River Band is already at a risk of an oil spill because the pipeline is going directly through their reservation," said Tsosie, "and the re-route, if you look at the map, it's basically hugging the reservation boundaries."
She said her team is preparing for litigation if permits for the re-route are issued.
The tribe has previously filed lawsuits against Line 5 in an effort to shut it down, prompting the latest route plans. Similar cases have been active in Michigan.
Enbridge argues the pipeline is a key source of energy and rejects claims and legal decisions that it's trespassing on tribal lands.
On the Michigan side, opponents say they're worried about Enbridge's latest Line 5 plans to construct an oil tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, a connecting waterway.
The company says it would be safer than the existing pipeline section, but Native American Rights Fund Senior Staff Attorney Wes Furlong said there's real concern about a worst-case scenario.
"If a leak happened within that tunnel, it would cause a catastrophic failure," said Furlong, "pumping crude oil into the Straits and into the Great Lakes."
He said pushing back against Line 5 aligns with calls to reduce the use of fossil fuels, citing their connection to climate change and the impact on treaty-reserved resources Midwest tribes rely on.
First built in 1953, the pipeline can transport up to 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids per day.
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Iowa is accepting bids from people who want an EV charging station on their land. It's part of a nationwide network of infrastructure designed to meet the needs of electric vehicle owners.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, or NEVI, will provide funding to build charging stations every 50 miles along U.S. interstate highways - from coast to coast.
In Iowa, that includes I-80, 380, 29 and 35.
The Iowa Environmental Council's Energy Policy Counsel Steve Geyer said businesses, electric utilities, nonprofits, towns - and even private landowners, such as farmers - can apply, as long as their land is within a mile of the freeway and meets other criteria.
"Suppose you are that farmer and you are at one of those locations," said Geyer. "Sure. If you have the availability to raise the capital, that's one of the criteria. You have to be able to demonstrate that you either have ownership of the land or you have the rights to the land."
The deadline to apply for the grants is April 19.
Each location will have four rapid-charging ports, but Geyer said they won't just be bare-bones places to power up the EV.
"Every location has to have some form of not only restroom facilities," said Geyer, "but also - be it a convenience store or vending machines, et cetera - recognizing that it will take some time to charge your car so you need, presumably, something to do during that time."
Applications go through the Iowa Department of Transportation.
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