Ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in 2016 caused more than $77 billion in human health damages nationwide, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Research.

Morgan King, climate campaign coordinator with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, said the study also found that same year, oil and gas air pollution contributed to almost 200 early deaths in the Mountain State alone - the second highest rate in the country.

"Basically," said King, "West Virginia is kind of bearing the brunt of oil and gas pollution more than most other states."

The study's researchers also estimate air pollution from fossil fuels contributed to more than 10,000 worsened asthma conditions among West Virginia children.

King noted that the Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of finalizing nationwide oil and gas methane regulations aimed at curbing climate change, air pollution, and negative impacts on communities - but so far the rules don't clamp down on flaring, the process of burning off methane during extraction.

West Virginia is a significant producer of methane, or natural gas. King said the high level of production means more residents are vulnerable to health problems.

"Even though we don't have highly dense cities, more than half of West Virginians live within a mile of an oil and gas well," said King. "And so because of that high proportion of our state's population living so close to this development, we're going to see more health impacts than other places."

According to the American Lung Association, communities of color and low-income communities are at greater risk for health impacts from air pollution - and in one study of more than 13 million Medicare recipients, low socioeconomic status consistently increase the risk of premature death from exposure to fine particle pollution.





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Federal tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act are fueling big growth in Tennessee's battery supply chain.

The Volunteer State has become a major hub in battery production with 11 manufactures in the state. For example, in Clarksville, LG Chem is investing $1.7 billion in a facility to produce cathode materials for electric-vehicle batteries.

Xan Fishman, energy program senior managing director for the nonprofit think tank Bipartisan Policy Center, said clean energy tax credits are driving investments in Tennessee's battery industry.

"We've really seen a resurgence in battery manufacturing in the U.S., and in Tennessee in particular, with factories coming online," Fishman pointed out. "It's a sector that has been dominated by China."

The Volunteer State has attracted more than $5 billion in clean energy investments and created 6,700 jobs since 2022. Major developments include the McKellar Solar Farm in Madison County, which helps power Meta's Gallatin data center and the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Soddy-Daisy.

Fishman warned the "One Big Beautiful Bill" would gut key federal tax credits supporting the battery supply chain from EV incentives to energy storage and critical mineral processing. He noted electricity and energy needs are on the rise and the tax credits ensure the energy supply can keep up.

"If we don't keep up with that growing demand, the result is going to be that electricity prices go up," Fishman cautioned. "Preserving these tax credits is going to be really important for energy affordability and energy reliability, because we know we all need energy for our lives."

Fishman argued repealing clean energy tax credits could cost U.S. jobs and stop new manufacturing. He added China already controls more than 90% of critical minerals and could raise prices any time. He hopes Tennesseans will work with Congress to protect clean energy tax credits, jobs and U.S. battery manufacturing.

Minnesota's high-profile community solar program will stick around after state lawmakers opted not to approve a sunset provision.

Assistance groups said it's good news for renters and low-income households seeking lower energy bills. In the recent legislative session, a group of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle proposed phasing out the program, arguing it did not make economic sense with more utility-scale solar projects coming on board. But organizations working with under-resourced populations strongly pushed to keep it in place.

Keiko Miller, community solar program director for the advocacy group Minneapolis Climate Action, said they don't have to worry about this option becoming out of reach again.

"Community solar flips it all on its head and allows all people to participate evenly and benefit from renewable energy," Miller explained.

Minnesota's program started in 2013 and is viewed as a national model. Officials said it caters to people who are not in a position to install solar panels on their roof. Instead, they can subscribe to a community solar garden and still get the benefits on their electric bill. Reforms were adopted in 2023 to address underlying issues that had surfaced.

Program supporters said the changes still need time to prove their effectiveness. Miller noted her group does outreach with many renters and low- to moderate-income households, making them aware of the option. She pointed to a community solar garden sitting on the roof of Minneapolis' North High School as a symbol of boosting accessibility to neighborhood residents feeling the energy burden.

"The vast majority of our subscribers are from North Minneapolis," Miller observed. "On average, they're receiving $100 to $300 of reduced energy bills a year."

Minnesota has a mandate for utilities to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Lawmakers and activists from both sides of the debate mentioned their vision for the program was crucial in helping the state meet the benchmark. The program's survival also comes as Republicans in Congress move to repeal clean energy incentives.


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Workers and families in Indiana could feel the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" moving through the U.S. Senate. The legislation would roll back clean-energy tax credits and investments passed in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Jim Clarida, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in northwest Indiana, said those investments have helped create jobs and attract nearly $8 billion in private energy development to the state.

"Since the IRA was passed," he said, "$7.8 billion in private clean-energy investments have flown into my home state here in Indiana, fueling the construction and manufacturing of EV battery plants, expanding solar and wind developments."

Clarida said Indiana has about two gigabytes of utility-scale solar projects under its belt and has another gigawatt in the pipeline.

Supporters of the big budget bill have argued that the changes are necessary to cut federal spending and reduce the national deficit by eliminating costly subsidies, although it also includes an extension of tax cuts that benefit mostly wealthy Americans.

U.S. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., warned that the bill could drive up household electricity costs by hundreds of dollars and eliminate clean-energy job growth across the Midwest.

"This could create a recession if we lose them all," he said. "And so first, our union members - not just electricians, but everyone - should know that jobs are at stake in their union, either for themselves or their brothers and sisters who are in the union."

Indiana ranks among the top 10 states for clean-energy job growth since the Inflation Reduction Act passed. Schumer urged Hoosiers to weigh in on what he calls "critical energy investments" as the Senate debates the bill.


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