Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
Economics and How it Relates to You
Economics studies how individuals, businesses, governments, and societies allocate limited resources (such as time, money, and labor) to satisfy their needs and wants. It examines the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services and how these activities affect the economy as a whole. Some argue that economics is the study of choice or a…
UPDATE: Tunnel Ridge Continues to Cost Taxpayers Money
Again!? There are more lane restrictions and slow downs because of the Tunnel Ridge (Alliance Coal) longwall coal mining operation under I-70. In 2022 I made a daily commute to work using the I-70 stretch between Wheeling and Washington and even to this day I sometimes think about that commute in frustration. Neon orange lane…
Cultivating Community: Why We Host an Annual Seed Swap
The THYME is almost here for Center for Coalfield Justice’s 5th Annual Seed Swap! Okay, that joke may be corny 🌽but in all seriousness, the swap has always been one of my favorite CCJ events. I know when I start hearing about it that spring blooms aren’t far behind! Even before joining CCJ as a…
Silent Spring: Citizen Science and the Flow of Change
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, first published in 1962, is a groundbreaking work highlighting the dangers of pesticide use, particularly DDT, a once common insecticide, on the environment. Through detailed research and scientific analysis, Carson exposes how these chemicals, often used in agriculture, contaminate ecosystems, poison wildlife, and harm human health. She illustrates the intricate…
Executive Order vs. Executive Action – What is the Difference?
The terms “executive order” and “executive action” have been getting a lot of use in the last two weeks. But what exactly do these terms mean for us? Each stems from Article II of the Constitution, which states, “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” With few…
What is PJM? Understanding the Electricity Landscape in Pennsylvania
There is a lot of media coverage regarding both energy development in Pennsylvania, and the amount of money consumers pay for that energy. The discourse is deep and a little political, so let’s break it down into the essential parts in order to understand the whole picture. This starts with PJM and the energy grid,…
Official Ballot Canvass: Experiencing Democracy in Action
In the United States it is common to hear elected officials and organizations speak on the importance of democracy; however, it is a unique privilege to actually witness the process and contribute to it. One critical pillar of CCJ’s work is “Democracy”, which has been made increasingly relevant as voter protection and election integrity are…
Running Unopposed is Undemocratic
Elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and voting is a right that many do not exercise. However, even if every eligible person in the United States voted, voters would still find that their choices, at times, could be better as many elected seats run unopposed. In Southwest Pennsylvania, it happens rather often – especially…
Introducing our New Video of Resident Voices!
Resident experiences with fracking and its infrastructure: Listening to our neighbors This year, the staff and members of CCJ have worked with Washington resident and CCJ member Michael Brownlee to produce a video of people’s experiences of living near fracking and its infrastructure. Today, we are releasing that video into the world! We are so…