Odd Man Out: An Analysis of West Virginia's Slow Adoption of Energy Efficiency
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
20-4-2017 3:00 PM
End Date
20-4-2017 4:15 PM
Keywords
energy efficiency, West Virginia, Appalachia
Biography
Sam Holiskey is a senior double majoring in English and Political Science. She looks forward to serving as an Americorps VISTA after graduation and then studying political communication in graduate school.
Major
English and Political Science
Advisor for this project
Dr. Warner
Abstract
For the past several years, West Virginia's legislature has introduced bills incentivizing energy efficiency for businesses, citizens, and government buildings. Repeatedly, these bills have failed to pass through the legislative process, stalling in committee. Moreover, West Virginia has some of the least progressive energy efficiency legislation in the country. This seems like an anomaly, because energy efficiency policies in West Virginia's bordering states are failing to diffuse. In this paper, I explore some reasons for West Virginia's lack of energy efficiency policy, applying theories of political communication and agenda setting to offer insight into how similar states have overcome opposition and effectively passed energy efficiency legislation.
Odd Man Out: An Analysis of West Virginia's Slow Adoption of Energy Efficiency
For the past several years, West Virginia's legislature has introduced bills incentivizing energy efficiency for businesses, citizens, and government buildings. Repeatedly, these bills have failed to pass through the legislative process, stalling in committee. Moreover, West Virginia has some of the least progressive energy efficiency legislation in the country. This seems like an anomaly, because energy efficiency policies in West Virginia's bordering states are failing to diffuse. In this paper, I explore some reasons for West Virginia's lack of energy efficiency policy, applying theories of political communication and agenda setting to offer insight into how similar states have overcome opposition and effectively passed energy efficiency legislation.
