Recently introduced House bill to Th e Craft Center: An unknown Big 12 men’s basketball: McGriff , redefi ne ‘milk’ place of recreation on campus Oklahoma State continue p. 3 p. 5 to struggle p. 9 @DailyAthenaeum Th e Daily Athenaeum dailyathenaeum [email protected] WVU’s Independent Student Newspaper THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 www.thedaonline.com University student organizations to rally against Longview Power Plant could have irreversible environmen- renewable energy can bee competitive BY GABRIELLA BROWN tal implications, including water con- in West Virginia. We havee a ton of unun-- NEWS EDITOR tamination and the release of four tapped potential.” million tons of CO2 into the atmo- Kone said with this projecprojectt Student organizations will rally to- sphere. She said the construction of in particular, one of thee biggestbiggest gether at Woodburn Circle on Sat- the plant poses its own set of prob- problems is related to thee payment in urday at noon to protest against the lems, such as pipeline installation lieu of taxes (PILOT) program,gram, meanmean-- construction of a natural gas and so- and deforestation. ing the company agreess to pay a set LOT papaymentsyments and taxes in Monon- proposed gas facility, lar power plant. She said few people within the stipend of fees to the countyunty governgovern-- galiagalia County every yearyear.. once operational,operational, will Th e organizations include WVU Morgantown community are aware ment in exchange for a property tax HeHe said this one of manymany benebene-- be as well,”well,” Nelson Sierra Club Coalition, Mountain- of the situation. exemption. fi t’st’s the plant will bringbring to Mononga-Mononga- said. ““WeWe are commit- “Th e more you talk about it to If approved, Kone saidid byby bbeingeing a lliaia County, includingincluding creating thou-thou- eers for Green Design and the Sun- ted to cleanclean fossilfossil aandnd rise Movement Greater Morgantown. people the more you realize no one part of the PILOT program,m, LongvieLongvieww sands of jjobsobs during construction knows that this is a really big deal,” would be granted a $200200 million and duringduring the plantplant’s’s operationoperation.. renewablerenewable ddevelop-evelop- Stephen Nelson, chief operating Yost said. property tax and businessess inventory “Employee“Employee compensation, didi-- ment. We hhopeope folksfolks offi cer of Longview, said the $1.1 Jonah Kone, an Americorps Vol- tax break. In order for thisis to pass,pass, hhee rect,rect, inindirectdirect andand induced,induced, willwill ex-ex- wiwillll taketake ththee titimeme ttoo billion gas and solar power plant unteer in Service to America in the said the Board of Educationation anandd tthehe ceed $200 million,”million,” Nelson said in an learn more about us.”us.” will use regionally produced Mar- WVU Land Use Clinic, said based on county commission will fi rst neeneedd to email. “In full operation, the ggasas and Yost saisaidd even iiff ththee cellus gas, and the solar facility will most scientifi c predictions, if carbon approve it. solarsolar facilitiesfacilities willwill addadd approximatelyapproximately rallyrally hashas a smallsmall turn- be one of the largest in Appalachia. emissions are not reduced within 13 Kone said the Sierra CClublub hhadad its 35 new, highhigh skill/highskill/high wage jjobsobs out, it is important to Part of the project will be located on years, catastrophic impacts of climate economics policy advisorvisor dodo thethe with a payroll of around $2 million.”million.” thethe environmental-environmental- Longview’s property in Pennsylvania change will become inescapable. He numbers on the plan. He saisaidd tthehe InIn responseresponse to the protestprotest that ist groups to get tthehe and part will be in Maidsville, West said this plant would simply add fuel club found around 75% of the taxes willwill occur on campus,campus, NeNelsonlson saisaidd Virginia. to the fi re. the plants would normallymally bbee re-re- LongviewLongview Power is committecommittedd to wwordord out about the Alexis Yost, a junior landscape ar- “For one, the Sierra Club and the quired to pay would be exempt.exempt. producingproducing cleanclean energy.energy. situation. chitecture student and member of Sunrise Movement are adamantly Nelson said Longvieww Power pplanslans “Longview“Longview is one of the clean- “If this still ppasses,asses, the Mountaineers for Green Design, against any new fossil fuel infra- to take part in the PILOTOT program, est burningburning coacoal-fil-fi redred electricelectric gen-gen- youngyoung peoppeoplele neeneedd to said the construction of this plant structure,” Kone said. “Th e reality is and it will provide $2 millionmillion in PI-PI- erationeration unitsunits in the worldworld andand ourour vote,”vote,” Yost said. Marijuana ordinance passes in Morgantown City Council BY CRAIG WEIMER partments, including University Po- Th e Dominion Post. “Nothing will nance. Andrew Cockburn, state chair litical organization that supports can- CORRESPONDENT lice, West Virginia State Police and change on our end because we’re for the West Virginia Working Fami- didates throughout West Virginia. the Monongalia County Sheriff ’s De- dictated under state code and we en- lies Party, was fi rst to speak. Cockburn said the party has come Morgantown City Council voted partment, will continue to follow force state code.” He directed all of those present out in support of the proposed or- 7-0 to modify the marijuana ordi- state code. In addition, Morgantown offi cers who supported the resolution to dinance, as they believe that mar- nance penalty to a fl at $15 fi ne for “Nothing has changed since the can use their discretion on whether stand. About half the council cham- juana laws in the United States are possession of up to 15 grams of letter that was originally put out. to follow state or city code. ber stood up. used to oppress low-income people marijuana. Th e University has concerns about Th e meeting began with a public Th e Daily Athenaeum contacted and minorities. Th is amendment will only apply the confusion that might come out hearing section for those wishing to Cockburn about his party and its See Marijuana page 3 to Morgantown Police. Other de- of this,” University Police Chief W.P. express support or concerns regard- support for the bill. Th e West Vir- Chedester said in an interview with ing the proposed marijuana ordi- ginia Working Families Party is a po- Forest Hills & The Cabanas Professional and secluded 1 & 2-bedroom apartments close to downtown and hospitals Call us for more information or to tour! 304-599-1998 / foresthillsapts.net 2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS dailyathenaeum Thursday 2/20 Sponsored by Staff CLOUDY WVU’s INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER HIGH 37° LOW 15° NEWS Everyone getting ready to drive in Morgantown Douglas Soule Friday 2/21 Editor-in-Chief Hannah Williams SUNNY Managing Editor Avery Lyons HIGH 38° LOW 23° Page Designer Caroline Murphy Page Designer Saturday 2/22 Gabriella Brown News Editor Jared Serre SUNNY Sports Editor Cody Nespor HIGH 49° LOW 27° Assistant Sports Editor Cole McClanahan Culture Editor Raeanne Beckner Assistant Culture Editor SeVohn Hunter CRIME REPORT Podcast Editor Kayla Gagnon Video Editor Caylie Silveira Feb. 18 Wise Library Photo Editor 11:03 P.M. | Under investigation Lost property. 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