News

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A team of researchers from the West Virginia University College of Law, WVU’s Energy Institute and the University of Wyoming have completed the first phase of a policy study for the United States Energy Association.

The study examines the regulatory environment in 12 states regarding the use of using CO2 (carbon dioxide) to extract additional oil from depleted reservoirs, a practice known as enhanced oil recovery. This method can extend an oil reservoir’s production by an additional 20%to 40%.  

The principal authors of the study are Professor Jesse Richardson of WVU Law; Dr. Sam Taylor of the WVU Energy Institute; Kris Koski of the University of Wyoming; and Professor Tara Righetti of the UW College of Law. Students at both institutions provided crucial research support on the project.

In the U.S, active commercial EOR projects inject over two billion cubic feet of CO2 into oil reservoirs. There is very little CO2-EOR activity in West Virginia but there is tremendous potential, according to Richardson, and the study could help promote oil production in the Mountain State.

Morgantown, W.Va. —  WVU Law and  West Virginia Executive magazine are pleased to announced the exceptional legal professionals who have been named to the Lawyers & Leaders Class of 2020. 

Founded in 2017, the Lawyers & Leaders program recognizes the accomplishments of legal professionals who have made a positive impact on the state and the nation and have dedicated their careers to serving others and their communities. Nominees are required to either be practicing law in West Virginia or be a graduate of WVU Law. 

The 2020 Lawyers and Leaders are:

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Investing in renewable energy is a viable solution to diversifying and strengthening West Virginia’s economy. And according to a new report issued by the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development at the West Virginia University College of Law, the switch to renewable energy would be cost-effective and can be done in a way that creates thousands of jobs — and may even save consumers money.

Titled “ West Virginia’s Energy Future,” the report shows West Virginia can dramatically increase renewable energy production over the next 15 years, generating over 70% of the state’s electricity from wind and solar by 2035. Currently, less than 5% of the state’s electricity comes from those sources.

“West Virginia’s electric utilities are already planning to retire their coal-fired power plants by 2050 at the latest,” said James Van Nostrand, director of the Center for Energy and Sustainable Development. “The question we need to confront today is whether we want the electric utilities to continue tacking costs onto customer’s bills over the next few decades to keep those plants afloat, or do we want them to invest now to create local jobs in the growing renewable energy economy and reduce our exposure to downswings in the coal industry.”

The report compares the current trajectory of West Virginia’s electric utilities — estimated to maintain 84% coal-fired generation in 2035 — against an alternative future of more energy efficiency, solar energy, and wind energy. The result is 78% emission-free energy generation by 2035.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University College of Law has been named a 2021 Top Law School for Business Law by preLaw Magazine.

The publication awarded the college’s business law program a grade of A- based on opportunities for students, including courses, clinics, externships and co-curricular activities. Those opportunities include a J.D./Online MBA dual degree offered in collaboration with WVU's John Chambers College of Business and Economics.  

“We are proud to be recognized for our business law program,” said John Taylor, interim dean.  “This honor speaks to the excellence of our faculty in the areas of corporate and commercial law, our strong experiential learning opportunities in these areas, and our close relationship with the Chambers College of Business and Economics.” 

The list of Top Laws Schools for Business Law appears in the current issue of preLaw Magazine.