Occupations
Union Carbide in West Virginia: A Legacy of Industry and Asbestos Exposure
For much of the twentieth century, Union Carbide Corporation stood as one of the most significant industrial employers in West Virginia. Its plants shaped the economy of the Kanawha Valley, drew thousands of workers into chemical manufacturing, and helped establish the region as a national center of the petrochemical industry. However, the very facilities that…
Read MorePhilip Sporn Power Station and Asbestos Exposure
American Electric Power, working through its subsidiaries Appalachian Power Company and Ohio Power Company, constructed the Philip Sporn Plant in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The facility was named for Philip Sporn, the engineer who became president of AEP on May 22, 1947, and who led the company until his retirement in 1961. Sporn…
Read MoreChemical Valley, Asbestos, and the Long Shadow of Toxic Exposure
Across the United States, communities built around large chemical manufacturers share a common history. These facilities provided steady work and economic stability for decades, but they also exposed workers to hazardous materials whose effects often did not appear until many years later. West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley, commonly known as Chemical Valley, is one of the…
Read MoreTragic Explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works
An explosion at Clairton Coke Works occurred Monday morning causing significant injuries and two fatalities. According to the latest confirmed reports, two people have died, one person has been rescued from the site, and at least 10 others were injured. Several individuals received treatment at the scene, though the exact number is still being determined.…
Read MoreHomer City Power Station Demolished
On March 22, 2025, the smokestacks and cooling towers of the Homer City Power Station in Indiana County came crashing down in a planned implosion. The demolition marked the physical end of the coal-fired power plant, which had ceased operations in 2023 due to economic pressures and shifting energy trends. While many viewed the event…
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