For over a century, Wayne County, West Virginia, helped power the country. As oil and gas infrastructure aged, wells began emitting methane and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), creating environmental and public health concerns for the people living closest to them.

That impact was felt near Genoa Elementary School, where ten nearby wells with measurable H₂S levels occasionally forced precautionary school closures during maintenance. Several of these wells sat in backyards or along property lines, limiting how families could use their own land. Although the wells still had remaining production and were not required to close for decades, early action offered meaningful benefits for both health and safety.

By permanently sealing all ten wells, the project removed methane and H₂S emissions at the source and eliminated the risk of future school interruptions. Families regained access to land that had been off-limits for years, including one property where a family was finally able to build a home for their daughter. Revegetation is already bringing wildlife back into the fields, with milkweed supporting the monarch migration, and the Twelvepole Creek watershed is better protected.

The project’s design, data transparency, and permanent emissions reductions were recognized with an A rating from BeZero Carbon, making it the highest-rated energy-sector project BeZero has assessed to date. The community no longer has to choose between modest production revenue and living with ongoing emissions.