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Senator Brooks McCabe
by Regina Hendrix 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

Dear Senator McCabe: I'm forwarding you some information on the proposed TrAIL Co. power line that, if approved, will cross our state in the north. The PATH line proposal will soon be presented and PATH starts at the John Amos plant. I believe we are being sold short by our PSC and I am hoping you will speak out on behalf of the citizens. These power lines will call for increased production of coal, therefore, more MTR and more destruction of our mountains, our heritage, our culture, etc. If these lines are constructed we will be generating more power here in WV--more pollution for us to breath and increased health problems. More blue haze incidents!!!! I know you've been very concerned about the problems of citizens with no health insurance. Treatment of these citizens is another of the externalized costs of coal. I am copying members of Sierra Club's Energy Committee and our Environmental Justice Coordinator, Bill Price. We would like to meet with you at your convenience and brief you on this issue. Regina Hendrix Chapter Chair WV Chapter of Sierra Club Home: 343-5211

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Senator Dan Foster
by Regina Hendrix 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

Dear Senator Foster: I know of your love for WV and your interest in health matters, so I'm forwarding you some information on the proposed TrAIL Co. power line that, if approved, will cross our state in the north. The PATH line proposal will soon be presented and PATH starts at the John Amos plant. I believe we are being sold short by our PSC and I am hoping you will speak out on behalf of the citizens. You are in a unique position to do so because of your specialized knowledge of health issues. These power lines will call for increased production of coal, therefore, more MTR and more destruction of our mountains, our heritage, our culture, etc. If these lines are constructed we will be generating more power here in WV--more pollution for us to breath and increased health problems. More blue haze incidents!!!! I know you've been very concerned about the problems of citizens with no health insurance. Treatment of these citizens is another of the externalized costs of coal. We would like to meet with you at your convenience and brief you on this issue. Regina Hendrix Chapter Chair WV Chapter Sierra Club Home: 343-5211

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COPY OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

FOLKS FOR YOU REFERENCE IN FUTURE CONVERSATIONS, I ATTACH A COPY OF 1. THE 4-15-08 PROPOSED TRAILCO-PSC STAFF SETTLEMENT 2. THE 4-16-08 GAZETTE ARTICLE SUMMARIZING THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 3. THE 4-16-08 SIERRA CLUB'S PRESS RELEASE ON THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT 4. THE 4-17-08 GAZETTE ARTICLE ON THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT -- William V. DePaulo, Esq. 179 Summers Street, Suite 232 Charleston, WV 25301-2163 Tel: 304-342-5588 Fax: 304-342-5505 william.depaulo(a)gmail.com www.passeggiata.com

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TrAILCo Settles with PSC Staff, CAD, and WVEUG
by James Kotcon 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

Below is a portion of the cover letter of a Proposed Settlement Agreement filed by TrAILCo about an hour ago. JBK ****** The enclosed Joint Stipulation and Agreement for Settlement recites the relevant procedural background and concerns of its parties, and then sets forth in detail a number of substahtive provisions in modification of those parties' previously asserted positions on various issues. While the document speaks for itself, its notable provisions include: TrAILCo, along with Monongahela Power Company and The Potomac Edison Company, have agreed to increase the financial benefits associated with the certification, construction, and operation of the West Virginia Segments of TrAIL through financial commitments estimated to be approximately $42 million to West Virginia ratepayers, the State, and its citizens, as well as commitments for an additional investment estimated at $50 million and additional annual payroll and benefits estimated at $12 million. TrAILCo has further committed to adopt, wholly or in part, numerous proposals of Staff and/or other parties concerning the routing, engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of TrAIL. The Staff, CAD, and WVEUG have agreed to affirmatively support the need for TrAIL pursuant to W: Vu. Code 6 24-2-1 la(d)(l). All of the stipulating parties jointly recommend to the Commission that the siting of the West Virginia Segments of TrAIL along the originally proposed route, as modified by the Grafton Area Route, will result in an acceptable balance between reasonable power needs and reasonable environmental factors pursuant to W: Vu. Code @24-2-lla(d)(2). (TrAILCo stands by its commitments to Laurence and Angela Williams set forth in a previously filed partial stipulation.) The enclosed stipulation includes several important terms and conditions, and recites the bases for the modification of the stipulating parties’ several positions. In order to facilitate the Commission’s consideration, TrAILCo has moved for a tolling of its right to a decision within the period otherwise provided in W: Vu. Code 0 24-2-1 l(f) and (g), to June 2,2008.

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FW: Western Greenbrier Co-Generation Plant
by Grubb, Karen 14 Apr '08

14 Apr '08

Western Greenbrier Co-Generation Plant--See attached fact sheet for more information. Also go to www.wvhighlands.org <http://www.wvhighlands.org/> and click on Suit Aims to Block Greenbrier Plant and The Rest Of The Story. The WGC plant proponents are mounting a petition campaign to convince Senator Byrd to help them raise another $25 million, despite the fact that they are way over budget, out of money and have defaulted on their loans, which were guaranteed by the WV Development Office. The $25 million is so they can borrow $300 million with municipal bonds through Citigroup and get a grant from the US DOE for over $100 million. This use of taxpayers funds for a bad idea must stop. Letters are better than petitions. Please write a letter to Senator Byrd (and you can send copies to Rahall and Manchin). AND SEND A COPY TO ME (blittle(a)citynet.net) SO WE WILL KNOW HOW OUR LETTER CAMPAIGN IS GOING. AND FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE YOU CAN THINK OF. Byrd's address in Charleston (works better than DC; email and fax work too): Senator Robert C. Byrd 300 Virginia St, #2630 Charleston, WV 25301 fax: 304-343-7144 email: from his website - http://byrd.senate.gov/ Rahall's address: Representative Nick Rahall 301 Prince St. Beckley, WV 25801 fax: 202-225-9061 email: nrahall(a)mail.house.gov Manchin's address: Governor Joe Manchin 1900 Kanawha Boulevard E Charleston, WV 25305 Email: Governor(a)WVGov.org Beth Little HC 64 Box 281 Hillsboro, WV 24946 304-653-4277

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FW: promoting Debra Williams visits here in WV
by Grubb, Karen 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

Here is a story about her in the Gazette sent to me by the FSU Director of Communication, Sarah Hensley. http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200804081087 ________________________________ From: ec-bounces(a)osenergy.org [mailto:ec-bounces@osenergy.org] On Behalf Of Margaret Manousoff Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 2:39 PM To: 'WVEC Email List' Subject: Re: [EC] promoting Debra Williams visits here in WV Dear everyone, Thank you all SO much for helping to make Deborah's visit happen! We are incredibly grateful. I am attaching the latest version of her itinerary. Some details are missing on events next week, but I hope to have everything in order soonest. Best, Margaret Margaret Manousoff Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator Alaska Conservation Solutions 308 G St., Suite 219 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 929-9370 Fax: (907) 929-1562 www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com <http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com>

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Re: [EC] promoting Debra Williams visits here in WV
by Allan Tweddle 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Margaret Please cc. all of the e-mail names on this memo, as each has access to a separate e-mailing action list. list. To those receiving this mailing, who might not have received earlier posts, attached is a very brief resume of Debra Williams, AND THE poster announcing her speaking engagement at the University of Charleston THIS WEEK...on THURSDAY. This very accomplished and honored Harvard Law School Graduate will be in West Virginia from the 10th to the 15th speaking at several venues. Hope you all can attend one of the functions. ALLAN Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator Alaska Conservation Solutions 308 G St., Suite 219 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 929-9370 Fax: (907) 929-1562 <http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com<http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/>> http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com<http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/> Deborah L. Williams, President Ms. Williams has been actively involved in conservation and sustainable community for over 35 years, and is now focusing on global warming. She received her B.A. from Pomona College, summa cum laude, with a concentration in Biology and Economics. Subsequently she was graduated from Harvard Law School, with honors, and was the principal founder of and co-editor-in-chief of the Harvard Environmental Law Review <http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/<http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/>> <http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/<http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/>> . After serving in the Department of Interior's Solicitors Honors Program in Washington D.C., Ms. Williams represented the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. Between 1981 and 1994, Ms. Williams was the Executive Director of the Alaska Consumer Advocacy Program and of the Alaska Lung Association, while serving on many boards and commissions, including Trustees for Alaska (president of the board) and the Municipal Health Commission (chair of the Environmental Health Committee.) In 1994, Ms. Williams received a Presidential appointment and became the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Interior for Alaska, in which position she advised the Secretary about managing over 220 million acres of national lands in Alaska and working with Alaska tribes and others associated with the Department's broad natural and cultural resource jurisdiction. She also was a Trustee on the Exxon Valdez Trustee Council and other boards. For over six years, Ms. Williams served as the Executive Director of the Alaska Conservation Foundation, winning many awards in that role. Currently Ms. Williams is President of Alaska Conservation Solutions, an organization devoted primarily to addressing global warming. Ms. Williams has published numerous law review and other articles, has been featured repeatedly in the media (including 60 Minutes, the New York Times and the BBC), and has taught graduate-level courses at both the University of Alaska and Alaska Pacific University. Deborah greatly enjoys backpacking, skiing, gardening, traveling, and serving on boards and in service organizations such as Rotary and the American Land Conservancy. ----- Original Message ----- From: Vivian Stockman<mailto:vivian@ohvec.org> To: 'Margaret Manousoff'<mailto:margaret@alaskaconservationsolutions.com> Cc: 'Allan Tweddle'<mailto:allantweddle@msn.com> Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 10:06 AM Subject: promoting Debra Williams visits here in WV Hi Margaret. I work with OVEC, one of the groups hosting one of Ms. Williams speaking engagements here. If possible, please send me info on all her talks in WV--date, time, location, sponsoring groups, and I will put that info out to our West Virginia members and post in our our global warming and WV page. thank you so much! PS we've already had a little article in the Huntington newspaper. --VS

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OBAMA Organizing Fellowship.
by Regina Hendrix 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

FYI, pasted in below is an invitation I got from the Obama Campaign. Sounds interesting and could be very effective, I think. I hope this come thru okay on the list serves. If not, E-Mail me and I'll attach the notice I got. Regina Regina -- Apply <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/13JfBz/VEsH/>West Virginia's primary is coming up on Tuesday, May 13th, and it's crucial that supporters across the state stay focused on this important contest. But I also want to let you know about an exciting project that we'll be kicking off in all 50 states this summer. It's called the Obama Organizing Fellowship. When I was a young man, I was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and the idea of people working at a grassroots level to bring about change. I got my chance on the South Side of Chicago, as a community organizer, and it was the transformative experience of my career. It allowed me to put my values to work and to see that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, when ordinary people come together around a common purpose. The experience changed the course of my life -- and I want to share that kind of opportunity with you. That's why we're introducing a program that's going to train a new generation of leaders -- not only to help us win this election, but to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country. If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on. You will be assigned to a community where you'll organize supporters. Assignments will begin in June, and you'll be required to work a minimum of six weeks over the summer. This program is designed to give you real world organizing experience that will have a concrete impact on this election. *Apply to be an Obama Organizing Fellow* and put progressive values to work in the real world: *http://my.barackobama.com/fellows* <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/13JfBz/VEsE/> If you can't take the time away from work or your family that's required for the fellowship program, you can still get involved. * *Reach out to someone you know* who may be interested in this program, and let them know we could use their help: *http://my.barackobama.com/fellowsinvite* <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/Z1yNxn/VEsF/> * *House an Organizing Fellow* -- If you have a spare room, you can help by offering housing to an Organizing Fellow near their training or near their eventual assignment. We haven't set locations for all of the trainings and assignments, but if you sign up, our staff will be in touch as the campaign grows: *http://my.barackobama.com/fellowshousing* <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/cgFv9m/VEsC/> * *Support this program* by making a donation to this campaign: *https://donate.barackobama.com/fellowsdonate* <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/SYUUEW/VEsD/> Being a community organizer wasn't easy, but it was the most valuable education I ever received. It taught me that together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Organizing changed my life, and I hope it changes yours. Thanks, Barack Obama P.S. -- You don't have to wait until this summer to make a difference for our campaign. Right now, supporters across West Virginia are volunteering to get as many West Virginians as possible ready for Primary Day on May 13th. Sign up now to come to an organizational meeting this weekend: *http://wv.barackobama.com/WVorgmeetings* <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/VQrmwg/VEsA/> Paid for by Obama for America This email was sent to: regina1936(a)verizon.net To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/unsubscribe <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/f1e088aa74f7f1ad/mOT8qL/VEsB/>

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Washington Post 4-6-08 New Focus on Coal's Part in Warming
by Paul Wilson 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Washington Post ENVIRONMENT Sunday, April 6, 2008; Page A06 New Focus on Coal's Part in Warming Greater Advances In Technology Are Seen as Critical[image: James E. Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute said nations could use less coal if energy efficiency got more attention.] James E. Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute said nations could use less coal if energy efficiency got more attention By Juliet Eilperin<http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/juliet+eilperin/> Washington Post Staff Writer James E. Hansen<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/James+E.+Hansen?tid=informl…>, perhaps the best-known scientific advocate for curbing greenhouse-gas emissions, sent a letter recently to the head of one of the nation's largest power companies, calling on him to confront the role that his coal-fired plants play in global warming. Hansen proposed they meet. On Wednesday, James E. Rogers<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/James+E.+Rogers?tid=informl…>of Duke Energy<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Duke+Energy+Corporation?tid…>accepted Hansen's invitation, though he made clear he does not foresee calling off plans to build more of the power plants that Hansen considers a main culprit in climate change. The exchange, carried out in full public view, highlights both a recent shift in the climate debate and the difficulty of translating this change into concrete action. Rogers does not question humans' contribution to global warming, and he has pledged to largely "decarbonize" his company's operations by mid-century. But he is not moving as fast as environmental activists would like, and some academics are now arguing that scientists have greatly underestimated the technological leap that will be required in coming decades to curb dangerous warming. The same day Rogers informed Hansen that he was willing to meet, Roger Pielke Jr., a scientist at the University of Colorado at Boulder<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/University+of+Colorado+at+B…>, co-wrote a commentary piece in the journal Nature<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Nature+Publishing+Group?tid…>that said the U.N.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/United+Nations?tid=informli…> Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Intergovernmental+Panel+on+…>has made assumptions about technological advances that are "optimistic at best and unachievable at worst" when it comes to increasing energy efficiency. While industrialized nations such as the United States and those in Europe<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Europe?tid=informline>have made gains in recent years, developed nations such as China <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/China?tid=informline>and India <http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/India?tid=informline>have not. As Pielke and his colleagues wrote, "In recent years, global energy intensity and carbon intensity have both increased, reversing the trends of previous decades." Even developed countries are not cutting greenhouse gases as fast as they had anticipated. The European Union<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/European+Union?tid=informli…>released preliminary data last week indicating that emissions from facilities covered by Europe's cap-and-trade system rose 1 percent in 2007, instead of declining. That means it will be harder than expected for companies to meet tighter emissions limits this year. The report sent prices for emissions permits for December 2008 up 4 percent, to $36.60 a ton on the European Climate Exchange in London<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/London?tid=informline>. Hansen, who directs NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an interview that the United States and other countries could wean themselves off coal rapidly if they put a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable resources. He recently submitted a paper to the journal Science saying that the world must reduce the current level of carbon dioxide-equivalents in the atmosphere from 385 parts per million to 350 parts per million to avoid dangerous effects of climate change. "We simply cannot burn the coal and put the CO2in the atmosphere and avoid having serious changes in the atmosphere," he said. "The scientists are beginning to realize we have to have a much more dramatic change in direction." Former vice president Al Gore<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Al+Gore?tid=informline>said in an interview last week that he backs Hansen's approach, with one modification: Because carbon capture and storage technology is still not widely available, he said, "I think we ought to have a moratorium on any coal-fired power plant that doesn't have the capacity to capture carbon." But Rogers, who praised Hansen as "an early voice in the wilderness" on climate change, said the scientist's demand reflects a "snap-your-fingers, instant transition of the economy" mind-set. "My requirement is to balance reliability, affordability and clean energy," Rogers said. "He's apparently focused on the clean perspective." In his letter, Hansen took aim at two of Duke's planned power plants, in Cliffside, N.C.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/North+Carolina?tid=informli…>, and Edwardsport, Ind.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Indiana?tid=informline>, telling Rogers: "Your suggestion that new, more efficient coal-fired power plants, which do not capture CO2, can be part of a solution ignores the basic facts and urgency of terminating coal emissions." Rogers responded that he will be shutting down 1,000 megawatts of capacity from older power plants as part of the Cliffside project, and that the Edwardsport facility is a commercial coal-gasification plant that "is located in an area with excellent geology" to experiment with technologies for capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground. Americans are not the only ones puzzling through the transition from a coal-dependent to a low-carbon energy supply. Rachel Crisp, deputy director of Britain<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/United+Kingdom?tid=informli…>'s cleaner fossil fuels unit, said last week that her country had just picked nine candidates for its first carbon capture and storage plant, but that other than Norway<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Norway?tid=informline>, "you don't have other countries lining up and investing serious funding" in this technology. "We're going forward with ours, so we'll see how it turns out," she said. -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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Fwd: Next Coal Activists Call Wednesday, April 9th
by Paul Wilson 06 Apr '08

06 Apr '08

Pls fwd to other Sierra Club members that may have an interest in our Coal work. thanks, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alice McKeown <Alice.McKeown(a)sierraclub.org> To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:39:00 -0400 Subject: Next Coal Activists Call Wednesday, April 9th Please join the National Coal Campaign for our next monthly coal activist coal on Wednesday, April 9th at 8:00 p.m. eastern. Please come prepared to talk to us about Earth Day activities, from ideas we have on making coal a big issue to events you have planned in your local communities. We will also welcome two guests to the call who will tell us about an exciting new Coal Film Festival. 866 501 6174 224 0743# Agenda 1. Legal Update: Pat Gallagher & Bruce Nilles 2. Coal Film Festival Announcement: Adrienne Bramhall (Sierra Club Productions) and Nithin Coca (Grassroots Media Organizer) 3. Sharing Earth Day Plans: Verena Owen to lead discussion 4. Open Forum Also, please make sure to check out our Coal Headquarters on Clubhouse for any coal-related needs. http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/conservation/energy/coal/Default.aspx Many thanks, Alice ________________________________ Alice McKeown Sierra Club National Coal Campaign tel: 202.675.6271 fax: 202.547.6009 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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Blood For Oil
by Regina Hendrix 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Here in one place is the full disclosure of Bush's Blood for Oil Program. Check out Maya Schenwar's "Managing the Econoccuption of Iraq." http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040408J.shtml More oil would lessen the demand for "clean coal" but what a price to pay and one hell of a dilemma for those of us living in the coalfields and those of us on the periphery in the Kanawha Valley choking on the blue haze....... Regina

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Fwd: WV Study unearths higher health risks to coal communities
by Paul Wilson 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

Greetings: the following link is to a Pittsburgh Post Gazette article on a WV health study on Coal Communities. I have attached a MS Word version of the same article. best regards, paul w. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <do-not-reply(a)post-gazette.com> Date: Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 6:42 AM Subject: This news story was sent to you by request To: pjgrunt(a)gmail.com Name: Bryan Burgess E-mail: burgessbe(a)allel.net Message: FYI, just incase you missed this article in your papers. Bryan Click here to access the story: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08093/869656-114.stm --- http://www.post-gazette.com -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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SSC Green Fund Petition
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 01 Apr '08

01 Apr '08

Forwarding this on behalf of WVU's Student Sierra Club: As it stands WVU is not taking any serious measures to better their environmental footprint aside from their improvements to energy efficiency and the creation of a campus recycling program. That is why the Sierra Student Coalition is encouraging the university to do better- because we do not want the burden of a polluted, expensive future on our hands. We want to create a green fund that would fund projects on campus, like the creation of on-site renewable energy. It is our overarching goal to reduce emissions 30% by 2015 at WVU To increase solid waste to 50% recycled (up from it's current figure of 22%) To insure that the university invests in sustainability education To construct on site renewable energy, like wind or solar To insure that all new buildings are Silver LEED certified. How does it work? A green fund would take earmarked alumni donations and invest them in a sustainable company, like one that builds solar panels for example. Than, the interest earned would go into creating a green campus project, like on-site renewable energy. We can fund our own windmills! The catch is- we have to convince the administration that this is a great idea and that people are into donating to such a cause. Current and future WVU alumni please sign and leave a comment "You must be the change you want to see in the world." -Ghandi (No immediate contribution to the fund is required.) Thanks! GOAL: 1500 Signatures April 1 Current Signatures: 42 THE PETITION! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/WVU-Green-Fund Thank you for your time and energy, Christy Christy Hartman West Virginia University Organizer 703-501-2967 chartman(a)mix.wvu.edu

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FW: Fw: home energy fair
by Grubb, Karen 27 Mar '08

27 Mar '08

Does anyone want to have a SC booth at the fair in Elkins? Is the SSC having a booth? ________________________________ From: Denise Poole [mailto:deniseap@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 6:42 PM To: Frank Young; lapaix(a)westvirginia.net Cc: jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; Grubb, Karen Subject: Re: Fw: home energy fair Hey all, FYI, and just in case any communication has been dropped - or information still needed on Sierra Club's end .... (I am going through all e-mails again, and reviewing as the final details for the fair). Mountain View Builders have been confirmed for quite some time, pre-E-Day, participating with a sustainable / green building workshop showing what their company is doing in Berkeley County and the region. Ken Auvil is also one of our presenters on the same subject, and all of our workshop slots are full. If the Sierra Club would like a booth however, we are continuing to add those through April 3rd. We do have about 60 booths, and the tables available on campus are spoken for (so please bring your own tables). If you decide to participate, any literature, and Jim's "Home Energy Fair" model showing examples of practical things people can do right now in their homes to save energy could very well be done at your booth. Please let me know if there is any interest in Sierra Club participating with a booth this year, and I'll be happy to add you to our list. I will need to know by April 3rd so we can finalize. Thanks so much, Denise Denise Poole, Co-Director, Sustainable Living for WV deniseap(a)earthlink.net (304) 617-7073 -----Original Message----- From: Frank Young Sent: Feb 28, 2008 6:00 PM To: lapaix(a)westvirginia.net, Denise Poole Cc: jim_scon(a)yahoo.com, Karen Grubb Subject: Re: Fw: home energy fair Thanks, Myra. Also, last Friday at WV E-Council awards we met Mike McKechnie who, along with his brother Pete, own and operate Mountain View Builders at Berkeley Springs. Their specialty is designing and building homes that incorporate renewable energy and sustainable living processes. Mike can be reached at mtviewbuilders(a)verizon.net . Telephone: 304-258-4320 . Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: Bonhage-Hale / Myra <mailto:lapaix@westvirginia.net> To: Myra Bonhage-Hale <mailto:lapaix@westvirginia.net> ; Denise Poole <mailto:deniseap@earthlink.net> ; Frank Young <mailto:fyoung@mountain.net> Cc: jim_scon(a)yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 4:20 PM Subject: Re: Fw: home energy fair Gee, our public relations certainly isn't finding the right people! I thought all you guys knew about the Sustainable Fair in Elkins. Jim, is there any way you could give us some contact information? Perhaps it could fit in with the Sustainable Fair on April 18th, 19th and 20th at Davis & Elkins College sponsored in large part by the WVEC. Let us know - the more the merrier! ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Frank Young" <fyoung(a)mountain.net> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:59:43 -0500 >Would Jim Sconyers idea of a Home Energy Fair (see below) fit in with the Sustainable Fair in Elkins? > >I'm rather certain that Ken Auvil, who is a Green builder in Barbour County, would be a part of this. > >Frank Young > >-----Original Message----- >From: Jim Sconyers [mailto:jim_scon@yahoo.com] >Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 4:18 PM >To: Autumn; Sandra Cress; Bill DePaulo; Barbara Fallon; Regina Hendrix; >Jim; Matt Keller; Jim Kotcon; Beth Little; Duane Nichols; Dave Saville; >Kate Stone; Allan Tweddle; Paul Wilson; Mary Wimmer; Karen Grubb; >Jonathan Rosenbaum >Subject: home energy fair > >At my former group, we had a very successful Home >Energy Fair at Earth Day last year. Giveaways, info, >talks, etc. oriented toward practical things to >conserve energy at home. > >I was wondering if this seemed like something we might >want to do, say in Charleston (Capitol?) or >Morgantown. > >I would appreciate your feedback. > >Jim Sconyers >jim_scon(a)yahoo.com >304.789.2542 >603.969.6712 cell > > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.westvirginia.net

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Cleanbrier press release
by Beth Little 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

Here's what we decided at the meeting Thurs. See attached. Beth Little HC 64 Box 281 Hillsboro, WV 24946 304-653-4277 Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1328 - Release Date: 3/13/2008 11:31 AM

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Fwd: The nonturbine wind alternative - Alternative Energy dot Com
by James Kotcon 21 Mar '08

21 Mar '08

>>> Nathan Askins <nate.askins(a)gmail.com> 3/20/2008 6:41 PM >>> http://alternativeenergy.com/video/video/show?id=1066929%3AVideo%3A21951

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Fwd: Sic Semper Transmission?
by Duane330＠aol.com 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

From: pecnews(a)pecva.org Sent: 3/19/2008 7:44:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time Subj: Sic Semper Transmission? (http://www.pecva.org/) Three Weeks, Two Nervous Utilities & One Website to Hear it All Dear Duane, After three witness packed weeks, the Virginia transmission line hearings have come to a close. Since I last wrote we have heard from expert witnesses for PEC, Virginia's Commitment, Fauquier County, Prince William County, the Powerline Landowners Alliance, Oakwood et al, VDOT and the SCC staff. The cumulative expertise provided by these groups is unparalleled. _Listen to the Testimony on the SCC Website_ (http://citizen-networks.org/ct/vdswh5F1LqRY/) Sic Semper Transmission? There was more testimony than I can possibly summarize in email format, so I'd like to touch on some of the major takeaways. 1. Dominion and TrAILCo's entire case is based on assumptions that are woefully inadequate and unrealistic. There was a lot, I mean a lot of testimony regarding the planning assumptions dictated by PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator. PJM and Dominion ask you to accept that all of their models are reasonable and accurate. You must next assume that the growth of the past few years will continue unabated, energy conservation will never be more than it has been in the past and that efficiency is always outpaced by greater usage. You must also assume that planned generation projects that contribute to the identified problem should be modeled, while those that contribute to the solution should not be modeled. And finally, you must assume that business-as-usual should be continued while the world around us changes. 2. There is a very real negative impact to building this line. This line will cost over a billion dollars to construct, make the east coast more dependent on distant (and largely coal-fired) generation, make it less cost-effective to build clean generation on the east coast, require clear-cutting of forests, increased use of herbicides, ruin public viewsheds in three states and impact property values along the entire 240-mile long route. 3. There is a better way. It was very clear from the testimony that neither PJM, Dominion or TrAILCo analyzed viable alternatives to building this line. Together, the witnesses from various groups showed that a combination of demand side reduction, clean and appropriately placed distributed generation and realistic planning will allow essential services to remain cost-effective and reliable. To use the words of Virginia's Commitment attorney Michael Gerrard, PJM and Dominion "put all of their eggs in one basket and never came up with a Plan B". Time to Write the Best Brief Ever Our legal briefs will be due in early May. The brief is an argument of law referencing the record that has developed over the course of the proceeding. The Hearing Examiner will review briefs, as well as the public testimony, pre-filed testimony of expert witnesses and transcripts from the hearings. He will then come up with a recommendation for the SCC Commissioners regarding whether to approve or deny the transmission line applications. A final decision by the Commissioners is expected some time this Summer or Fall. TrAILCo heads to Pittsburgh for the beginning of their case in Pennsylvania on March 24. And we are all awaiting the West Virginia Public Service Commission ruling. They are scheduled to make their final decision on May 2. Needless to say, May 2 is going to be a big day for all of us. Thank You for Making this Case Possible I would once again like to thank all of you who have supported us (or any of the Respondents) and stayed vigilant throughout this long process. A utility has never faced opposition like this before. If you are able to listen to only one day of the hearing, I would encourage you to listen to PEC's engineering witness Dr. Hyde Merrill, his testimony can be _found here_ (http://citizen-networks.org/ct/v1swh5F1LqRR/) and begins at minute 16:15 of the audio file. Best, Bri West Piedmont Environmental Council _pecnews(a)pecva.org_ (mailto:pecnews@pecva.org) ps: None of this happens without you. _We need your continued support to keep this up_ (https://secure.citizen-networks.org/08/energytransmission/np7swh5F1DIJW?) . ____________________________________ This message was personalized for you. Please spread the word and safely forward this message using: (http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/sb525/forward/8b7nsdufok88i38?) _Tell-a-friend!_ (http://citizen-networks.org/campaign/sb525/forward/8b7nsdufok88i38?) This message was sent to duane330(a)aol.com. Visit your _subscription management page_ (http://citizen-networks.org/pec/smp.tcl?nkey=8b7nsdufok88i38&) to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop receiving Power Line Alerts, click to _unsubscribe_ (http://citizen-networks.org/pec/remove-domain-direct.tcl?ctx=subscription&n…) . To stop ALL email from The Piedmont Environmental Council, click to _remove_ (http://citizen-networks.org/pec/remove-domain-direct.tcl?ctx=center&nkey=8b…) yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). (http:///) **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. 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FW: Architecture 2030: BYOBlue
by Grubb, Karen 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

This person gave a talk at the Good Jobs Green Jobs conference in Pittsburgh. ________________________________ From: Peter Chapman [mailto:pandrewchapman@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 12:59 PM To: Grubb, Karen Subject: Architecture 2030: BYOBlue Hello Karen, Thank you for your interest in helping Architecture 2030 to spread the work about BYOBlue. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible with this clear message: wear BLUE for Earth Day 2008 as a vote for NO COAL! BYOBlue / Earth Day 2008 April 19-22 Want to stop global warming? Wear BLUE for Earth Day 2008! Join millions of people around the world who will be wearing BLUE to signify their vote for NO COAL. ***** Earth Day 2008 is going to be historic! Architecture 2030, along with numerous other groups around the nation, is calling on everyone to wear BLUE during Earth Day 2008 to signify their vote for No Coal. Events will be happening around the world from April 19th through April 22nd, so... If you're attending the Earth Day event on the National Mall in Washington, DC on April 20th, wear BLUE. If you're attending another Earth Day event, wear BLUE. No matter what you're doing for Earth Day 2008, wear BLUE. A BLUE shirt, top, sweater or jacket...whatever. Just wear BLUE. Then, on April 22, as a culminating action, pick up the phone, call Congress at 202-224-3121 and ask for an immediate 'Moratorium on Coal' - a halt to the construction of any new coal-fired power plants. Through this Call for Climate event, Earth Day hopes to generate over a million phone calls to Congress. Visit Earth Day's website to learn more about this critical event. Your BLUE vote will count. Fifty-nine coal plants were canceled in 2007. That's over a third of the 151 planned. That happened before millions of people joined together to say No Coal. BYOBlue for Earth Day 2008. Be the vote that tips the balance. ***** Architecture 2030 is asking the global community to help get the message out: - send this message to everyone on your email list. - download <http://www.byoblue.org/downloads/BYOBlue_web.zip> the banner ads and display them prominently on your website, Facebook, MySpace etc. - link to www.byoblue.org <http://www.byoblue.org/> or create your own BYOB web page. - attend an Earth Day event wearing BLUE and - on April 22nd, wear BLUE all day - to work, lunch and dinner - and make the call to Congress at 202-224-3121, asking for an immediate 'Moratorium on Coal'. -- Peter Chapman Marketing Coordinator 2030, Inc. / Architecture 2030 505-988-5309 x17 chapman(a)architecture2030.org www.architecture2030.org

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Fwd: 132 coal plants vanish - POOF!
by James Kotcon 15 Mar '08

15 Mar '08

This is pretty significant news. The data may seem boring, but I suspect that it would be quite relevant to our case on TrAILCo. These data do not assume a carbon cap and trade program, but even with just the recently passed H.R.6, “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007” signed by President Bush in December 2007, the reduction in the electric demand growth rate is tremendous. I recommend clicking on the link and spend some time with the numbers. JBK >>> "dave saville" <daves(a)labyrinth.net> 3/15/2008 3:30 AM >>> No New Coal Plants! (nonewcoalplants(a)energyjustice.net) On March 4, without fanfare, a bureaucrat named Guy Caruso caused 132 coal plants to disappear with a wave of his magic wand. Actually, he used a spreadsheet, but the effect was the same. Caruso is the head of the Energy Information Administration, the division of the U.S. Department of Energy that, well, comes up with information on energy. Sort of like the CIA, but less glamorous. A year ago, the EIA projected that electricity use would grow at the rate of 1.5 percent per year through 2030. But on March 4, Caroso told Congress that the EIA had revised its projected growth rate downward to 1.1 percent. As we all learned in algebra, a small change in a percentage rate can make a big difference over time. Applied to coal, the new growth rate caused projected electricity generation from coal in 2030 to drop from 3191 Billion kilowatt hours (Bkwh) to 2756 Bkwh, a decrease of 435 Bkwh. What does 435 Bkwh equate to in terms of coal plants? Assuming a 75% capacity factor (the percentage of hours in an average year that a plant is running full-bore), that's the output of 66,200 Megawatts of generating capacity, or 132 new coal plants (500 MW each) that won't have to be built afterall between now and 2030. Of course, a lot of people already knew this was going on, including Wall Street. For years, the Energy Information Administration, which should be leading the way in guiding decision makers, has been out of step with reality. It tends to play the role of cheerleader for an industry that has always wanted to build, build, build. But at some point reality intrudes -- the cheerleader turns around and actually looks at the game. And that's why 1.5% just became 1.1%, and 132 coal plants suddenly went poof. Here is Caruso's March 4th testimony to the U.S. Senate: <http://www.nreca.org/Documents/PublicPolicy/caruso030408.pdf>http://www.nre ca.org/Documents/PublicPolicy/caruso030408.pdf Here is last year's projection -- see Table A8 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/archive/aeo07/pdf/appendixes.pdf>http://www.eia .doe.gov/oiaf/archive/aeo07/pdf/appendixes.pdf Here is the latest projection -- again, see Table A8 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/pdf/appa.pdf>http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ae o/pdf/appa.pdf

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Fwd: FW: Global warming expert from Alaska to be in WV
by James Kotcon 15 Mar '08

15 Mar '08

I got a call from these folks. They have funding to do a speaking tour in WV April 10-15, and would appreciate some help with local arrangements. I suspect we could easily host them in Huntington, Charleston, Fairmont, Morgantown, and perhaps at Shepherdstown or somewhere in the Eastern Panhandle. They would also like to do editorial board visits, meet with local congressional staff, etc. We have often done quite well with talks on Alaska, so perhaps this might be an easy way to promote a global warming agenda with popular programs. Would anyone else be interested in serving as a local arrangements person? JBK P.S. I already gave away some of your names and e-mail addresses, so look forward to hearing from them. _____ From: Margaret Manousoff [mailto:margaret@alaskaconservationsolutions.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:18 PM To: 'cjkotcon(a)wvu.edu' Subject: Global warming expert to be in WV Dear Jim: I am writing to alert you to a FREE educational speaking tour (funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) being conducted in West Virginia from April 10th-15th by Deborah Williams, President of Alaska Conservation Solutions. Ms. Williams is Alaska's foremost spokesperson on global warming. (Her bio is below.) She would be honored to give a free presentation on the topic to West Virginia University Students, the Sierra Club, and interested guests. Her talk addresses the alarming consequences already evident in Alaska and the commonalities between our state and yours (i.e. impacts on wildlife, water quality, recreation, tourism, etc.) She offers practical carbon-reducing strategies that not only reduce emissions but also protect human health, save money and increase America's energy independence. Deborah is a highly intelligent and articulate speaker, and I believe that a meeting between your group and her would be mutually educational and inspiring. For further information about Alaska Conservation Solutions and Ms. Williams, please visit our website at <http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/> www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com . Because Ms. Williams' speaking calendar fills up quickly, I would appreciate a response as to the feasibility of a presentation to your group at your earliest convenience. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind regards, Margaret Margaret Manousoff Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator Alaska Conservation Solutions 308 G St., Suite 219 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 929-9370 Fax: (907) 929-1562 <http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com> http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com Deborah L. Williams, President Ms. Williams has been actively involved in conservation and sustainable community for over 35 years, and is now focusing on global warming. She received her B.A. from Pomona College, summa cum laude, with a concentration in Biology and Economics. Subsequently she was graduated from Harvard Law School, with honors, and was the principal founder of and co-editor-in-chief of the Harvard Environmental Law Review <http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/> <http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/elr/> . After serving in the Department of Interior's Solicitors Honors Program in Washington D.C., Ms. Williams represented the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. Between 1981 and 1994, Ms. Williams was the Executive Director of the Alaska Consumer Advocacy Program and of the Alaska Lung Association, while serving on many boards and commissions, including Trustees for Alaska (president of the board) and the Municipal Health Commission (chair of the Environmental Health Committee.) In 1994, Ms. Williams received a Presidential appointment and became the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Interior for Alaska, in which position she advised the Secretary about managing over 220 million acres of national lands in Alaska and working with Alaska tribes and others associated with the Department's broad natural and cultural resource jurisdiction. She also was a Trustee on the Exxon Valdez Trustee Council and other boards. For over six years, Ms. Williams served as the Executive Director of the Alaska Conservation Foundation, winning many awards in that role. Currently Ms. Williams is President of Alaska Conservation Solutions, an organization devoted primarily to addressing global warming. Ms. Williams has published numerous law review and other articles, has been featured repeatedly in the media (including 60 Minutes, the New York Times and the BBC), and has taught graduate-level courses at both the University of Alaska and Alaska Pacific University. Deborah greatly enjoys backpacking, skiing, gardening, traveling, and serving on boards and in service organizations such as Rotary and the American Land Conservancy.

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[Fwd: [fom] Coal companies seek deals with state DEP]
by Regina Hendrix 14 Mar '08

14 Mar '08

FYI

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[Fwd: [fom] DEP chief to quit]
by Regina Hendrix 14 Mar '08

14 Mar '08

FYI

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ALASKA GLOBAL WARMING IMPACT PRESENTATIONS
by Allan Tweddle 13 Mar '08

13 Mar '08

Deborah cc: Margaret Manousoff Please also mail to ; margaret(a)alaskaconservationsolutions.com<mailto:margaret@alaskaconservationsolutions.com> Thanks you for the time and stimulating conversation last evening. I look forward to meeting with you when you are here in West Virginia. It is certainly a small world when we can connect with mutual friends like Judge Holland. I was always very proud to have been a close friend in Ann Arbor in our undergraduate days, and ever since, and then to read as he dealt with the EXXON Valdez oil spill case. We had a spill here in West Virginia of toxic coal sludge that was reported to be 22 times the volume of the Valdez spill. It is quite a story of how the power of coal interests have successfully diverted any real consequences to the company, and in fact led to the termination of a very senior and dedicated environmental engineer on the MSHA staff because he told the truth about the mismanagement that led to the spill. I look forward to sharing my other experiences in trips to Alaska...both in winter and summer...Hope, Kenai Peninsula, the crab dinners on the tip of the Spit in Homer...WOW...lots of memories for me. In particular, I appreciate your suggestion that we could combine forces to bring the real impacts of global warming in Alaska to the realities and opportunities for West Virginia. I have giving my tailored version of the Gore Presentation about 20 times since last April's training in Nashville. I try to tailor to the audience and to add my own 40 years of experience solving air pollution problems as an engineer in my native Canada, including 30 years in Southern California. And in the last 20 years I have been involved in addressing environmental policy and regulations in California as a consultant to industry and the regulators, addressing how clean technology solutions can in fact be good economics. We are constantly being reminded daily that coal brings 50% of all electricity in the US, 95% in West Virginia, and that to suggest any alternative form of energy is speaking against the flag, motherhood, apple pie, jobs and all mankind...well, at least West Virginia's families. The Oxymoron "Clean Coal Technology" is being pounded into the citizens everywhere, while the truth of how dirty coal really is, is off limits for public discussion. And any speaker who speaks out about the dirty truth about coal is pillared as an enemy of the good working folks of the State. So your planned tour is quite timely and appropriate. I would have as an objective to give you as much exposure as time will allow, and achieve a reality check for the few open minds of West Virginia, and some of the skeptics, to see why we cannot continue to use coal without achieving zero emissions. Now as to the tour itself. There is not much time to plan this. And I am concentrating on Charleston, the State Capitol, as I do not have the same number and level of contacts in the other cities But we do have many of us who have received Margaret's e-mail able to work on a schedule. I have a few questions: 1.. Are all details in place, and/or are there local folks working on this already? 2.. Do you have specific sites , halls, venues in mind or already arranged? 3.. How many presentations would be appropriate in this time period. 4.. Would you entertain TV and radio talk show interviews? 5.. As a member of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority, I could call for a special meeting just to receive your presentation. But as we, who are labeled global warming "alarmists", do not have a majority, that request may be denied. 6.. I see that you are a member of Rotary. Have you spoken to Rotary before? I am not a member, however, one of our very successful, but now retired corporate CEO's is in Rotary, so I could explore with him and see of the Friday that you are here would work. They may already have a speaker for that date. 7.. The memo from Margaret says that the tour is sponsored. Does that include any provision for fees or rent at any venues? You are scheduled from the 10th to the 15th. That is over a weekend. What if any other plans do you have in those available days? My wife and I would certainly be interested in spending some quiet time to get to know you better. In fact, if you would like, you would be welcome ion our home while you are here in Charleston. By the way, I have tried to e-mail Margaret, and I cannot get anything I write to go once I press the send button. One "computer guru" here suggested that it was because her e-mail address is too long. I think that I can speak for all of us that we look forward to meeting you and doing what we can to make your tour here very successful. Allan Allan Tweddle Quidvis recte factum quamvis humile praeclarum Sir Henry Royce, 1924

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Fwd: Stop the Towers Update
by Duane330＠aol.com 12 Mar '08

12 Mar '08

____________________________________ From: website(a)stopthetowers.org Sent: 3/11/2008 3:49:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time Subj: Stop the Towers Update March 9, 2008 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Here is latest update on the Stop the Towers efforts and related issues. You can always find the latest at the website and on the ECCO Hotline at 724-267-3040. Please stay involved and work to keep all your friends and neighbors informed. Buses Are Filling Up The PUC Evidentiary Hearings in Pittsburgh are just two weeks away and the buses are filling up! Beginning at 10:00 am on March 24th at the State Office Building, the Public Utility Commission will begin hearings on the proposed AP TrAIL. To assist the residents in Washington and Greene Counties, Stop the Towers is organizing buses to take you up and back for the hearings. For less than the cost of gas and parking, not to mention you won’t have to worry about fighting the traffic, you can ride a bus with other Stop the Towers supporters and be dropped off in front of the State Office Building. Please contact Rebecca Foley (_rfoley1(a)windstream.net_ (mailto:rfoley1@windstream.net) ) as soon as possible to reserve your seat. Departure and return times will be available from Rebecca. TrAIL Co Sends Insulting Letter to ALJ’s We believe it is important to have YOU attend the Evidentiary Hearings. Apparently, TrAIL Co does not! Earlier this week, TrAIL Co sent a letter to the Administrative Law Judges asking them to issue an order about proper decorum in the courtroom. They caution the ALJ’s by asking for “observers in the hearing room is (be) closely monitored for everyone's safety, and to permit sufficient room for all the parties, counsel, witnesses and staff before making space available for observers.” TrAIL Co is worried that we won’t properly behave and would disrupt the proceedings. They point to the Public Input Hearings and said that the supporters of TrAIL were “concerned about their personal safety in returning to their vehicles”. First of all, isn’t that ironic that the same company that has been sending land agents onto our properties, harassing and intimidating people in their own homes, is now worried about that same kind of behavior. Secondly, never has Stop the Towers encouraged nor supported such behavior and we certainly are not now! We simply believe that it is important to continue to put faces to the rural Americans whose lives will be destroyed or at the very least severely disrupted should this unnecessary, greed-driven proposal be approved!! So what are you going to do? Contact Rebecca and reserve your seat now!!! DOE does it Again! Once again, the Department of Energy has ignored everyone, except the utility companies that will profit greatly, by denying all requests for Re-Hearings on the NIETC designations. Even with a number of environmental groups filing lawsuit against the designations, the DOE continues to support a flawed energy policy that will encourage long-distant transmission lines coming from the highly polluting, coal-fired generation plants rather than cleaner, safer alternatives. Better alternatives which include demand-side management programs, conservation, upgrading existing infrastructure and the most reasonable solution, building the generation plants near the demand. Utility companies benefit greatly from section 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as they will be granted profits of up to 14% or more, passing ALL costs on to the rate payers and all the while taking property and destroying the lives of rural Americans. This is exactly what is happening here in southwestern Pennsylvania with the proposed AP TrAIL! Fortunately, most environmental groups and at least some of our Congressman see the flaws in this policy. We must be thankful for people like Senator Casey and the others that recently requested Senate hearings on section 1221. (You can see the letter on the Stop the Towers website)Please continue to encourage Senator Casey and others to push for the complete repeal of Section 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Specifically here in Pennsylvania, please contact Senator Specter (contact info below) and encourage him to support a complete repeal of the above Act. Senator Specter did sign Senator Casey’s letter asking for the hearings and he is listening. But we must contact him and tell him our concerns because you can be sure the utility industry lobbyists are talking with him every chance they get. If he is not hearing from us, how is he to know what we are going experiencing? Please email the Senator now. We need him on our side! Senator Arlen Specter - United States Senator Pittsburgh Office: Washington Office: Regl. Entrprs. Twr. 711 Hart Building 425 6th Ave- Suite 1450 Washington, D.C. 20510 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: (202) 224-4254 Phone: (412) 644-3400 Fax: (412) 644-4871 Website: specter.senate.gov Pittsburgh Office Staff Members _Marybeth_McGowan(a)specter.senate.gov_ (mailto:Marybeth_McGowan@specter.senate.gov) _stan_caldwell(a)specter.senate.gov_ (mailto:stan_caldwell@specter.senate.gov) _adam_pope(a)specter.senate.gov_ (mailto:adam_pope@specter.senate.gov) Stop the Towers! For more information, go to _http://www.stopthetowers.org/_ (http://www.stopthetowers.org/) . If you feel you have received this email in error or no longer wish to receive messages from Stop the Towers, a grassroots organization dedicated to stopping the AP TrAIL, please reply to this email with REMOVE in the subject line. **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

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Fwd: Senate to weigh DOE's power to overrule states; Law allows agency to dictate placement of power
by James Kotcon 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

I think it may be important to send more letters to the Senators on this committee (see below). It should also be important to find out if the Manchin Administration will offer testimony in opposition to NIETC. JBK >>> "Vivian Stockman" <vivian(a)ohvec.org> 3/10/2008 10:32 AM >>> Senate to weigh DOE's power to overrule states Law allows agency to dictate placement of power lines http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08069/863024-58.stm Sunday, March 09, 2008 By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Opponents of a high-voltage power line project in Washington and Greene counties have received encouraging news. Last week, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said it would hold hearings to review how the U.S. Department of Energy is implementing its controversial transmission corridor program. The program allows the federal government to overrule state decisions about placement of electric transmission lines. It allows property to be taken for the lines using eminent domain, and has faced harsh criticism in recent months. Also new on the power line front, the state Public Utility Commission will begin evidentiary hearings March 24 on the application of Greensburg-based Allegheny Power to build the Pennsylvania portion of a proposed 240-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line. The line would extend from Washington and Greene counties in Pennsylvania to existing substations in West Virginia and end in northern Virginia. Allegheny's 210-mile portion of the line would cost $820 million to build, with the total project estimated at more than $1 billion. The smaller portion of the line would be constructed and paid for by Dominion Virginia Power, which serves customers in Virginia. Allegheny Power, calling the project the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Project, or TrAIL, has already provided the PUC with testimony from 19 witnesses, while a local opposition group, the Energy Conservation Council of Pennsylvania, has responded with three experts. The company is facing challenges from more than just local groups, though. Company testimony regarding the need for the power line so far has been rebutted by two witnesses for the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate, and from a supervisor from the PUC Office of Trial Staff, who called the application "premature at best." PUC Supervisor Gary Yocca questioned Allegheny Power's application after analysis, testifying that the company had not yet done enough to merit approval of the application. Mr. Yocca said that while the company says the new power line is needed to address anticipated local system failures and brownouts within the next several years, he questioned whether there could be less costly and intrusive methods. He said the company failed to follow through on an assessment of the environmental impact of the project and apparently no federal or state agency examined the project. Mr. Yocca said there are questions about the effects on farmland, forest land, plants and wildlife, and the significance for historic and archaeological sites. Other consequences loom And, while he took note of local residents' objections to the scenic dilemma presented by high-voltage transmission towers, Mr. Yocca warned of far more serious consequences. In his testimony, Mr. Yocca reminded PUC board members of the longwall coal mining operations peppering Washington and Greene counties and of the susceptible limestone ground structure. He said the 125-foot to 150-foot transmission towers could be affected by future mining operations or mine subsidence. "If subsidence occurs under a [high voltage transmission line] tower, the results could be catastrophic," he said. Allegheny Energy spokesman David Neurohr said the company will address rebuttal testimony from the PUC and other sources during the evidentiary hearings. "That will be the process," he said. "That is what they are for." Will Burns, a lawyer with the Energy Conservation Council of Pennsylvania, said his group is gearing up for the fight against the power company and said he appreciates the work by Pennsylvania's state and national legislative delegations. He said the decision by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold hearings "was indicative of how important Pennsylvania legislators think this is." A team of 38 Democratic state legislators, led by state House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, recently urged the Senate committee to investigate the implementation of a provision in the Energy Act of 2005 that gives the federal government jurisdiction over what has traditionally been state land-use decisions. Mr. DeWeese's letter to the committee came on the heels of one sent by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey earlier last month. Energy law at issue Pennsylvania, along with a number of states, has objected to the Department of Energy designating a large swath of the Northeast and parts of the Southwest as a national interest electric transmission corridor -- or NIETC. The Mid-Atlantic designation in the Northeast, which encompasses eight states, the District of Columbia, and 50 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, means the federal government will have the right to overrule state decisions involving the location of electric transmission lines and to take private property through eminent domain for such projects. If a state denies a construction permit to a power company, makes no decision within a year, or places too many restrictions on the company, it would have the right to seek a permit from the federal government if the project is within a NIETC. Already, Southern California Edison has asked federal regulators to approve the siting of a 500-kilovolt electric transmission line through Arizona after that state denied approval last year, saying it didn't want to be an "extension cord for California." Late last month, a vice president for Dominion Virginia Power testified that the company would not rule out seeking federal intervention if state approval is denied. Mr. Casey has become the national voice against the large regional corridors, which critics say defy the intent of the law -- to address electric reliability and congestion after the 2003 blackout in the northeast U.S. Senators, governors and others have proposed that the corridors be of reasonable size and include critically congested areas in need of transmission and new generation. Local groups have expressed concern that Western Pennsylvania's relatively cheap coal-fired electricity will be shipped to the power-starved East Coast. Senate to air concerns Mr. Casey and other legislators have tried obstructing and amending the law to no avail. Mr. Casey even threatened to delay the renomination of Joseph Kelliher, Federal Energy Regulatory Committee chairman, to block implementation of the NIETC. The most serious concerns raised by officials include the failure by the DOE to consult with states before the final NIETC designation and to assess transmission needs and alternatives. Another major concern was the lack of alterations to the draft NIETC proposals last year. After more than 2,000 comments from the public, along with state and local officials, the DOE published the final designation with only token changes. Last month, Mr. Casey sent a letter signed by 14 other senators to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urging Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico, ranking member Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, to delve further into how the transmission corridor program is being administered. Last week, Leon Lowery, a member of the professional staff for the committee, said there would be a hearing on the NIETC issues. "There will be a number of hearings on electricity issues," he said. "Among those things are the corridor issues." Mr. Lowery said there has been no schedule set yet for the hearings, but that the transmission corridors would likely not receive a separate hearing. Janice Crompton can be reached at jcrompton(a)post-gazette.com or 724-223-0156. First published on March 9, 2008 at 12:00 am

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