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Human Health Impacts from noise at gas drillign sites
by James Kotcon via EC 28 Dec '16

28 Dec '16

A new research article from Mike McCawley (WVU) uses some pre-existing literature as well as Wetzel County measurements and suggests that noise impacts may lead to human health effects. First such study for unconventional gas drilling. This may be relevant to the wind farm noise debate, as the levels provide guidance for setbacks, etc. JBK

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How The Oil And Gas Industry Awakened Oklahoma’s Sleeping Fault Lines | FiveThirtyEight
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. via EC 19 Dec '16

19 Dec '16

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-the-oil-and-gas- industry-awakened-oklahomas-sleeping-fault-lines/?ex_cid=538twitter

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THE "RULE OF HOLES": When you're in a hole, stop digging." Rule or no rule, more, much much more, is coming.....and pipes in which to move it.
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. via EC 16 Dec '16

16 Dec '16

Chesapeake Energy Drills Deeper for Profit U.S. natural-gas giant pins rebound on fracking ‘supersize’ wells that run for miles underground [image: Chesapeake Energy is drilling a massive well in the Haynesville shale outside Shreveport, La., that the company believes could prove a turning point in its efforts to forge a financial comeback.]Chesapeake Energy is drilling a massive well in the Haynesville shale outside Shreveport, La., that the company believes could prove a turning point in its efforts to forge a financial comeback. Photo: Kael Alford for The Wall Street Journal By Erin Ailworth Dec. 15, 2016 3:35 p.m. ET <http://www.wsj.com/articles/chesapeake-energy-drills-deeper-for-profit-1481…> CADDO PARISH, La.—Doug Lawler watched a drilling rig’s high-pressure pumps rumble as workers bored in to a massive natural-gas well, part of a new drilling campaign the Chesapeake Energy <http://quotes.wsj.com/CHK> Corp. chief executive calls “Prop-a-geddon.” Named for the sand that drillers use to prop open hydraulically fractured rocks, Prop-a-geddon is an experiment to create supersize oil and gas wells that the company estimates can extract fossil fuels for roughly 75% less than typical wells, thanks to potentially greater economies of scale. This well, in the Haynesville Shale formation around Shreveport, La., went 2 miles deep and another 2 miles horizontally, and used 51 million pounds of sand, which the company believes is a world record. Typical wells in this area extend about 5,000 feet, or less than a mile. “It’s the biggest job in the history of the Haynesville,” Mr. Lawler said of the massive size of the fracking job under way. “It’s absolutely critical to the company.” In a world where oil prices look poised to stay lower for longer, even after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to a production cut <http://www.wsj.com/articles/opec-russia-upbeat-about-securing-oil-output-de…> last week, the challenge for U.S. shale drillers is no longer unlocking new supplies—it is showing they can make money doing it. For Chesapeake, a deeply indebted pioneer of the U.S. shale boom co-founded by the late wildcatter Aubrey McClendon, its very survival may depend on figuring it out. Under Mr. McClendon, Chesapeake became the second-largest U.S. natural-gas producer after Exxon Mobil <http://quotes.wsj.com/XOM> Corp., leading a rush to lease land for drilling from Pennsylvania to Texas. But in doing so, it piled up a mountain of debt and a litany of lawsuits that left it reeling—and led to the ouster of Mr. McClendon—even before energy prices collapsed in 2014. Mr. Lawler, brought in by activist investors, is selling assets to pare debt, and trying to transition the money-losing company into a prudent spender that can produce oil and gas more economically, and eventually turn a profit. [image: Chesapeake CEO Doug Lawler is focusing on producing oil and gas more economically.] Chesapeake CEO Doug Lawler is focusing on producing oil and gas more economically. Photo: KAEL ALFORD for The Wall Street Journal He estimates the Oklahoma City-based company’s true debt was roughly $21 billion when he took over in 2013. Between 2010 and 2012, the company had spent nearly $30 billion more on drilling and leasing than it had brought in from operations. This year, Chesapeake expects to spend no more than $1.75 billion to produce between 617,000 and 637,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day. That is nearly 90% less than the $14.7 billion Chesapeake spent in 2012 to produce 648,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day. Debt, meanwhile, has been cut to $10.9 billion. Chesapeake has reduced its workforce by roughly 70% to about 3,500 employees and shrunk its drillable land portfolio to about 7 million acres, compared with 15 million at the end of 2012. Last week, Chesapeake disclosed the sale of 78,000 acres in the Haynesville to an unnamed private company for $450 million. It plans to sell an additional 50,000 acres in the field in the coming months, though it would still retain roughly 250,000 acres. While the company’s turnaround remains far from assured, it has so far avoided bankruptcy restructuring. That fate, which has befallen 88 U.S. oil and gas producers since the start of 2015 according to law firm Haynes and Boone LLP, looked possible for Chesapeake earlier this year, when its stock fell under $2 a share amid a drop in prices. Some investors have bought into a comeback: Chesapeake shares are up fourfold from their 52-week low as asset sales and debt reductions have diminished concerns. The stock is now trading at $7.27. “For what a company has to do now to survive and thrive, they are doing all the right things,” said Robert Clarke, an analyst at researcher Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Southeastern Asset Management Inc., headed by Mason Hawkins, remains Chesapeake’s largest shareholder with 10.5% of its stock. It declined to comment. Billionaire Carl Icahn, who worked with Mr. Hawkins to recruit Mr. Lawler, sold more than half his stake in the company in September. ‘For what a company has to do now to survive and thrive, they are doing all the right things. ’ —Robert Clarke, Wood Mackenzie Mr. Lawler would like to cut Chesapeake’s debt to $6 billion. Although the company is still outspending cash from operations, he expects it to be cash-flow neutral in 2018, assuming an average oil price of about $60 a barrel. A big part of hitting those goals depends on what Chesapeake accomplishes with the vast portfolio of oil and gas fields originally leased by Mr. McClendon, including some in Wyoming and Oklahoma in addition to Louisiana. Frank Patterson, Chesapeake’s executive vice president of exploration and production, told analysts in October that the company was learning how to get more out of the ground by drilling and fracking longer wells. “What we’re learning in the Haynesville, we’re testing in the Eagle Ford, we’re going to apply to the Utica,” he said. “It’s a game changer.” Donning a hard hat and chatting with a work crew, Mr. Lawler was surveying those lessons firsthand last month in the Haynesville—and feeling confident a turnaround was under way. “It’s just a matter of time,” he said.

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Re: [EC] Capito Introduces CORE Act
by lyokochi via EC 21 Nov '16

21 Nov '16

I wonder if anyone has asked her why she won't support the Power Plus Plan? Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: James Kotcon via EC <ec(a)osenergy.org> Date: 11/20/16 2:01 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Bill Price <bill.price(a)sierraclub.org>, Nachy Kanfer <nachy.kanfer(a)sierraclub.org>, Bridget Lee <bridget.lee(a)sierraclub.org>, ec(a)osenergy.org Subject: [EC] Capito Introduces CORE Act How is this related to the ReCLAIM Act? This seems like a pretty low level of funding compared to the Power Plus Plan. JBK >>>>> THE STATE JOURNAL Capito introduces coalfield bailout bill By Rusty Marks Email rmarks(a)statejournal.com Posted: Nov 16, 2016 3:15 PM EST Wednesday, November 16, 2016 3:15 PM ESTUpdated: Nov 16, 2016 3:22 PM EST Wednesday, November 16, 2016 3:22 PM EST U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has introduced legislation aimed at helping communities in West Virginia and other states facing hardship due to coalfield job losses. The bill, called the Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies, or CORE Act, has not yet been assigned a bill number, but was introduced by Capito on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Capito hopes the bill will be taken up when Congress reconvenes following the general election. The legislation would set aside a percentage of funding from the federal New Markets Tax Credits program to help fund projects to put people back to work in communities hit by losses in the coal industry, according to Capito spokeswoman Ashley Berrang. “West Virginia and other states facing severe job losses in the coal industry are in dire need of new economic investment," Capito said. "By leveraging the power of the New Markets Tax Credit Program, the CORE Act presents a tremendous opportunity for underserved communities across the country to receive critical funding for projects that will help create new job opportunities, spur business investment, revitalize communities, and strengthen struggling economies.” According to Berrang, "The New Markets Tax Credit Program was enacted in 2000 to spur investment in low-income regions. The program supports investment in projects such as mixed-use redevelopment projects, health care facilities, manufacturing facilities and direct investments in businesses. Investors receive a 39 percent tax credit over a seven year period in return for investing in these communities." Berrang said $3.5 billion will be distributed through the tax credit program over the next three years. Capito's bill would set aside 5 percent of that funding for 12 states affected by the loss of coal jobs, which include Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. Berrang said West Virginia and other affected states have not taken full advantage of funding available through the tax credit program. "The CORE Act aims to increase the number of projects initiated in West Virginia and other underserved areas," she said.

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Capito Introduces CORE Act
by James Kotcon via EC 20 Nov '16

20 Nov '16

How is this related to the ReCLAIM Act? This seems like a pretty low level of funding compared to the Power Plus Plan. JBK >>>>> THE STATE JOURNAL Capito introduces coalfield bailout bill By Rusty Marks Email<mailto:rmarks@statejournal.com?body=http://www.statejournal.com/story/33727377/capito-introduces-coalfield-bailout-bill> rmarks(a)statejournal.com<mailto:rmarks@statejournal.com?body=http://www.statejournal.com/story/33727377/capito-introduces-coalfield-bailout-bill> Posted: Nov 16, 2016 3:15 PM EST Wednesday, November 16, 2016 3:15 PM ESTUpdated: Nov 16, 2016 3:22 PM EST Wednesday, November 16, 2016 3:22 PM EST U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has introduced legislation aimed at helping communities in West Virginia and other states facing hardship due to coalfield job losses. The bill, called the Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies, or CORE Act, has not yet been assigned a bill number, but was introduced by Capito on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Capito hopes the bill will be taken up when Congress reconvenes following the general election. The legislation would set aside a percentage of funding from the federal New Markets Tax Credits program to help fund projects to put people back to work in communities hit by losses in the coal industry, according to Capito spokeswoman Ashley Berrang. "West Virginia and other states facing severe job losses in the coal industry are in dire need of new economic investment," Capito said. "By leveraging the power of the New Markets Tax Credit Program, the CORE Act presents a tremendous opportunity for underserved communities across the country to receive critical funding for projects that will help create new job opportunities, spur business investment, revitalize communities, and strengthen struggling economies." According to Berrang, "The New Markets Tax Credit Program was enacted in 2000 to spur investment in low-income regions. The program supports investment in projects such as mixed-use redevelopment projects, health care facilities, manufacturing facilities and direct investments in businesses. Investors receive a 39 percent tax credit over a seven year period in return for investing in these communities." Berrang said $3.5 billion will be distributed through the tax credit program over the next three years. Capito's bill would set aside 5 percent of that funding for 12 states affected by the loss of coal jobs, which include Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. Berrang said West Virginia and other affected states have not taken full advantage of funding available through the tax credit program. "The CORE Act aims to increase the number of projects initiated in West Virginia and other underserved areas," she said.

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Fw: Show Me the Numbers
by James Kotcon via EC 12 Nov '16

12 Nov '16

Great report on solar versus utility impacts by Synapse Energy Economics. I recommend reading at least the Executive Summary, and the whole report if you are interested in energy policy. My only quibble is their assumption that "If a utility must recover its revenues over fewer sales, rates will increase." Utility stockholders and executives that make bad business investments should endure the "discipline of the market place", and I do not think they should automatically be entitled to a profit, especially when they make bad business decisions. I am reminded of the quote I heard during the net-metering debates of 2015: "A business that fights against what its customers want may win a few battles, but the very fact that they are fighting means they have already lost the war." I do not necessarily agree that the utilities are entitled to rate increases just because their costs must be made up over lower sales. The stockholders need to eat those losses. Enjoy. JBK ________________________________ From: Synapse Energy Economics <bcopes=synapse-energy.com(a)mail170.wdc02.mcdlv.net> on behalf of Synapse Energy Economics <bcopes(a)synapse-energy.com> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 2:04 PM To: James Kotcon Subject: Show Me the Numbers Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser<http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672&id=c949491c3b…>. [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/bef0f8c2ef390a88c3e173e7c/images/Synapse_small…]<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> November 2016 All Publications<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> Contact Us<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672/images/35506952-12c…]<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672/images/fec3f9c4-1be…] <http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> ________________________________ Synapse is thrilled to announce the release of our new report<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> produced for Consumers Union, Show Me the Numbers: A Framework for Balanced Distributed Solar Policies. Press Release from Consumers Union New Report Offers Resources to Help States Maximize the Benefits of Solar Power November 10, 2016 WASHINGTON – As interest in residential rooftop solar expands, utility commissions need to consider how to encourage solar growth while treating all customers – solar and non-solar alike – fairly. Can both goals be met simultaneously? Yes, but too few policymakers have the tools necessary to make informed decisions that meet those goals. In a new report<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b…>, produced by Synapse Energy Economics for Consumers Union, the advocacy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports, provides utility commissions and other decision makers with the analytic tools needed to better understand how various solar policies can impact their communities. “When consumers choose to go solar, there is great potential for benefits and cost savings. But there must be policies in place to ensure customers are treated fairly,“ said Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy counsel for Consumers Union. “This tool will help states provide consumers with reliable information and the safeguards they need when considering solar for their homes.” In order to develop policies that best meet the needs of local communities, policymakers should collect data and perform analysis that will answer three key questions: * How will the policy affect the growth of distributed solar? * How cost-effective are distributed solar resources? * To what extent does the policy mitigate or exacerbate any cost shifting to non-solar customers? The new report, Show Me the Numbers: A Framework for Balanced Distributed Solar Policies<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b…>, provides a detailed look at how decision-makers can assess each of the key questions to provide a comprehensive, balanced understanding of the impact of different solar policies. Continue reading<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> ________________________________ Dr. Frank Ackerman to Speak at Tax Reform Event in DC On November 17th, Principal Economist Frank Ackerman, PhD, will be speaking at "Paying for Progress: A Tax Reform Agenda for the Next President," hosted by The Century Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute. Find more information and register here.<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> Thursday, November 17, 2016 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST The Westin Washington ________________________________ Recent Publications "The Influence of Clean Power Plan Compliance Pathway Choice on Renewable Energy Construction." Presented by Dr. Tommy Vitolo at the 2016 Renewable Energy Markets Conference. View Slides.<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> Public Service Commission of South Carolina: Direct Testimony of Alice Napoleon regarding South Carolina Electric and Gas Energy Efficiency Efforts. On behalf of South Carolina Coastal Conservation League. Read<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…>. ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription You are receiving this newsletter because we think you will find the information interesting and relevant to your work. If for any reason you don't wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe by emailing marketing(a)synapse-energy.com.<mailto:marketing@synapse-energy.com> Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. 485 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 2 Cambridge, MA 02139 www.synapse-energy.com ©2016 Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. All rights reserved. This email was sent to jkotcon(a)wvu.edu<mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu> why did I get this?<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage1.com/about?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e467…> unsubscribe from this list<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b…> update subscription preferences<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/profile?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e46…> Synapse Energy Economics · 485 Massachusetts Ave · Suite 2 · Cambridge, MA 02139 · USA

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Re: [EC] Fw: Article about SC "Beyond Coal"
by lyokochi via EC 08 Nov '16

08 Nov '16

Thanks, Mike. Our EE campaign is a part of this, so I thought I knew quite a bit about it, but I didn't realize Bloomberg was such a big contributer. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: James Kotcon via EC <ec(a)osenergy.org> Date: 11/8/16 4:55 PM (GMT-05:00) To: wvussc(a)googlegroups.com, ec(a)osenergy.org Cc: Mike Price <mikeprice54(a)suddenlink.net> Subject: [EC] Fw: Article about SC "Beyond Coal" This is a GREAT article. The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign has been working to close coal-fired power plants for the last six years, as an essential step to save the climate. We stop more Mountaintop Removal mining by arguing economics and closing coal-fired power plants than we do by protesting at mine sites. So when there is a long, boring hearing on some utility application or rate request, "Sierra Club shows up". That means writing letters and staying informed, doing our homework. As the final quote says “It’s a long fight. This is how we win.” Thanks to Mike Price for sharing. Jim Kotcon From: mikeprice54(a)suddenlink.net <mikeprice54(a)suddenlink.net> Sent: Monday, November 7, 2016 9:40 PM To: lyokochi(a)aol.com; glnelson1(a)frontier.com; jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; liz_wiles(a)comcast.net; ikeandash(a)yahoo.com; James Kotcon; liz_wiles(a)comcast.net; ikeandash(a)yahoo.com; glnelson1(a)frontier.com; amvedock(a)hotmail.com; atdking(a)gmail.com; brentcar1(a)frontiernet.net; pspeitz(a)hotmail.com; pjgrunt(a)gmail.com; rivergal1720(a)gmail.com; autumnlong11(a)gmail.com; jimscon(a)gmail.com; Mary Wimmer; lisa_stanley77(a)yahoo.com; blittle(a)citynet.net Subject: Article about SC "Beyond Coal" I am sure some of you are aware of this info in this article but it is very interesting reading. Mike http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/05/inside-war-on-coal-000002 Inside the war on coal www.politico.com Inside the war on coal. How Mike Bloomberg, red-state businesses, and a lot of Midwestern lawyers are changing American energy faster than you think.

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Fw: Article about SC "Beyond Coal"
by James Kotcon via EC 08 Nov '16

08 Nov '16

This is a GREAT article. The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign has been working to close coal-fired power plants for the last six years, as an essential step to save the climate. We stop more Mountaintop Removal mining by arguing economics and closing coal-fired power plants than we do by protesting at mine sites. So when there is a long, boring hearing on some utility application or rate request, "Sierra Club shows up". That means writing letters and staying informed, doing our homework. As the final quote says "It's a long fight. This is how we win." Thanks to Mike Price for sharing. Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: mikeprice54(a)suddenlink.net <mikeprice54(a)suddenlink.net> Sent: Monday, November 7, 2016 9:40 PM To: lyokochi(a)aol.com; glnelson1(a)frontier.com; jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; liz_wiles(a)comcast.net; ikeandash(a)yahoo.com; James Kotcon; liz_wiles(a)comcast.net; ikeandash(a)yahoo.com; glnelson1(a)frontier.com; amvedock(a)hotmail.com; atdking(a)gmail.com; brentcar1(a)frontiernet.net; pspeitz(a)hotmail.com; pjgrunt(a)gmail.com; rivergal1720(a)gmail.com; autumnlong11(a)gmail.com; jimscon(a)gmail.com; Mary Wimmer; lisa_stanley77(a)yahoo.com; blittle(a)citynet.net Subject: Article about SC "Beyond Coal" I am sure some of you are aware of this info in this article but it is very interesting reading. Mike http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/05/inside-war-on-coal-000002 [http://static.politico.com/c2/d4/d4d5b8f549789ffdb06b6540ffe5/150526storyne…]<http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/05/inside-war-on-coal-000002> Inside the war on coal<http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/05/inside-war-on-coal-000002> www.politico.com Inside the war on coal. How Mike Bloomberg, red-state businesses, and a lot of Midwestern lawyers are changing American energy faster than you think.

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EQT Marcellus Activities
by Duane via EC 01 Nov '16

01 Nov '16

http://marcellusdrilling.com/2016/10/analysis-eqt-paying-9k-10k-per-acre-fo… Analysis: EQT Paying $9K-$10K per Acre for WV/PA Acreage Yesterday MDN reported that EQT is buying another 60,000 Marcellus/Utica acres (along with buying out Trans Energy) in transactions totally $683 million (see EQT Buys Trans Energy + 60K Marc/Utica Acres in 2 Deals for $683M). One of our favorite Seeking Alpha analyst/authors, Richard Zeits, has done a deep dive into the deal. Zeits reports the deal works out to be $9-$10,000 per acre on average, which is in line with other recent deals of this type. (He is apparently expert at long division. --- dgn) NOTE: These big money deals portend extreme disturbances for PA & WV. Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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EQT acquires core Marcellus acres in WV, PA
by James Kotcon via EC 01 Nov '16

01 Nov '16

EQT announced Oct. 25 it had acquired about 60,000 core Marcellus acreage for $683 million. EQT has increased its core Marcellus position by 143,000 acres, or 55 percent, throughout 2016 for a total of 400,000 acres, including these most recent acquisitions. See full story at: http://www.statejournal.com/story/33474628/eqt-acquires-core-marcellus-acre… It was about 4 years ago that many major coal companies were buying up coal reserves at sky high prices using borrowed money, then the bottom fell out, and bankruptcies followed. Is gas going to follow the same path? We have known for 30 years that emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels must be reduced, and all the math shows that the majority of fossil reserves must stay in the ground, yet these economic geniuses are paying >$11,000 per acre for gas reserves! Jim Kotcon

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Tri-State Solar
by James Kotcon via EC 31 Oct '16

31 Oct '16

Just an FYI, while doing an interview with a reporter about solar in WV, I looked up the Tri-State Solar case before the PSC. Tri-State had proposed a 5.3 MW solar farm in Greenbriar County (Sam Black Church exit of I-64) on 26 acres. I had been approached by some staffers in January because the developer had represented that Sierra Club supported the project, although we had never heard of it. Based on discussions with people in the area, I had considered whether to file comments, but never did. The word I got was that the developer was more talk than action, and that was one of the kinder things I heard. The PSC did issue a final order approving the project in August. It appears that the developer had an incomplete application, never did file the remaining required reports, and did not even file reply briefs after the hearing, but agreed to a "settlement" whereby he would file those reports before construction started. The full document is at: http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityI…'WebDocket' Jim Kotcon

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Report: More than half of new generation in 2015 was renewable
by frank young via EC 25 Oct '16

25 Oct '16

"Renewable energy reached an important turning point last year with record new installations of emissions-free power surpassing sources that burn fossil fuel, according the International Energy Agency. "New installations of renewable energy overtook conventional power for the first time in 2015, the Paris-based agency said Tuesday in its Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report. Global green power rose by a record 153 gigawatts, equivalent to 55 percent of newly installed capacity last year. Total installed capacity exceeded coal for the first time, the IEA said." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-25/record-green-power-install ations-beat-fossil-fuel-for-first-time

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Fwd: Follow up info from VW Settlement & States webinar
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via EC 22 Oct '16

22 Oct '16

One concern that National brought up was to be careful that this money does not end up going to frackers to mitigate the noxious effects of the diesel engines they use. They are hoping this money goes to projects that realize true ZEV impacts for the longterm. -Jonathan -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Follow up info from VW Settlement & States webinar Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:59:59 -0700 From: Mary Lunetta <mary.lunetta(a)sierraclub.org> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Dear Colleague, Thank you so much for attending Sierra Club's recent webinar "VW Settlement and the States". *We really look forward to working with you on this great opportunity to influence how your state expands it's clean transportation projects. * As we mentioned during the webinar, below is a link to access our Google Drive Toolkit, a great resource for you to learn more about the VW settlement. It's also a centralized place to find all the tools your chapter will need to both /work on /and to /track/ your progress on this campaign. *::ACCESS VW SETTLEMENT CHAPTER RESOURCES KIT HERE <%20https://docs.google.com/a/sierraclub.org/document/d/16c_Pl_yOiODi-9uUoU_H2eoPzk2yyX-zDKG6Czz1Uas/edit?usp=sharing>:: * /Here's what you'll find in the Toolkit:/ * Webinar recording & Power Point slides * VW Settlement Guide & 2 page Overview doc * Frequently Asked Questions doc (FAQ) * 225 page VW Settlement decree * Timeline of state allocation process and deadlines * Template letters to Governors and Organizations * Facts Sheets on the areas the settlement covers * The *State Chapter Tracker*: <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tDs3HdZLxqIHWQAaHsitr27SSFHwxJmbYoh…> where the name and email for /one designated person/ from your chapter who is assigned with heading up these efforts will go, along updates on the progress your chapter is making. Lastly, *please let us know if there are allies in your state who would be interested in attending our next webinar on Friday, Nov 4. * You can share this information with us by completing our *webinar feedback form <https://docs.google.com/a/sierraclub.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedpQMB5ZMPohjBPo…>*. It takes just two minutes to complete. Please fill it out today so we can incorporate your feedback into the next webinar and so we can send invitations ASAP to allies in your network. Thanks again for all that you are doing to promote clean transportation. If you have any questions at any time, please don't hesitate to reach out. Best, Mary *Mary Lunetta * Campaign Representative Electric Vehicles Initiative | Sierra Club e | mary.lunetta(a)sierraclub.org <mailto:mary.lunetta@sierraclub.org> c | 520.252.2335 <tel:520.252.2335> www.sierraclub.org/evguide <http://www.sierraclub.org/evguide> /We think of ourselves as separated from one another, yet we are connected and what we do affects the whole world. / ~ Desmond Tutu

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Tomorrow: Settlement Information to help expand clean transportation - please RSVP today
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via EC 18 Oct '16

18 Oct '16

I received a phone call from National asking me to listen in on this phone call tomorrow (I am chair of WVSC's transportation committee). I want to invite others to listen in on this call because we may be able to do something with these monies. Please register. -Jonathan -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Call for Sierra Club Chapter Leaders to help expand clean transportation - please RSVP today Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:02:46 -0700 From: Mary Lunetta <mary.lunetta(a)sierraclub.org> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Dear Colleague, You heard about the Volkswagen scandal <http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2016/06/sierra-club-statement-…>. Now find out how Sierra Club can turn this tragedy into a victory for clean transportation. Join us for an overview of the settlement, how much in allocated funds each state will be receiving (P.S. it's a lot), and how Sierra Club chapters can influence the use of state funds to promote clean transportation initiatives. *WEBINAR: VW SETTLEMENT FUNDS FOR STATES* WHEN:Tuesday, October 18th TIME: 5:00 PM PST / 7:00 PM CT / 8:00 PM EST RSVP: To RSVP, please click here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN1bGOZadXISlvBsTIGOp4AhJ9l0HVKlc…> (After you RSVP, we will follow up with a link to access the webinar) Attached is a doc that gives a helpful overview of the settlement, how much money each state will be receiving to fund clean transportation, and what the timeline is for states to decide how the money is spent. /Background:/ Volkswagen has reached a settlement involving VW and Audi diesel vehicles with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Trade Commission, the California Attorney General and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Through the settlement, Volkswagen has agreed to: * Buy-back, terminate leases or provide approved emissions modifications for nearly 475,000 2.0-liter TDI diesel cars in the U.S. * Provide cash payments to owners / lessees * *Pay $2.7 billion to the states to fully remediate the excess NOx emissions from the affected 2.0 liter vehicles* * Invest $2 billion in zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and ZEV technology Eligible mitigation actions could include replacing older city transit buses with new electric-powered transit city buses or installing charging infrastructure for light duty zero emission passenger vehicles. Every state has the flexibility to choose which projects on the list of eligible mitigation actions are the best options for their citizens, and Sierra Club wants to provide its chapters with the information and the tools to ensure that the cleanest, most effective options are selected in your state. *To register for this webinar, please click here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN1bGOZadXISlvBsTIGOp4AhJ9l0HVKlc…>**. * We look forward to speaking with you on October 18th! Sincerely, Mary Lunetta, Campaign Coordinator, Electric Vehicles Initiative, Sierra Club Gina Coplon-Newfield, Director, Electric Vehicles Initiative, Sierra Club Josh Stebbins, Managing Attorney, Sierra Club Jen Hensley, State Lobbying and Advocacy Director *Mary Lunetta * Campaign Representative Electric Vehicles Initiative | Sierra Club e | mary.lunetta(a)sierraclub.org <mailto:mary.lunetta@sierraclub.org> c | 520.252.2335 <tel:520.252.2335> www.sierraclub.org/evguide <http://www.sierraclub.org/evguide> /We think of ourselves as separated from one another, yet we are connected and what we do affects the whole world. / ~ Desmond Tutu

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Request For Applications- Energy Organizer
by James Kotcon via EC 17 Oct '16

17 Oct '16

The West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club seeks applications for an organizer to assist with campaign development to promote energy efficiency and a transition to clean energy. It is anticipated that this position will be for the period of Nov. 2016 to March 31, 2017. Anticipated effort of approximately 20 hours per week. Continuation in 2017 dependent on funding and campaign progress. The ideal applicant for this position would qualify as an Independent Contractor, and would have past or concurrent experience with volunteer organizing, media relations, and campaign coordination, as well as familiarity with environmental and energy issues. Willingness to travel and meet with and recruit volunteers in West Virginia is essential. Position reports to the Chapter Energy Efficiency Campaign team and Chapter Conservation Chair. Stipend and expenses commensurate with experience and abilities. See attached Description for full details and instructions to apply. Jim Kotcon 304-293-8822 (office) 304-594-3322 (home)

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Massachusetts Court bans electric rate hikes to fund gas pipelines
by James Kotcon via EC 17 Oct '16

17 Oct '16

This ruling undercuts about half the funding for the Spectra Energy "Access Northeast" pipeline. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down a controversial "pipeline tax" that would have allowed electric utilities in the state to raise rates to pay for natural gas pipeline projects. Any way we can make this apply in WV? Jim Kotcon https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19082016/massachusetts-court-bans-electr… [https://insideclimatenews.org/sites/default/files/styles/icn_full_wrap_wide…]<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19082016/massachusetts-court-bans-electr…> Mass. Court Bans Electricity Rate Hikes to Fund Gas ...<https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19082016/massachusetts-court-bans-electr…> insideclimatenews.org The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down a controversial "pipeline tax" that would have allowed electric utilities in the state to raise rates to pay for ...

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Re: [EC] Environmentalists Trying To Stop Hauling Of Nuclear Waste Along Rt. 79 « CBS Pittsburgh
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via EC 12 Oct '16

12 Oct '16

There is WV code that seems to make such transport through our state illegal: §16-27-2. Storage or disposal of radioactive waste material within the state prohibited; exceptions. (a) No person shall store or dispose of any radioactive waste material within the state: Provided, That the provisions of this section do not prohibit (1) the storage or disposal of such material produced within the state as a result of medical, educational, research or industrial activities and so stored or disposed of in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, or (2) the transportation of such material out of or through the state when done in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws: Provided, however, That such waste from industrial activities does not include, for the purpose of this article, such material produced from the operation of any nuclear power generation facility, nuclear processing facility, or nuclear reprocessing facility. There is a better article, with a map, showing the transports going through WV, at: http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/consumers-powersource/2016/… -Jonathan On 10/11/2016 10:40 PM, Duane Nichols wrote: > Environmentalists Trying To Stop Hauling Of Nuclear Waste Along Rt. 79 > « CBS Pittsburgh > > http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/29/environmentalists-rushing-to-stop… > > > Environmentalists Rushing To Stop Hauling Of Weapons-Grade Nuclear > Waste Along Rt. 79 > > August 29, 2016 7:33 PM > > By Andy Sheehan > > PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Trucks rumble down Route 79 everyday, right past > the orchards and country store at Soergel’s Farm. > > Not one to pay them any heed, Randy Soergel now has reason for > concern. Soon, some of them may be hauling weapons-grade nuclear waste. > > “If there was an accident or anything like,” says Soergel. > “Environmentally, it just makes you nervous.” > > But the U.S. Department of Energy has approved the transport of spent > uranium and other waste from a research laboratory in Canada to a > disposal and reprocessing facility in South Carolina. > > An estimated 150 truckloads of the liquid waste, contained in steel > canisters, will be traversing 200 miles along Route 79 over the next > two years. > > This is an unprecedented shipment of liquid, high-level radioactive > waste. That’s never happened in North American history,” said Kevin > Kamps, the director of Beyond Nuclear. > > The Beyond Nuclear organization and the Sierra Club have filed suit > and are seeking for an immediate injunction to stop the shipments. > > KDKA’s Andy Sheehan spoke with Kamps via Skype, who says the liquid > waste is more highly volatile than waste in solid form. > > “That means, it’s that much closer to getting out into the environment > in a crash, or a fire, or a deliberate attack in these truck > shipments,” said Kamps. “That’s a big concern.” > > Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page > <http://www.facebook.com/CBSPittsburgh> > Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter > <https://twitter.com/CBSPittsburgh> > > In approving the shipments, the Department of Energy determined the > waste to be safe, even in the event of an accident, but the feds have > sponsored training sessions for first responders throughout the region. > > But the environmentalists want the waste to be solidified and stored > or disposed of in Canada. That has the full support of the shoppers > KDKA spoke with at Soergel’s, who don’t want it coming through their > hometowns. > > “I see so many accidents on 79, every morning, coming home at night, > so that would be a very dangerous situation indeed,” said Jen Blanker, > of Mars. > > “I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of effects we’d be exposing > our growing children and people to. Of course, I’m not for it. Can’t > they go somewhere else, where there’s less population?” added Maureen > Pavlik, another local resident. > > But if that injunction is not granted, trucks hauling nuclear waste > could come barreling down 79 within a week, making those who live > nearby uneasy. > > > > Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [EC] how did i miss this??
by James Kotcon via EC 28 Sep '16

28 Sep '16

I had seen a news item about that petition last month (Deleware argues that the Harrison Power plant contributes to their air quality violations) but had trouble understanding why Deleware could be so specific about one plant that already has low-NOx boilers and SCR. This news article indicates that Harrison frequently operates without using the SCR, which would dramatically increase NOx emissions and down-wind ozone. This could exacerbate the costs of operating Harrison, at a time when it is already under fire for costing more to operate than FE had projected. Anybody know if this has a bearing on Pleasants? JBK ________________________________ From: Nachy Kanfer <nachy.kanfer(a)sierraclub.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 7:34:27 AM To: Bill Price; Bridget Lee; James Kotcon Subject: how did i miss this?? Was it reported in the news? http://news.delaware.gov/2016/08/09/dnrec-files-another-clean-air-act-petit… -- Nachy Kanfer Deputy Director, East Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign (614) 625-3894

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Re: [EC] how did i miss this??
by lyokochi via EC 28 Sep '16

28 Sep '16

I also saw that article already. I think Danny Chiotos forwarded it. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: James Kotcon via EC <ec(a)osenergy.org> Date: 9/28/16 8:30 AM (GMT-05:00) To: Nachy Kanfer <nachy.kanfer(a)sierraclub.org>, Bill Price <bill.price(a)sierraclub.org>, Bridget Lee <bridget.lee(a)sierraclub.org> Cc: ec(a)osenergy.org Subject: Re: [EC] how did i miss this??  I had seen a news item about that petition last month (Deleware argues that the Harrison Power plant contributes to their air quality violations) but had trouble understanding why Deleware could be so specific about one plant that already has low-NOx boilers and SCR. This news article indicates that Harrison frequently operates without using the SCR, which would dramatically increase NOx emissions and down-wind ozone. This could exacerbate the costs of operating Harrison, at a time when it is already under fire for costing more to operate than FE had projected. Anybody know if this has a bearing on Pleasants? JBK From: Nachy Kanfer <nachy.kanfer(a)sierraclub.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 7:34:27 AM To: Bill Price; Bridget Lee; James Kotcon Subject: how did i miss this?? Was it reported in the news? http://news.delaware.gov/2016/08/09/dnrec-files-another-clean-air-act-petit… -- Nachy Kanfer Deputy Director, East Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign (614) 625-3894

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Fw: [MVCAC] Fwd: Our health and climate are on the line!
by James Kotcon via EC 27 Sep '16

27 Sep '16

Here is a great opportunity to submit a comment letter. I did. Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: MVCAC <mvcac-bounces(a)osenergy.org> on behalf of Duane Nichols via MVCAC <mvcac(a)osenergy.org> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2016 11:17 AM To: MVCAC(a)OSENERGY.ORG Subject: [MVCAC] Fwd: Our health and climate are on the line! From: Clean Air Council <members(a)cleanair.org<mailto:members@cleanair.org>> Date: September 26, 2016 at 11:14:59 AM EDT To: duane330(a)aol.com<mailto:duane330@aol.com> Subject: Our health and climate are on the line! Reply-To: eroben(a)cleanair.org<mailto:eroben@cleanair.org> [https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51176/images/CAC%20Color%20Single%20Line%20W…] Dear MonValley Clean Air Coalition, In 2014, the U.S. oil and gas industry leaked 9.8 million metric tons of the greenhouse gas methane into our air. That's the climate equivalent of running almost 225 coal-fired power plants for a year. What's more, everywhere methane leaks it is accompanied by other toxic air pollutants that threaten the health of those who live nearby. Last May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized standards that will reduce air pollution leaks from new oil and gas facilities. But the air pollution leaks from the 1,193,118 existing oil and gas facilities continue unchecked.<http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=lx918EVrbXJrUzZQue1E4wbEshT…> As the oil and gas industry has expanded across our country, regulations have lagged. And while industry is making a profit, our health and climate are suffering the impacts of a severely under-regulated industry. When our health and climate are on the line, we have to demand bold action from our nation's leaders. Write to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and tell her we need to stop these dangerous leaks now!<http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DRr00PVfjZvY18%2FinotQ6QbEs…> Sincerely, [http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51176/images/JoeSignatureThick.jpg] Joseph Otis Minott, Esq. Executive Director Philadelphia 135 S. 19th Street Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19103 P: (215) 567-4004 F: (215) 567-5791 Harrisburg 107 N. Front Street Suite 113 Harrisburg, PA 17101 P: (717) 230-8806 F: (717) 230-8808 Wilmington 100 W. 10th Street Suite 607 Wilmington, DE 19801 P: (302) 691-0112 Unsubscribe<http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aPql%2BEAnRq2I40PnLDRkM8J9%…> [empowered by Salsa]<http://www.salsalabs.com/?email>

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Would 583,000 wind turbines power this nation?
by frank young via EC 27 Sep '16

27 Sep '16

This comes from the American Wind Energy Association- the equivalent of the National Coal Association. ----------------------------------------------------------------- "In terms of land use, those 583,000 turbines would take up about the total land mass of Rhode Island, Hensley says, because wind projects typically require 0.74 acres of land per megawatt produced." http://www.businessinsider.com/wind-turbines-to-power-earth-2016-9

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Fw: [lawpa] When someone tells you, “The climate is always changing,” show them this cartoon
by James Kotcon via EC 19 Sep '16

19 Sep '16

I had not seen this one before. The smoothed temperature data does tend to obscure annual variation, but it makes the point. JBK ________________________________ From: S. Tom Bond <stombond(a)lhfwv.com> Sent: Monday, September 19, 2016 8:06 AM To: Tom berlin; Laurie Ardison; Diana Gooding; Mirijana Beream; Tina Del Prete; Linda Ervolina; oldseaman(a)frontier.com; Ruthie Lamb; Stephen Miller MD; Susan Boulden; Mark Bloomenstein; Diana Olsen; Roseanna Sacco; Jon Mclaughten; Joseph Chasnoff; Nancy Dickenson; Maury Johnson; Paula Mann; Dale Mccutcheon; Richard; Robin Wright; Ann Rogeres; John W. Cobb; Autrumn Long; Barbara Volk; Bill Hale; William R. Suan; Bonnie Joyce; Charles Lollar; Cindy Rank; David Sturm; Diane Pitcock; Diane Pitcock; Elsie Keaton; Emma Malcomb; Greg Mach; Heidi Chapman; JIm Mcallister; Judy Brady; Kathryn Robertson; Keely Kernan; Kevin Campbell; Mariylin Schiffet; Marian Kanour; Michael Barrick; Myra Hale; Nancy Bevins; Richard Shingles; Rick Webb; Shanda King; Tim HIggens; Tracy Vaughn; oldseaman(a)frontier.com; oldseaman(a)frontier.com; Tina Bager; Isak Howell; Kirk Bowers; pamelart(a)hughes.net; Judy Azulay; Bill; Ellen Darden; Conni Lewis; Christina Woods; James Kotcon; Jody Subject: Fwd: [lawpa] When someone tells you, “The climate is always changing,” show them this cartoon -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [lawpa] When someone tells you, “The climate is always changing,” show them this cartoon Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2016 21:26:09 -0400 From: dsborowiec via LAWPA <lawpa(a)googlegroups.com><mailto:lawpa@googlegroups.com> Reply-To: dsborowiec(a)aol.com<mailto:dsborowiec@aol.com> To: lawpa(a)googlegroups.com<mailto:lawpa@googlegroups.com> Thanks Elizabeth PLEASE FORWARD! When someone tells you, “The climate is always changing,” show them this cartoon<http://grist.org/science/when-someone-tells-you-the-climate-is-always-chang…> <http://grist.org/science/when-someone-tells-you-the-climate-is-always-chang…> When someone tells you, “The climate is always changing,” show them this ca... File away under: Things To Show Climate Denying Relatives on Thanksgiving. [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/earth_temperature_timeline.png] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "LAWPA" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to lawpa+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com<mailto:lawpa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com>. To post to this group, send email to lawpa(a)googlegroups.com<mailto:lawpa@googlegroups.com>. To view this discussion on the web visit <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/lawpa/157400ce61a-4e94-3979%40webprd-m57.…> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/lawpa/157400ce61a-4e94-3979%40webprd-m57.…. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

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Sept. 24 - Citizen Science Gathering in Morgantown
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via EC 14 Sep '16

14 Sep '16

The following was sent to you because you are a Member of the DEP News List mailing list. ============================================================ Wednesday, September 14, 2016 @ 2:11 PM ============================================================ Sept. 14, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Reminder: Registrations Still Being Accepted for Sept. 24 Citizen Science Gathering MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s not too late to sign up to attend the Sept. 24 Citizen Science Gathering in Morgantown. Registrations for the event will be taken through Sunday, Sept. 18. The event was organized by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Environmental Advocate’s Office, in conjunction with West Virginia University, Trout Unlimited, and several other groups. The gathering will be at the WVU College of Law from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include presentations and roundtable discussions about the applications of citizen science. Citizen science, or “citsci,” involves the collection of environmental data by concerned citizens. This data can sometimes be used to shape environmental policy, but often there is confusion on the part of the citizens about best practices for collection and presentation of that data. The purpose of this gathering is to help eliminate some of that confusion. Renowned coal mine safety expert Davitt McAteer will speak on the legal applications of citizen science, and there will be presentations from WVU’s Michael McCawley, Gretchen Gehrke of PublicLab.org, and Ryan Grode of the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project. The registration fee is $20. To sign up, or to obtain more information, email Diana Smith atdiana.k.smith(a)wv.gov by the end of the day on the 18th. You can also leave a phone message for Diana at 304-926-0499, ext. 1329. For more DEP news and information, go towww.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about our REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan), West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia Watershed Improvement Branch, Youth Environmental Program and Human Resources initiatives, connect on Facebook. ###

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McKinley, Manchin Moniz discuss energy innovation, Sept. 12
by James Kotcon via EC 13 Sep '16

13 Sep '16

Article from the Wheeling paper on the visit to Morgantown of US Energy Secretary Moniz. They are worried because 80 % of US coal generation is form plants that are at least 30 years old, and by 2030, they will be really old. Speakers suggest coal companies will need to build their own plants to keep utilities from switching to gas. http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2016/09/mckinley-manchin… JBK

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FirstEnergy Wants Customers to Pay Them $568 Million per year to Keep Its Headquarters in Ohio
by James Kotcon via EC 07 Sep '16

07 Sep '16

Does anyone else think that FE is a money-grubbing bunch of losers? Or are they just desperate? See story below. JBK FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio's homegrown utility with roots in the state that date to 1930, wants its customers to pay to ensure it stays there. In the latest twist in a two-year battle for aid, the company has asked regulators to approve as much as $568 million a year for eight years in customer surcharges to compensate for the economic impact of having its headquarters in Akron. FirstEnergy is among utilities across the U.S. struggling amid flat demand and low power prices bought on by cheap natural gas, and growing supplies of solar and wind energy. That hasn't swayed manufacturers, consumer advocates and environmental groups who said they were left flabbergasted by the proposed hike. "When they first told me that was in there, I thought it was a joke," said Eric Burkland, the president of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, which opposes the fee increase. "From a manufacturing ratepayer's perspective, it's just bizarre." See full story at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-29/firstenergy-says-its-head…

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Fwd: [GW-ACT-LEADERS] Sierra Club position on carbon fee and dividend proposal to put a price on carbon?
by James Kotcon via EC 23 Aug '16

23 Aug '16

This is from a thread on the Sierra Club's FRED list that asks whether we support a carbon tax. Ned Ford is one of the most informed experts on energy that I know in the Club. Below he discusses why a carbon tax proposals are a disruption and will not happen fast enough. Enjoy. JBK ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)fuse.net> Date: Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 1:25 PM Subject: Re: [GW-ACT-LEADERS] Sierra Club position on carbon fee and dividend proposal to put a price on carbon? To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)lists.sierraclub.org I have spent many years trying to explain why carbon taxes are not going to be a big part of the picture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxryv2XrnqM is about disruptive technology and it disrupts my own thinking even though I have been following most of the trends he speaks about for many years. In short we don't need carbon taxes because the technologies are producing the price differential more effectively than a tax could. That flies in the face of the often-repeated claim that carbon taxes are more efficient or better than other strategies. What those people usually mean is that carbon taxes are better than command and control. We haven't used command and control for the major pollutants for several decades, so it's a false premise. What carbon tax advocates neglect is the huge differential between the effect of a price on carbon on coal, and the same price's impact on petroleum or natural gas. We seriously could use a natural gas or petroleum tax. But it would have to be absurdly large as a tax on carbon, compared to the price needed to end coal. About ten times larger. It would be easy enough to separate the fuels and have different tax rates, but the discussion never gets that far. The fact of the matter is that carbon reductions are happening because efficiency and wind and solar are cheaper. The more we use those three technologies to address coal and natural gas generation, the lower the prices and the faster the process. We are at a point today where an EV costs a third or less than a gasoline car to drive any distance, and the price differential will get greater. So we need a lot more clean electricity than the nation is presently expecting to need, if just replacing the current fuel mix (including the nuclear plants that can't run forever) is the target. About 40% more total electricity by 2040. If you view the link above you will understand how narrowly I'm talking about the coming changes. Disruptive energy changes affect everything we do. But the most important thing we can do is to concentrate on direct state level activism to remove obstructionists from the path of efficiency, wind and solar. Utility scale solar must come before distributed solar, even though in ten years we may see the order of priorities change to solar, wind and efficiency. If that happens, as Mr. Seba says, it won't be purely economic. Or at least it won't be purely economic as we think about it because people will be factoring in their convenience as a "cost" where no dollars are involved. This means we probably won't ever become truly efficient. But at the same time, efficiency in some form is driving every single one of the technological disruptions he identifies and many more that he doesn't. I hope the Sierra Club ignores carbon taxes. Even if the Republicans are demolished in ten weeks we can use the opportunity far better to remove barriers to efficiency and to speed development of cost-effective wind and solar than to spend another decade trying to get a tax package into position that really works. - Ned On 8/22/2016 12:44 PM, Carolyn Amparan wrote: Hello, Does anyone know the Sierra Club's position on the Citizen Climate's Lobby carbon fee and dividend proposal? If so, what is the status on the specific proposal and a price on carbon in general? I found there was a resolution considered in 2013 but have not found anything more current on the national website. Thanks, Carolyn * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)lists.sierraclub.org <CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request@lists.sierraclub.org?subject=Unsubscribe%20from%20CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS&body=SIGNOFF%20CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS>, or visit Listserv online <http://LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?SUBED1=CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAI…>. For Listserv basics, technical tips, and commnity guidelines, check out our General FAQ <http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq>. Listserv content is subject to the Sierra Club's Email List Policy <http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/policy> and Terms and Conditions <http://www.sierraclub.org/terms>. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)lists.sierraclub.org <CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request@lists.sierraclub.org?subject=Unsubscribe+from+CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS&body=SIGNOFF+CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS>, or visit Listserv online <http://LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?SUBED1=CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAI…>. For Listserv basics, technical tips, and commnity guidelines, check out our General FAQ <http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq>. Listserv content is subject to the Sierra Club's Email List Policy <http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/policy> and Terms and Conditions <http://www.sierraclub.org/terms>.

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Re: [EC] Arcadia Power, 18 months in
by Yarnell, Karen 16 Aug '16

16 Aug '16

I’ve been getting offers from this company. Does anyone recommend switching to them? What percentage of your power usage? From: Jessica Dell [mailto:customercare@arcadiapower.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 11:51 AM To: Yarnell, Karen Subject: Arcadia Power, 18 months in [Arcadia Power] Our customers love us Hey Karen! I thought you may want to hear from some of our customers about their experience with Arcadia Power: “Arcadia Power has been one of the easiest, most effective, and affordable ways we’ve found to fight climate change. We have automated payments set up, so we don’t have to think about it." -Dave Berlin, customer since December 2014 “For people concerned about our children’s future - it has never been so easy to do so much good.” -Kristy Bibb, customer since August 2014 [https://s3.amazonaws.com/arcadiapowerprod/assets/jointhemtoday_button_helve…]<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…> Also, in case you haven't seen our video, watch it here<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…>. If you have questions about signing up email or call us at (866)-526-0083. Thank you, Jessica “Inside the Outlet” Blog<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…> | Twitter<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…> | Facebook<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…> | Unsubscribe<http://links.arcadiapower.com/wf/click?upn=ucdzNujisweIYeHjVFO0JblzVL7mLRj2…>

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Court backs Obama’s climate change accounting
by James Kotcon 11 Aug '16

11 Aug '16

This is an obscure but incredibly important court victory, supporting DOE calculations of a "Social Cost of Carbon". JBK "...In a unanimous decision<http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&Path=Y2016/…> late Monday, the Chicago-based 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rejected an industry-backed request to overturn a 2014 rule that set energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators. In doing so, the court specifically backed the so-called social cost of carbon, President Obama’s administration-wide estimate of the costs per metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere — currently $36...." Full story at: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/290859-court-backs-obamas-clim…

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This is what I call a "Happy Problem"
by James Kotcon 08 Aug '16

08 Aug '16

Here is the rebuttal to those who claim renewable energy is too unreliable and too expensive and will never provide a significant share of our electricity. JBK >>>>> Texas is expecting 21,000 MW of wind-generated electricity, and their transmission grid is only built to handle 18,500. To put that in context, a typical coal plant handles 600 MW. That might mean that turbines will have to rest idle at times. This isn't the first time or place for this to happen. The UK has also struggled with the challenge of surplus power<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/07/uk-will-have-too-much-electricit…>, and energy surpluses in Chile-which have resulted in straight-up <http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a21228/chile-solar-energy-surplu…> free power<http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a21228/chile-solar-energy-surplu…>-are starting to have negative effects on the energy industry. It's not the worst problem to have, but it's still a problem. Full story at: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22228/texas-is-d… [http://pop.h-cdn.co/assets/16/32/1024x512/landscape-1470674049-gettyimages-…]<http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22228/texas-is-d…> Texas Is Drowning in Wind Energy<http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a22228/texas-is-d…> www.popularmechanics.com Yes, you can have too much of a good thing.

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FirstEnergy loses $1.1B, may sell Pleasants plant to MonPower
by James Kotcon 07 Aug '16

07 Aug '16

This is a fairly lengthy article, but the last sentence of the excerpt below says it all. Translation: "Screw the rate payer!" Full story at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-business/20160805/firstenergy-loses-11b-m… After announcing a quarterly loss of $1.1 billion<https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1031296/000103129616000101/ex991fe-…> because of the future closures of two uncompetitive coal-fired power plants in Ohio, FirstEnergy says it will seek to "de-risk" by pushing plants onto electricity customers in states like West Virginia. Charles Jones, CEO of FirstEnergy, the parent company of MonPower and Potomac Edison, announced in an earnings call <https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3005292-First-Energy-Earnings-Call-…> on July 29 that the coal-heavy utility would seek to remove itself completely from the competitive energy business and, in the meantime, would try to offload plants to regulated markets, where the company is guaranteed a profit. "Longer-term, we do not believe competitive generation is a good fit for FirstEnergy and we are focused on regulated operations," Jones said. "We cannot put investors and our company at risk." Jim Kotcon

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Hands up again, West Virginia ratepayers.
by frank young 06 Aug '16

06 Aug '16

Is this an admission that the "free market" does not work in the traditional electric power utility model? "Charles Jones, CEO of FirstEnergy, the parent company of MonPower and Potomac Edison, announced in an earnings call on July 29 that the coal-heavy utility would seek to remove itself completely from the competitive energy business and, in the meantime, would try to offload plants to regulated markets, where the company is guaranteed a profit." http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/?pageid=d33b9dcb-f8ef-4800-ab20-9 e327ee0ba1b FirstEnergy loses $1.1B 06 Aug 2016 - Charleston Gazette Mail By Andrew Brown Staff writer Firm eyes selling Pleasants plant to MonPower in 'de-risk' move After announcing a quarterlyhttps://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1031296/000103129616000101/ ex991fe-06302016.htm <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">loss of $1.1 billion because of the future closures of two uncompetitive coal-fired power plants in Ohio, FirstEnergy says it will seek to "de-risk" by pushing plants onto electricity customers in states like West Virginia. Charles Jones, CEO of FirstEnergy, the parent company of MonPower and Potomac Edison,https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3005292-First-Energy-Earnings -Call-Q2-2016.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">announced in an earnings call on July 29 that the coal-heavy utility would seek to remove itself completely from the competitive energy business and, in the meantime, would try to offload plants to regulated markets, where the company is guaranteed a profit. "Longer-term, we do not believe competitive generation is a good fit for FirstEnergy and we are focused on regulated operations," Jones said. "We cannot put investors and our company at risk." West Virginia likely will play a big part in that corporate strategy. Jones made it clear inhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2841966-First-Energy-First-Quarter -2016-Earnings-Call.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">another earnings call earlier this year that the Akron-based business wantshttp://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20160312/GZ01/160319819 <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> "> to sell the Pleasants power plant, north of Parkersburg, to its subsidiary companies in West Virginia. The proposed transfer of that coal-fired plant, which would shift the risk of the 36-year-old generating station off of investors and onto electricity customers in the northern half of the state, has already prompted opposition from groups like the Sierra Club, West Virginia Citizen Action Group and the state government's Consumer Advocate Division. Those groups took issue with the company's http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID =441858 <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> &NotType=%27WebDocket%27">integrated resource plan - a 15-year energy and demand forecast - that was presented to the West Virginia Public Service Commission earlier this year. The plan had reported that an existing coal-fired power plant (now known to be Pleasants) would be the cheapest generating option for customers and that electricity demand for MonPower and Potomac Edison was expected to increase by 2.2 percent, largely because of the natural gas industry in the state. Late this week, the Consumer Advocate Division and the https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3006112-PSC-Staff-and-CAD-Ask-for-Fi rstEnergy-RFP.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">PSC's staff called on FirstEnergy to file a formal request for proposal that would require the company to compare other energy sources, including new or existing wind, solar and natural-gas plants. "The staff and CAD believes that these companies, especially in light of the inexorable collapse of the coal industry driven primarily by the availability of cheaper and more plentiful natural gas, continue to rely on acquisition practices that are not in the best interests of the consuming public and the economy of the state," their lawyers said. Results from the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that manages the energy market for 13 states, including West Virginia, seem to contradict the company's findings in its resource plan, too. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2842771-PJM-Market-Report-2015.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">Market results show that, between 2014 and 2015, regional electricity sales from coal-fired power plants dropped by 17.8 percent in the PJM. Gas-fired power plants sold 28.4 percent more in 2015 than they did the year before, and evenhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2842688-PJM-Capacity-Auction-Res ults-2019-2020.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">more efficient gas-fired plants are set to come online in the coming years. The groups opposed to the transfer of Pleasants have argued that the sale of the plant would be a corporate bailout for the company's investors, at the expense of West Virginia electricity customers. The https://www.firstenergycorp.com/newsroom/news_releases/firstenergy-to-deacti vate-units-at-two-ohio-power-plants-.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">closure of the company's two plants in Ohio resulted inhttps://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1031296/000103129616000095/ex991le ttertoinvestmentcom.htm <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">$1.5 billion in charges and contract termination fees, or $2.99 per investment share. As a result, three of FirstEnergy's subsidiaries have been put on a credit watch by the ratings agency Standard and Poor's. Those subsidiaries soonhttps://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Downgrades-FirstEnergy-Solutions- Corp-and-Allegheny-Energy-Supply-Co--PR_352838 <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">could be downgraded to a "non-investment grade" rating. Comments by FirstEnergy's executives also call into question whether MonPower and Potomac Edison's demand for electricity is actually going to increase by 2.2 percent in the coming years. The company has cited that forecast demand as the reason it needs to purchase a plant the size of Pleasants. In the conference call, FirstEnergy officials said electricity demand among all of its affiliates had actually dropped by 2.7 percent in the past four months. The company had a similar decline in the first four months of 2016, and Jones described the company's future outlook for electricity demand as "anemic." James Pearson, FirstEnergy's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said any increase in electricity demand from the natural-gas industry had been offset by industrial declines in the steel and coal industries. He said energy efficiency measures - which have lagged behind in West Virginia - also were reducing residential demand in FirstEnergy's service territories. During the conference call, one investment analyst led off a testy question by saying it was obvious from Jones' tone that "frustration has gone to peak level" at FirstEnergy. Jones responded by downplaying the difficulties the market-based portion of the company is facing, and went on to lament the dipping regional energy prices that are https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2842790-Capacity-Changes-in-PJM.html <http://mynewsonthego.com/charleston/EPaper/%3Ca%20href=> ">largely being driven by new natural-gas turbines. "Is it frustrating that we're shutting down tens of thousands of megawatts of generation in our country that's got life left in it because of the way this market is working?" Jones said. "That is very frustrating to me." Reach Andrew Brown at andrew.brown(a)wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4814 or follow @Andy_Ed_Brown on Twitter.

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Fw: [WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders] a bit dated but wanted to share this to the...
by James Kotcon 05 Aug '16

05 Aug '16

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Re: [EC] Van Nostrand & DSS report on WV CPP compliance
by James Kotcon 29 Jul '16

29 Jul '16

Something like half to two-thirds of the electricity generated in WV is exported. It is a major source of revenue for the state. Growing the renewables industry is a good way to retain that income stream, but the report suggests that renewables growth would be relatively slow. JBK On Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 11:20 AM, Nachy Kanfer <nachy.kanfer(a)sierraclub.org> wrote: > Why does WV need to continue to be an electricity exporter? > > On Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 10:17 AM, James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> This is the long-awaited update of their earlier report on how WV can >> comply with the Clean Power Plan. They used the Synapse Energy Clean Power >> Plan Planning Tool, an ExCel-based spreadsheet tool. Based on the newer >> targets in EPA's Final CPP Rule, it is difficult for WV to comply without >> new gas. Their scenarios include 5-15 % EE by 2030, 2.8 - 4.4 % non-hydor >> renewables by 2030, natural gas co-firing at two coal plants and 1235 MW of >> new natural gas by 2020 (a 750 MW gas plant in Brooke County and a 550 MW >> gas plant in Clarksburg are currently "under consideration" by Energy >> Solutions Consortium of New York). These are in addition to the 595 MW >> coming on line from the Moundsville plant in 2018. Under their scenarios, >> electricity exports would continue at 2012 levels through 2030. >> >> The full report (68 pages) is available at: >> >> >> http://www.downstreamstrategies.com/documents/reports_publication/expanding… >> >> I think we need a detailed review of this report, as I would prefer we >> not make the mistake of major investments in fossil fuels. >> >> >> Whaddya Tink? >> >> JBK >> > > > > -- > Nachy Kanfer > Deputy Director, East > Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign > (614) 625-3894 >

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ApCo files Wind Power Purchase Agreement case with WV PSC
by James Kotcon 28 Jul '16

28 Jul '16

Case # 16-1026 ApCo & Wheeling Power request approval of a Power Purchase Agreement for 120 MW of wind from Indiana, filed Tuesday, July 26. This appears to be a follow up from their RFP as indicated in the IRP JBK [image: PlattsLogo] 7/26/2016 *Appalachian and Wheeling Power diversify energy portfolio with new wind contract; seek PSC approval in West Virginia* CHARLESTON, W. Va., July 26, 2016 – Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power today filed with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) for approval of the long-term purchase of 120 megawatts (MW) of new wind generation. The 20-year purchased power agreement will increase the companies’ total wind generation to 495 MW and is consistent with its forward-looking Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) for service areas in West Virginia and Virginia. The renewable energy will be purchased from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC. The energy will come from its planned Bluff Point Wind Energy Center to be constructed in Jay and Randolph Counties, Indiana. NextEra will own and operate the wind farm. The extension by Congress in November 2015 of the Wind Production Tax Credit provides cost advantages to wind energy resources constructed over the next five years and makes this agreement cost-effective for Appalachian Power customers. The new generation is expected to be available to Appalachian Power by 2018. In the filing with the PSC, the companies seek approval of the purchased power agreement and future cost recovery. A similar request was made to the Virginia State Corporation Commission last month. Appalachian selected the Indiana wind project as part of a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued earlier this year. The company received proposals from more than a dozen qualified wind farms. Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 223,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S.

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Van Nostrand & DSS report on WV CPP compliance
by James Kotcon 28 Jul '16

28 Jul '16

This is the long-awaited update of their earlier report on how WV can comply with the Clean Power Plan. They used the Synapse Energy Clean Power Plan Planning Tool, an ExCel-based spreadsheet tool. Based on the newer targets in EPA's Final CPP Rule, it is difficult for WV to comply without new gas. Their scenarios include 5-15 % EE by 2030, 2.8 - 4.4 % non-hydor renewables by 2030, natural gas co-firing at two coal plants and 1235 MW of new natural gas by 2020 (a 750 MW gas plant in Brooke County and a 550 MW gas plant in Clarksburg are currently "under consideration" by Energy Solutions Consortium of New York). These are in addition to the 595 MW coming on line from the Moundsville plant in 2018. Under their scenarios, electricity exports would continue at 2012 levels through 2030. The full report (68 pages) is available at: http://www.downstreamstrategies.com/documents/reports_publication/expanding… I think we need a detailed review of this report, as I would prefer we not make the mistake of major investments in fossil fuels. Whaddya Tink? JBK

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Attack on EPA rules for methane emissions
by James Kotcon 25 Jul '16

25 Jul '16

Lots of misused statistics here. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/daily-mail-commentary/20160725/drew-johnson-ep… [http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CH/20160725/DM0403/1…]<http://www.wvgazettemail.com/daily-mail-commentary/20160725/drew-johnson-ep…> Drew Johnson: EPA's bogus attempt to restrict oil and gas (Daily Mail)<http://www.wvgazettemail.com/daily-mail-commentary/20160725/drew-johnson-ep…> www.wvgazettemail.com The Environmental Protection Agency just rewrote history. Anyone want to write a rebuttal? JBK

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Coal Isn't Over - Chris Hamilton
by James Kotcon 10 Jul '16

10 Jul '16

Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal? JBK (The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient). http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hami… [http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CH/20160710/GZ0405/1…]<http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hami…> Chris Hamilton: Coal isn't over, despite hopeless commentary<http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hami…> www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.

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Report ranks utilities by renewable energy and energy efficiency
by James Kotcon 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

This new report ranks the 30 largest utility holding companies, responsible for about 60 % of America's electricity, based on their renewables and energy efficiency. Interestingly, FirstEnergy ranks 12th for renewables, and 19th for energy efficiency, both well ahead of AEP. FE covers utilities in MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA and WV. Guess which state is dragging down FE's rankings! http://www.ceres.org/industry-initiatives/electric-power/clean-energy-utili… Jim Kotcon

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WV 303(d) list - Comments to EPA due July 5
by James Kotcon 27 Jun '16

27 Jun '16

Are we following this issue? Is anyone preparing comments? https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/supporting-documents-proposed-additions-west-virgi… Jim Kotcon P.S. As you may recall, WV-DEP submitted an abbreviated list of streams to EPA, arguing that the Legislature had directed them to "study" the issues of conductivity, TDS and various related narrative standards. EPA on May 11 partially disapproved the list: "...to the extent that it omits waters due to WVDEP's decision not to evaluate existing and readily available data regarding whether certain waters are achieving West Virginia's narrative water quality criteria (W. Va. CSR§ 47-2-3.2(e) & (i)) as applied to aquatic life. "

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Does WSJ Fake a Green Shift Toward Nuclear Power?
by frank young 25 Jun '16

25 Jun '16

"Central to the story is the contention that prominent eco-advocacy groups, including Sierra, EDF and the Natural Resources Defense Council, are among those working with Exelon and state lawmakers on a legislative deal that would reverse a decision the company made in early June to close two money-losing nuclear reactors, Quad Cities and Clinton, and "ensure that the reactors remain in operation by providing financial recognition for the zero-carbon electricity they produce." http://fair.org/home/wsj-fakes-a-green-shift-toward-nuclear-power/ "But major assertions in the Journal article turn out to be either factually inaccurate, or to omit or spin important details. First, though Harder refers multiple times to nuclear power being "carbon-free" (echoing the websites of nuclear plant owners such as <http://www.exeloncorp.com/companies/exelon-generation/nuclear/Pages/default .aspx> Exelon and <http://www.pge.com/en/safety/systemworks/dcpp/index.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_di ablocanyon> Pacific Gas & Electric), that is not the case." Frank Young

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BLM hearings in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 28
by James Kotcon 24 Jun '16

24 Jun '16

I plan to go to this hearing Tuesday. Is anyone else interested in riding along? The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding six public hearings to receive public comments about coal mining on public lands, including one in Pittsburgh. This is your opportunity to tell the federal government to Keep Dirty Fuels in the Ground on public land, insist on fair royalties for the public, and demand an end to "self-bonding" by mining companies. Tuesday, June 28, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Press Conference and Rally: Tuesday, June 28, Noon Where: Hearing: Pittsburgh Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd. Pittsburgh (MAP) Press Conference and Rally: Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown, 945 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (MAP) If you are not able to attend, consider sending comments via the attached link. https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National?actionId=AR0043719 Details: *An astonishing 40 percent of all coal produced in the United States comes from public, taxpayer-owned land. *The government recently put a hold on new federal coal leases to study the impact that coal mined on public lands has on our climate. This means we have an unprecedented opportunity to push this country towards a clean energy future and away from dirty fuels. For decades, the federal government has been leasing taxpayer-owned public lands to fossil fuel companies at bargain-basement rates. Taxpayer-owned land should be used to benefit the public, but the coal it generates puts billions of tons of carbon into our atmosphere, slows the growth of clean energy, and affects the health of communities near coal mines and power plants and everywhere in between. It’s clear the federal coal leasing program is out of date and out of step with our nation’s commitment to stop climate disruption -- and we have an opportunity to change that. *The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is taking public comments on the scope of its study looking at how our public lands are used for coal mining. Tell them it’s time that we keep the coal in the ground and use our public lands to reflect what’s best for our climate and communities*.

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Sierra Club letter details potential Atlantic Coast Pipeline antitrust violations
by James Kotcon 24 Jun '16

24 Jun '16

Here is a great new front on the ACP! The Virginia Chapter charges that the utilities building ACP "use their captive ratepayers to ensure a continuous demand for natural gas, to be supplied by the ACP". This means utilities "...have an incentive to build more natural gas generating plants in order to create more demand for gas from the ACP. This locks customers into paying for these gas plants for decades to come, regardless of what happens to gas prices, and regardless of whether ratepayers would be better off with alternatives like wind and solar.” The Federal Trade Commissions is being asked to investigate anti-trust violations. See more at: http://augustafreepress.com/sierra-club-letter-details-potential-atlantic-c… JBK

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Fw: WVU geologist examines impact of carbon dioxide released from mine drainage
by James Kotcon 18 Jun '16

18 Jun '16

Yet another problem with acid mine drainage, greenhouse gas emissions. JBK. http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2016/06/16/wvu-geologist-examines-impact-of-carbo… [http://wvutoday.wvu.edu//themes/wvutoday-new/images/facebook_share.png]<http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2016/06/16/wvu-geologist-examines-impact-of-carbo…> WVU geologist examines impact of carbon dioxide released from mine drainage<http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2016/06/16/wvu-geologist-examines-impact-of-carbo…> wvutoday.wvu.edu The collective estimated amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere from 140 coal mines across Pennsylvania is the equivalent to that of a small power plant, a new West Virginia University study finds. The collective estimated amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere from 140 coal mines across Pennsylvania is the equivalent to that of a small power plant, a new West Virginia University<http://www.wvu.edu/> study finds. Dorothy Vesper<http://geology.wvu.edu/people/faculty/dorothy-vesper>, associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geography<http://www.geo.wvu.edu/> at West Virginia University, and her research team, are using a meter designed for measuring carbon dioxide in beverages to more accurately measure carbon dioxide in mine drainage water. Using measurements from several sites and estimated values from United States Geological Survey data for 140 Pennsylvania mines, they calculated the amount of carbon dioxide released from abandoned coal mines. "Many people calculate carbon dioxide from alkalinity, or the capability of water to neutralize acid, so the pH has to be above five, but if you have a lot of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water, it forces the pH to fall below five and people just dismiss it and ignore it," Vesper said. "So, there is a bias in the way people typically estimate the carbon dioxide concentrations in water, and they've ignored this whole set of mine waters, but we're able to actually quantify them nicely. "A lot of those very low pH waters have plenty of carbon dioxide in them. " Mine drainage, a byproduct of areas active in ore or coal mining, has long been associated with contaminated drinking water, disrupted growth and reproduction of certain types of plants and animals, and infrastructure corrosion. Sulfate-rich mine water can dissolve the surrounding limestone, allowing carbon dioxide gas to be present in the water. When mine waters discharge at the land surface, some of the carbon dioxide releases into the atmosphere. "The gas is really high in mine waters and people who work with mine waters know that, but no one has quantified it in detail," said Vesper. "No one has really developed an accurate way to measure the carbon dioxide coming out, partially because it is very difficult." Vesper and her team measured carbon dioxide levels in the water at two mine portals and compared those data to estimated gas levels for a limited set of inactive mines across Pennsylvania. These findings - that the total amount of carbon dioxide released from those mines was found to be equivalent to that of a small power plant - have opened the door to larger studies determining the impact carbon dioxide evasion from mine drainage has on the environment. "I think right now, the next thing I want to do is get a better handle on this and get a much more quantitative assessment at more sites," Vesper said. "I think we're also going to work with some of the geographic information system researchers at the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design<http://davis.wvu.edu/> to see if we can do a larger scale estimate for Pennsylvania or West Virginia." This work was initiated with Harry Edenborn, Ph.D. as part of the National Energy Technology Laboratory's Regional University Alliance, a collaborative initiative of the NETL. Ongoing work is funded by the NSF-EPSCOR funded Appalachian Freshwater Initiative<http://afi.wvu.edu/> at WVU.

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300 million Alpha NR/DEP agreement
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 10 Jun '16

10 Jun '16

*DEP Reaches Agreement in Principle** **With Alpha Natural Resources* CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has reached an agreement in principle with the state’s largest coal operator, Alpha Natural Resources, which filed for bankruptcy in August 2015. The $300 million-plus agreement, which remains subject to a number of contingencies, will pave the way for the bonding and reclaiming of all Alpha’s legacy liability sites in West Virginia, as well as Alpha’s continuing operations in West Virginia.

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from UCS ask a scientist: Does UCS agree that natural gas is a good "bridge" to meet our energy demands while better more earth friendly options are developed?
by Paul Wilson 09 Jun '16

09 Jun '16

Ask a Scientist Matt S. of Kennesaw, GA, asks "Does UCS agree that natural gas is a good "bridge" to meet our energy demands while better more earth friendly options are developed?" Once accepted as conventional wisdom, the notion that we have to significantly increase our use of natural gas to transition the US power sector to low-carbon energy sources is now plainly wrong. Investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency have accelerated rapidly as costs decline and performance and reliability improve. This trend, combined with the growing awareness of the significant risks posed by an overreliance on natural gas, makes it clear that natural gas has at most a limited and complementary role to play in the move to a truly clean energy system. READ MORE <http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=HAVtImyMO0jKnTiBlBHU_w> -- Paul Wilson Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing Sierra Club Military Outdoors 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle JUSTICE, ONLY JUSTICE, SHALT THOU PURSUE. Deuteronomy 16:20

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Carl Pope on India-US Agreement on Clean Energy
by James Kotcon 08 Jun '16

08 Jun '16

This has some pretty amazing factoids, not the least of which is that the major barrier to renewables is not technological, it is simply whether the financing can be arranged as quickly as needed. Here is my favorite section: ...A draft report<http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/is-canada-ready-for-a-world-awash-in…> prepared for Canadian government concluded demand for oil could fall so fast that producers simply dump their barrels on to a shrinking market, leaving high cost oil like Canada's, along with pipelines and other facilities, stranded. For a major oil producer to face a world where its reserves will fetch a price of "$0" would have been shocking a year ago. But in Calgary oil analyst Paul Sankey lectured the industry<http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/critics-call-on-oil-industry-to-pay-out-prof…>: "Demand forecasts are way too positive ... really, the essence of the opportunity for oil is to be dividend stocks to pay out. Not to attempt to grow, but actually to orderly liquidate." Shades of "The Coming Carbon Asset Bubble" by Blood and Gore from less than three years ago! (One WV coal company has already proposed giving away all its coal assets to anyone who would simply assume the environmental liabilities.) Full article is available at: http://ecowatch.com/2016/06/08/solar-power-obama-modi-agreement/ Jim Kotcon

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Fw: Synapse Looks at EIA's Early Release of its Annual Energy Outlook 2016
by James Kotcon 18 May '16

18 May '16

This is news you can use. According to this new analysis by US-DOE's Energy Information Agency, the EPA's Clean Power Plan is likely to be economically devastating to those who own fossil fuel reserves, but for consumers, the effect is relatively small. If trading of emissions allowances occurs, and costs are rebated to consumers, the actual consumer impact is near zero. The EIA has historically been very conservative in its forecasts, so much so that they have dramatically underestimated actual growth in renewables and assume essentially flat production, instead of the exponential increases reported by FERC. http://cleantechnica.com/2016/05/15/us-eia-responds-cleantechnica-lettercri… This may be useful when coal advocates tell you that the CPP will bankrupt America. JBK ________________________________ From: Synapse Energy Economics <bcopes=synapse-energy.com(a)mail80.suw13.rsgsv.net> on behalf of Synapse Energy Economics <bcopes(a)synapse-energy.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 4:31 PM To: James Kotcon Subject: Synapse Looks at EIA's Early Release of its Annual Energy Outlook 2016 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser<http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672&id=f312ef3591…>. [http://gallery.mailchimp.com/bef0f8c2ef390a88c3e173e7c/images/Synapse_small…]<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> May 2016 All Publications<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> Contact Us<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672/images/35506952-12c…]<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b…> [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672/images/fec3f9c4-1be…] <http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> ________________________________ EIA Publishes Early Release of Annual Energy Outlook 2016 On May 17, 2016, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published an early release of its Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) for 2016. This early release contains projections for two scenarios: a Reference case, which includes the effects of the Clean Power Plan, and a “No Clean Power Plan” case, which examines a future in which there is no Clean Power Plan. Final versions of each of these cases, along with projections for numerous other scenarios, will be available on July 7, 2016. Until then, here are some of the key highlights in the latest AEO: The AEO 2016 Reference case projects that the Clean Power Plan will raise electricity prices by just 3 percent compared to a future with no Clean Power Plan. As a result of the Clean Power Plan, EIA projects that average electricity prices in the years 2025 to 2030 will be 3 percent higher than a future with no Clean Power Plan. However, the AEO 2016 Reference case (inclusive of the Clean Power Plan) features electricity prices 3 percent below the electricity prices forecasted just last year in the AEO 2015 Reference case. Importantly, this 3 percent increase is limited just to electricity prices; EIA assumes that in the Clean Power Plan, electricity providers purchase CO2 allowances, the revenues of which are rebated to ratepayer bills (just as is currently done in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative states<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…>). As a result, the full effect on out-of-pocket spending on electricity by ratepayers is lower than 3 percent, or even zero. The AEO 2016 Reference case models a 32 percent decrease in electric sector CO2 emissions in 2030 By following the mass-based approach to the Clean Power Plan, AEO 2016’s Reference case reduces electric sector CO2 emissions by over 30 percent by 2028 (compared to 2005 levels), and it sustains this reduction through 2040 (see Figure 1 below). This level of emissions is also nearly 30 percent lower than that projected in last year’s AEO 2015. Even in the No CPP case, CO2 emissions are significantly lower than both historical emissions (a reduction of 16 percent compared to 2005) and what was previously projected (a reduction of 11 percent compared to last year’s AEO 2015 Reference case). Figure 1. Electric power carbon dioxide emissions, historical and projected [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672/images/7fe9e42f-436…] Read more<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> highlights on the Synapse blog. ________________________________ Newsletter Subscription You are receiving this newsletter because we think you will find the information interesting and relevant to your work. If for any reason you don't wish to receive these emails, you may unsubscribe by emailing marketing(a)synapse-energy.com.<mailto:marketing@synapse-energy.com> Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. 485 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 2 Cambridge, MA 02139 www.synapse-energy.com ©2015 Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. All rights reserved. This email was sent to jkotcon(a)wvu.edu<mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu> why did I get this?<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/about?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e4672…> unsubscribe from this list<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b6…> update subscription preferences<http://synapse-energy.us1.list-manage.com/profile?u=80ccfa970a5bcb075b62e46…> Synapse Energy Economics · 485 Massachusetts Ave · Suite 2 · Cambridge, MA 02139 · USA

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Renewables Are Leaving Natural Gas In The Dust This Year
by James Kotcon 17 May '16

17 May '16

In 2014 and 2015, Renewables were two-thirds of new generation. In the first quarter of 2016, it is in excess of 98 %. And that does not even count the residential solar, only facilities larger than 1 MW. JBK In the first three months of 2016, the U.S. grid added 18 megawatts of new natural gas generating capacity. It added a whopping 1,291 megawatts (MW) of new renewables. The renewables were primarily wind (707 MW) and solar (522 MW). We also added some biomass (33 MW) and hydropower (29 MW). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) latest monthly "Energy Infrastructure Update<http://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/2016/mar-infrastructure.pdf>" reports that no new capacity of coal, oil, or nuclear power were added in the first quarter of the year. Full story is at: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/05/16/3778542/grid-70-times-renewable… Jim Kotcon

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Lobbying Continues Unabated on EPA's Clean Power Plan
by Duane 14 May '16

14 May '16

http://www.bna.com/lobbying-continues-unabated-n57982070620/ Lobbying Continues Unabated on EPA's Clean Power Plan By Anthony Adragna, Bloomberg BNA, May 3, 2016 Near-impossible odds of legislative success and upcoming oral arguments in federal appeals court haven't deterred entities from continuing aggressive lobbying of Congress on the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. More than 130 entities reported lobbying on the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's domestic efforts on climate change during the first quarter of 2016, according to disclosures reviewed by Bloomberg BNA. That number is virtually unchanged from a year ago when efforts to stop the regulation were at a near-fever pitch in Congress. Lawmakers have previously passed legislation and resolutions of disapproval to overturn or block the regulation, but support was always well below the levels needed to override the stroke of Obama's veto pen. Despite that reality, many of the entities reported lobbying Congress on those same efforts during the first quarter of 2016. The continued lobbying doesn't surprise academics and other outside experts. “This is hardly surprising,” Lee Drutman, a senior fellow with New America, told Bloomberg BNA May 3. “The passage of legislation is just the first battle in the endless fight on almost every issue. There's always another venue, and another opportunity for lobbying, another chance to make your case. Especially when you have lots of paying corporate clients.” Diversity in Groups Represented As in previous reporting periods, the entities lobbying on the Clean Power Plan ranged from major public health organizations to large publicly traded companies to coal companies (139 ECR, 7/21/15). Among the companies lobbying on the centerpiece of the Obama administration's domestic efforts on climate change were Westrock Co., Alcoa Inc., Tesla Motors Inc., Xcel Energy Inc., Occidental Petroleum Co. and Siemens AG. Public health and environmental advocates, including the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, all disclosed lobbying on the Clean Power Plan. Southern Co., Vectren Corp., Duke Energy Co., Calpine Corp., NorthWestern Energy Corp. and Entergy Corp. are among the energy interests that also said they pushed Congress on the regulation. Entities Lobbying on Issue Entities lobbying on the issue were identified through a search of lobbying records with the keywords “Clean Power Plan,”“111(d),” the number of the resolution of disapproval passed by Congress ( S.J. Res. 24) and two pieces of legislation (H.R. 2042; S. 1324) that would impede or outright kill the EPA's regulatory efforts under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. After Obama vetoed both resolutions of disapproval Dec. 18, 2015, congressional aides and lawmakers said they were unlikely to try to override them. Oral arguments in a federal appeals court case challenging the regulation are slated for June 2 and possibly June 3 (West Virginia v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 15-1363, oral argument 6/2/16). Lobbying Interest Not Surprising Despite the shift away from Congress to the courts in the fight over the Clean Power Plan, observers said they were not surprised lobbying efforts continued. Congress remains influential in the debate surrounding the EPA rule, some said. “Whether or not litigation is the best strategy, Congress retains the ability to influence the process ... so it makes sense that industry lobbyists would continue to spend time talking to them,” Lisa Gilbert, director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, told Bloomberg BNA. “I am slightly surprised that the amount of money spent would be exactly the same, but I’d imagine they are also spending comparable resources on every potential avenue that might influence the outcome.” Jennifer Victor, a professor of legislative politics at George Mason University, told Bloomberg BNA many of the groups lobbying on the EPA rule have the primary purpose of advocacy before Congress. Others are membership-based and may feel pressure to show they are doing something, she said. “Some pretty big shift in the political landscape would be necessary for them to curtail this kind of activity,” Victor said, such as a change in administration or the end of litigation on the Clean Power Plan. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

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from Other Words: King Coal is Headed to Prison
by Paul Wilson 04 May '16

04 May '16

1. King Coal Is Headed to Prison <http://act.ips-dc.org/site/R?i=uq1uValgMJ1yav7bPyNPiw> / Jim Hightower *Don Blankenship is the first murderous coal executive to get put behind bars.* -- Paul Wilson Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing Sierra Club Military Outdoors 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle JUSTICE, ONLY JUSTICE, SHALT THOU PURSUE. Deuteronomy 16:20

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