EC October 2007

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

13 participants
52 discussions

Re: [EC] Expert Witness News!
by Grubb, Karen 19 Oct '07

19 Oct '07

As I said yesterday, I recommend that we have an energy conference call soon to discuss this and another potential expert, Hale Powell. This is good news, but we need to be sure we have enough funds to also pay Hale Powell, if Bill DePaulo decides we need both witnesses. Karen -----Original Message----- From: ec-bounces(a)osenergy.org [mailto:ec-bounces@osenergy.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Rosenbaum Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 3:36 PM To: Energy Committee Subject: [EC] Expert Witness News! Hi everyone, After several weeks of meetings with Ronald L. Klein, Professor Emeritus, Duane Nichols and I are happy to announce that he has agreed to be fully involved with the expert witness process in our intervention with the PSC TrailCo proceeding. As for the costs, he presented terms today that our clearly within our budget. -Jonathan _______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC(a)osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec

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Re: [EC] Testimony of Ron Klein
by Grubb, Karen 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

I recommend that we have an energy conference call soon to discuss this and another potential expert, Hale Powell. Karen ________________________________ From: ec-bounces(a)osenergy.org [mailto:ec-bounces@osenergy.org] On Behalf Of Duane330(a)aol.com Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:47 PM To: ec(a)osenergy.org Subject: [EC] Testimony of Ron Klein To: Sierra Club Energy Committee From: Duane and Jonathan. We met today with retired Prof. Ron Klein who has continued to read and study the TrAIL case. He drafted some preliminary questions and answers earlier that indicate some potential for "expert testimony". At our last meeting, we approved $500 for preparation of testimony and $250 or so to appear and present testimony (plus expenses). He told us today the he will participate and do the work involved under the following pay schedule: Phase 1. Two increments of $500, for preparation of draft materials.............$1,000 (now due). Phase 2. Two increments of $500, for final preparation as an expert witness...$1,000 (December 5th) Phase 3. The sum of $1,000 to travel to Charleston, as needed and testify..... $1,000 (after testifying) He said today the he could probably absorb the travel costs into the final Phase 3 payment, i.e. no additional for travel expenses. Please consider this above plan as a motion to the Energy Committee by Duane with a second by Jonathan.......... If the above plan is approved, please make checks payable to: Ronald Klein, 461 N. Rebecca Street, Morgantown, WV 26505. ________________________________ See what's new at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170> and Make AOL Your Homepage <http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169> .

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Kansas Rejects coal-fired power plant
by James Kotcon 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

How Do You Spell "Momentum"? JBK KDHE Denies Sunflower Electric Air Quality Permit Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), announced today that he has denied the air quality permit for the two proposed 700-megawatt generators at the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation plant near Holcomb. “After careful consideration of my responsibility to protect the public health and environment from actual, threatened or potential harm from air pollution, I have decided to deny the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation application for an air quality permit,” said Bremby. In making his decision, Bremby cited the authority provided to the Secretary of KDHE in K.S.A. 65-3008 and K.S.A. 65-3008a, which grant him the authority to affirm, modify or reverse a decision on an air quality permit after the public comment period or hearing, and K.S.A. 65-3012, which authorizes him to deny or modify an air quality permit to protect the health of persons or the environment. “I believe it would be irresponsible to ignore emerging information about the contribution of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to climate change and the potential harm to our environment and health if we do nothing,” said Bremby. The U.S. Supreme Court found in Massachusetts v. EPA that carbon dioxide meets the broad definition of an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. The Kansas Air Quality Act similarly has a broad definition of what constitutes air pollution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized the need for public health agencies to take the lead on educating the public about the health impacts of climate change and has adopted priority health actions to prepare for, respond to and manage the associated health risks of climate change. The decision constitutes a first step in emerging policy to address existing and future carbon dioxide emissions in Kansas. “ KDHE will work to engage various industries and stakeholders to establish goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and strategies to achieve them. This is consistent with initiatives underway in states leading the effort to address climate change,” said Bremby. One such initiative currently being undertaken by eight northeastern states is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a mandatory regional cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 10 percent, or approximately 12 million tons annually, by 2020. The expanded Sunflower plant was projected to release an estimated 11 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. “Denying the Sunflower air quality permit, combined with creating sound policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions can facilitate the development of clean and renewable energy to protect the health and environment of Kansans,” said Bremby. # # # Editor’s note: More information about the Sunflower Electric Cooperative air quality permit decision, including a timeline, the summary response to comments and multimedia clips of the announcement can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/press_room.htm.

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Testimony of Ron Klein
by Duane330＠aol.com 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

To: Sierra Club Energy Committee From: Duane and Jonathan. We met today with retired Prof. Ron Klein who has continued to read and study the TrAIL case. He drafted some preliminary questions and answers earlier that indicate some potential for "expert testimony". At our last meeting, we approved $500 for preparation of testimony and $250 or so to appear and present testimony (plus expenses). He told us today the he will participate and do the work involved under the following pay schedule: Phase 1. Two increments of $500, for preparation of draft materials.............$1,000 (now due). Phase 2. Two increments of $500, for final preparation as an expert witness...$1,000 (December 5th) Phase 3. The sum of $1,000 to travel to Charleston, as needed and testify..... $1,000 (after testifying) He said today the he could probably absorb the travel costs into the final Phase 3 payment, i.e. no additional for travel expenses. Please consider this above plan as a motion to the Energy Committee by Duane with a second by Jonathan.......... If the above plan is approved, please make checks payable to: Ronald Klein, 461 N. Rebecca Street, Morgantown, WV 26505. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

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Expert Witness News!
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

Hi everyone, After several weeks of meetings with Ronald L. Klein, Professor Emeritus, Duane Nichols and I our happy to announce that he has agreed to be fully involved with the expert witness process in our intervention with the PSC TrailCo proceeding. As for the costs, he presented terms today that our clearly within our budget. -Jonathan

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FW: [energy activists] SC statement on Lieberman-Warner cap and trade bill
by Grubb, Karen 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

If you wish to receive emails from Allison Forbes, write to her and ask to be put on her list. She also has an energy call each Tuesday at 8:30. The next energy activist call will be Tuesday, October 9 at 8:30pm Eastern. Starting on the 9th, energy activist calls will be held weekly through October. Call-in number: 1-866-501-6174 Code: 2239223# ________________________________ From: Allison.Forbes(a)sierraclub.org [mailto:Allison.Forbes@sierraclub.org] Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 5:48 PM To: Allison.Forbes(a)sierraclub.org Subject: [energy activists] SC statement on Lieberman-Warner cap and trade bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17 OCTOBER 2007 CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384 (w), 202.679.7570 (m) Sierra Club Statement on Lieberman-Warner Bill Senators Showing Leadership, Critical Improvements to Bill Needed Tomorrow Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) are expected to introduce their comprehensive global warming legislation. The bill caps 80 percent of total U.S. emissions. It sets out a goal of reducing capped emissions 15 percent by 2020 and 70 percent by 2050. Taking additional energy efficiency provisions into account, the bill would result in a 51-63 percent reduction in total emissions. The bill would initially auction only 24 percent of its allowances, rising to a 73 percent auction in 2036. Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director "We very much appreciate the leadership Senators Lieberman and Warner have shown by taking on this extremely important issue. We also compliment them for having made some positive adjustments to their legislation since it was first proposed. We applaud Senator Boxer for taking up this issue in her committee at such a critical moment. "The bill is a significant political step forward for the U.S. Congress, but unfortunately the legislation as introduced still falls short what is demanded by the science and the public to meet the challenge of global warming. This comes even as U.S. states, cities, and counties move forward with ambitious, science-based proposals to tackle the issue. We look forward to working with Senators to seek the additional improvements necessary for the bill to sufficiently address the challenge before us. "At this crucial moment, we must continue to insist on a global warming bill that is committed to scientific integrity and economic fairness. In order to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, we must cut emissions 80 percent by 2050--an achievable annual reduction of about 2 percent. In order to get the market moving and bring America's clean energy future to life, any bill must start out strong by seeking a short-term reduction on the order of 20 percent of total emissions by 2020. Disturbances to the climate have come more quickly and forcefully than even the most pessimistic among us predicted. The Lieberman-Warner bill, as introduced, leaves us in serious danger of reaching the tipping points that scientists tell us could lead to catastrophic changes to the climate. "Polluters should pay for what they do and any bill must allocate allowances for the public benefit, not private windfalls. A 100 percent auction would not only ensure that polluters pay for the damage they are doing to the climate, but would also provide the funds necessary to ensure a just transition for workers, protect consumers from rising energy costs, and make the investments in new technology needed to make the new clean energy economy a reality. While the bill has moved in the right direction, it gives too many free allowances to polluters for far too long--enriching executives and shareholders instead of generating the funds needed to help us meet our emissions goals and ensure a smooth transition to the clean energy economy. "We also urge the Senate to continue to press ahead toward passage of a final energy bill. Passing an energy bill that includes the Senate-passed fuel economy provision and the House-passed Renewable Electricity Standard will itself make real progress in the fight against global warming and set the stage for the kind of meaningful, long-term reductions that any economy-wide global warming bill must achieve." # # # Allison Forbes National Conservation Organizer Sierra Club Global Warming and Energy Program (202) 548-6583

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Sierra Club Wins One in Iowa
by James Kotcon 18 Oct '07

18 Oct '07

Coal-Fired Power Plant Blocked in Iowa DES MOINES, Iowa, October 15, 2007 (ENS) - Opponents of a new coal-fired power plant proposed in Waterloo, including the Sierra Club and the Iowa Farmers Union, celebrated a victory Thursday when a state panel rejected the City of Waterloo's request to annex land for the plant. The City Development Board decided that the annexation of land owned by residents who oppose the annexation did not meet the state guidelines for approval. Hundreds of citizens protested the annexation at a hearing in September. LS Power is proposing the $1.5 billion, 750-megawatt plant to serve up to 500,000 homes, some of which may be out of the state. "It was clear that this annexation was not in the public interest," said Carole Yates of the Cedar Prairie Group of the Sierra Club. "Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of global warming in the country and this proposal was a collection of worst practices - for our energy system, for our economy, for the environment, and for our community." The annexation proposal came before the City Development Board because a landowner, retired farmer Merle Bell, is standing against the plant. Last month more than 500 people rallied at Bell's farm in support of Bell and against LS Power. His farm has been in his family for more than a century. "I've lived on this land all my life," says Bell. "I promised my father I'd never sell the farm and I don't want to sell." Bell was joined in opposing the annexation and development of the site by neighbor Phyllis Morgan and 17 farmers who are opposed to plans for transmission lines across their land. The farmers' resistance attracted the attention of Iowa Farmers Union, which officially opposes the plant. "We have concluded that farmers benefit more from farm-based renewable energy than from giant new coal plants. We consider plants like this a threat to a sustainable, farm-based rural economy," said Gregg Heide of Pomeroy, board member of Iowa Farmers Union. Sierra Club and the citizen advocacy group, Community Energy Solutions, represented by nonprofit law firm Plains Justice, filed briefs against the proposal. "This is the beginning of the end for LS Power in Iowa," said Sierra Club organizer Mark Kresowik. "States across the country are recognizing the dangers of overdependence on coal and have rejected new plants. It's time for Governor Culver to truly embrace energy efficiency and renewable energy and say no to more dirty coal." The lack of annexation approval may not mean the end for this project as the city can reapply with a different configuration of land to be annexed. LS Power Project Manager Mark Milburn said the vote does not derail the project, which could go on even without annexation. But the utility wants to pay taxes to the city, and it makes sense to add the land to the already developed nearby industrial park, he said. Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Idaho, and California have rejected new coal plants in favor of cleaner energy options in the past 12 months.

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Fwd: Track the Energy Bill End Game Free
by James Kotcon 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

I am not sure how I got this, but this web site indicates that a provision in the federal energy bill may allow Coal-To-Liquids to qualify as part of a renewable energy standard. Has anyone heard anything about this? Jim Kotcon >>> EnergyWashington <ew-alerts(a)iwpnews.com> 10/17/2007 8:59 AM >>> Special Coverage From EnergyWashington.com Dear James Kotcon, Use our complimentary trial[1] to track behind-the-scenes maneuvering for an energy bill conference, which is turning out to be not as cut-and-dry as Democrats had hoped. EnergyWashington is the daily online and print newsletter service from Inside Washington Publishers that has become must-reading for energy professionals who follow both regulatory and congressional policymaking. We’d like to offer you a free two-week trial to try EnergyWashington and learn how valuable EnergyWashington will be to you and your organization. Here are some of the top headlines on EnergyWashington right now:[2] *Administration Negotiating With House On RES It Can Support * *CTL Argues For Place In Meeting Renewable Electricity Mandate, RFS * *State-Federal Debates Over Transmission Planning Intensifying * *South Coast, Industry Fault Draft State Alternative Fuels Plan * Your trial to EnergyWashington delivers: - A daily online news service updated throughout the day. - The latest issue of the newsletter, _EnergyWashington Week_, available online every Monday. - The Newsroom Blog – news and notes from the Editor’s desk. - A document retrieval library with tens of thousands of documents. - Special news sections on carbon regulation, alternative fuels and vehicles, transportation, congress, FERC, the states and much more. You will receive your username and password in seconds when you activate your trial to EnergyWashington[3]. Your trial will automatically expire at the end of two weeks with no further action required. For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions[4]. For assistance, please call our customer service at 800-424-9068 or 703-416-8505. Regards, John Grano Energy Washington Inside Washington Publishers 1225 S Clark Street Suite 1400 Arlington, VA 22202 If you wish to unsubscribe from EnergyWashington.com email notifications please click here[5]. You may also contact our online customer service department by phone at 1-800-424-9068 or 703-416-8505 or via e-mail at energywashington(a)iwpnews.com[6]. Copyright 2007 Inside Washington Publishers, 1225 S. Clark St., Suite 1400, Arlington, VA 22202 Contact Us[7] | Privacy Policy[8] | Terms and Conditions[9] [1] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/37014/0/ [2] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/7353/0/ [3] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/37014/0/ [4] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/7357/0/ [5] http://iwp.lyris.net/u?id=108856B&o=7720&n=T&c=F&l=energywashington [6] mailto:energywashington@iwpnews.com [7] mailto:energywashington@iwpnews.com [8] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/7348/0/ [9] http://iwp.lyris.net/t/7720/108856/7349/0/

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Phone Banking tonight at MountainLair
by James Kotcon 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

The phone bank tonight will be held at the Side Pocket Pub in the Lair from 6-8 PM (seems some people want to imbibe their favorite legal beverage). Bring friends and a cell phone. I have lists and a semi-script, so come call your Sierra Friends (both those you know and some you will want to know) and urge them to come to the PSC hearings on the Allegheny Power Line. I will have some type of refreshments, so bring a friend and enthusiasm! JBK

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Fwd: Al Gore and the twilight of coal
by Paul Wilson 16 Oct '07

16 Oct '07

Note the quote from the CEO of New Energy Finance. best, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Virginia.Cramer(a)sierraclub.org <Virginia.Cramer(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Oct 12, 2007 1:58 PM Subject: Al Gore and the twilight of coal To: bruce_nilles(a)prodigy.net, Alice.McKeown(a)sierraclub.org, Pat.Gallagher(a)sierraclub.org, sarah.hodgdon(a)earthlink.net, Jesse.Simons(a)sierraclub.org, baumling(a)aol.com, pjgrunt(a)gmail.com Cc: #Media.SIERRACLUB(a)sierraclub.org From a blog- The Business of Green. *Al Gore and the twilight of coal? * Posted by James Kanter <green.iht(a)gmail.com> in General<http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/business/green/?cat=1>, Energy Business <http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/business/green/?cat=4>, Alternative Energy <http://blogs.iht.com/tribtalk/business/green/?cat=7> Al Gore may have won his Nobel Peace Prize fo raising awareness about the threat of global warming, but he also is being credited with another key Business of Green development: mounting signs of the demise of coal-fired power in countries like Britain and the United States, even as the some developing countries burn ever larger quantities of the fuel. On the same day Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize<http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/12/europe/nobel.php>, Greenpeace demonstrators in Britain were winding down a dramatic protest to block<http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/greenpeace-shuts-down-coal-fired-…>attempts by the German power giant E.ON to build new coal facilities at Kingsnorth in southeast England. Their rallying cry? Al Gore's comment earlier this year that he couldn't "understand why there aren't rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power stations." It's not the first protest against new coal facilities: In the United States, TXU, a big utility, was stopped from rolling out coal plants earlier this year in Texas after widespread opposition to the plans by investors and environmentalists. It remains to be seen whether the coal industry really is in headlong retreat — and whether Gore will strengthen his calls for an end to coal-fired power. But energy industry experts already see growing demand for wind, solar and other sources of renewable power as coal comes under increasing pressure. "It's becoming impossible to build coal stations," Michael Liebreich, founder and CEO of New Energy Finance, a London-based research company, said during a visit to Paris on Friday. The backlash against coal "is one of the driving forces for the clean energy industry." ____________ Virginia Cramer Media Coordinator Sierra Club tel: 202.675.6279 fax: 202.547.6009 -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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