EC August 2008

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

12 participants
60 discussions

Re: [EC] [Fwd: Re: [fom] Explosion reported at Institute plant]
by Jim Sconyers 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

"....the land of the expendable" - hits the nail right on the head - our new state motto? Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 603.969.6712 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Original Message ---- From: Regina Hendrix <regina1936(a)verizon.net> To: ec(a)osenergy.org Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 1:02:03 PM Subject: [EC] [Fwd: Re: [fom] Explosion reported at Institute plant] Take a look at the link to the photos. Coal/Energy is not our only worry in the land of the expendable. Regina

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[Fwd: Re: [fom] Explosion reported at Institute plant]
by Regina Hendrix 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

Take a look at the link to the photos. Coal/Energy is not our only worry in the land of the expendable. Regina

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Re: [EC] [fom] Explosion reported at Institute plant
by Regina Hendrix 31 Aug '08

31 Aug '08

Kathryn, we just didn't know how dangerous. There are 253,600 pounds of methyl isocyanate (MIC) stored underground at the Bayer's Institute plant. That is the chemical that killed all those people in Bhopal, India. It is estimated that the MIC stored at Institute could kill people as far as 10 miles away from the plant. We are expendable, you see.......gotta have those jobs. The article in the Gazette says: "At it's own plants in Germany and Belgium Bayer never stored large quantities of MIC. Instead, Bayer made and used the chemical as it was needed." I don't know what the past tense implies here. Does it mean they don't use MIC in their overseas plants anymore? Have they decided it won't take the risk in Germany and Belgium, whereas, it's okay in WV because those people will do anything for jobs? Regina XKatwalkx(a)aol.com wrote: > R: My neighbor said she felt a jolt when the explosion occurred. I > did not. kas p.s. I guess I did not realize that this was still a > dangerous area, chemically speaking. > > > ************** > It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. > (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)

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Coal Film Festival help
by Jim Sconyers 30 Aug '08

30 Aug '08

Hi folks - We are going to need help at the Coal Film Festival next Saturday 4:00-11:00. Mostly we need folks to give out programs, monitor donations, and circulate and collect interest cards. The schedule runs from 4 to 11. Can you commit to helping some part of that? Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 603.969.6712 Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

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Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid's Limits
by Regina Hendrix 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

Maybe the power lines could be built where they'd promote clean energy instead of coal.

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Fwd: Fw: Kilowatt Ours PBS broadcasts
by Paul Wilson 28 Aug '08

28 Aug '08

fyi, paul ps. probably won't happen in WV but it would be nice to rattle a few doors in Charleston. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lyndsay Moseley <Lyndsay.Moseley(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 10:54 AM Subject: Fw: Kilowatt Ours PBS broadcasts To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org For those of you who have seen the energy documentary Kilowatt Ours (which I hope includes everyone!), I would encourage you to contact your local PBS station in the next month to ask them to broadcast it in your area. If you haven't seen it, Kilowatt Ours is a great tool for raising awareness about the problems with coal and other dirty energy sources and provides information on practical positive solutions like conservation, efficiency and renewables. Contact me if you haven't seen Kilowatt Ours but would like to... I have several copies in my office and would be happy to share. Best, Lyndsay Lyndsay Moseley Washington Representative National Coal Campaign Sierra Club 408 C St. NE Washington, DC 20002 tel: 202-548-4581 fax: 202-547-6009 ----- Forwarded by Lyndsay Moseley/Sierraclub on 08/28/2008 10:20 AM ----- Kilowatt Ours <screening(a)kilowattours.org> 08/28/2008 09:10 AM To Kilowatt Ours <screening(a)kilowattours.org> cc Subject Kilowatt Ours PBS broadcasts Dear friend of Kilowatt Ours, As you may have seen from our recent letter, Kilowatt Ours will be available for broadcast on public television stations nationwide this fall! This is an exciting time for us as we have a wonderful chance to share this message with an even larger audience. Our goal is to inspire millions of Americans to conserve energy and choose renewable power, and we need your help. Would you or your organization please take a few minutes to consider helping in the following ways? o Reach out to your local public television station. Stations will make initial decisions about scheduling Kilowatt Ours locally in the next month. Please consider contacting the viewer services department at your local public television station to find out if they will be airing the film in your community. If the film is not currently scheduled, you can mention how a screening of the film has inspired you and others in your community to be more energy efficient and how it could inspire many more. o Support our outreach efforts with a donation. This is a crucial time in our effort to educate the nation on energy efficiency. The public television broadcast will bring increased requests for community screenings, educational materials and energy savings advice. Our new website, launching October 1, will be an exciting new resource for community interaction and energy savings information. Your donations will support us in making this project a success. Please consider making a donation on our website at http://www.KilowattOurs.org or mail a check in the enclosed envelope to Kilowatt Ours. To show our gratitude for your donation, we will list your organization on our website as a Kilowatt Ours contributor. Thank you for your continued support of Kilowatt Ours! It is because of your efforts that we are able to bring this message to a wider audience through this public television launch. We will continue to be in touch with you as this important energy saving campaign unfolds, and we welcome you to contact us at screening(a)KilowattOurs.org. Yours, Jeff Barrie Founder, Producer, and Director of Kilowatt Ours - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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BULLETION - PENNSYLVANIA SAYS "NO" TO TRAILCO
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

THIS JUST IN -- AND IT AINT A JOKE !!! The Pennsylvania judges say that "TrAILCo has failed to carry its burden of proof" and that "*the true impetus **for the 502-Lodoun segment is** to transport cheaper coal-fired generation from westerm PJM to eastern PJM *and to encourage the siting of new generation in western PJM where it may be more palatable." They go on to question the modeling that was done to support the alleged need. Text of decision to follow... -- William V. DePaulo, Esq. 179 Summers Street, Suite 232 Charleston, WV 25301-2163 Tel: 304-342-5588 Fax: 304-342-5505 william.depaulo(a)gmail.com www.passeggiata.com

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Morgan County Commission Opposes PATH
by James Kotcon 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

FYI. JBK >>> "Kenneth Redfern" <redfernkd(a)msn.com> 8/26/2008 8:51 PM >>> Thanks Jim for getting back to me so quickly. Thank you for the fact sheet, it is very informative. Recently, August 25th, the Morgan County Commission members have officially gone on record opposing local construction of the proposed PATH in their county. Hopefully the Berkeley County Commissioners will follow. I am working on getting my information together to be more informed and make my neighbors aware of these proposed lines. Thanks Again, Debbie Redfern ----- Original Message ----- From: James Kotcon<mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu> To: Kenneth Redfern<mailto:redfernkd@msn.com> ; Regina Hendrix<mailto:regina1936@verizon.net> Cc: ec(a)osenergy.org<mailto:ec@osenergy.org> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:19 AM Subject: Re: [EC] PATH Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline Debbie (Kenneth, et al.): I recommend three actions that you should take immediately, as well as a series of activities that will be needed to fight this PATH over the long term. First, if your property is in one of the proposed routes, contact an attorney and be sure you fully understand your legal rights and responsibilities. I realize that this is unfair and that you did not ask for this expense and aggravation, but the law is what it is, and you can not fight it if you do not know what it is. But don't stop there. Legal battles are unlikely to win a favorable result for you as the law is stacked in favor of the utility. A political solution is also needed. Therefore, I also recommend: Second, talk to your County Commissioners. Ask them to adopt a resolution opposing PATH, just as the affected counties did for the TrAIL line. If your commissioners are hesitant, ask them to at least talk to the Commissioners in Hardy, Hampshire, Preston, Monongalia, and Tucker Counties, all of whom adopted such resolutions. Third, talk to your state Delegates and Senators. Ask them to support legislation to reform the Public Service Commission, and to restore some balance to the rules governing the taking of private property in West Virginia. Senator John Hunter had a couple of good bills last session, but they did not pass, so ask your delegates to sign on to these. I am attaching a fact sheet we developed for this effort. We will be doing more work on it as the application proceeds, but you should not wait to get started. Contact me if I can be of other help. Jim Kotcon WV Sierra Club Energy Committee. 304-293-8822 (office) 304-594-3322 (home) >>> Regina Hendrix <regina1936(a)verizon.net<mailto:regina1936@verizon.net>> 8/18/2008 11:32 PM >>> Debbie, I'm cc-ing the Sierra Club's Energy Committee about your concerns and will have someone get it touch with you. Sierra Club has been actively opposing Trail and we are gearing up to fight PATH. Such a dirty deal for all West Virginians!! I live in Charleston and in my part of the state we are plagued with mountaintop removal and pollution from coal-fired generating plants. We are already exporting 70% of the electricity generated in WV. If these lines are allowed to be built, demand for coal will increase and more power plants will be needed to generate more electricity for the East Coast....... Regina Hendrix 304-343-5211 P.S. Will someone on the Energy Committee get in touch with Debbie. Kenneth Redfern wrote: > Hello, > > This is the first time I have ever written to an organization about > matters like this. > > I need your group's help or guidance in what steps I can take as a > concerned resident of Berkeley County WV. > > An open house for the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) > was held on August 6th in Martinsburg, WV. > > This was not a public forum but a meet and greet "the proposed high > power transmission line that may be in your backyard" meeting. > > I have been watching the PATH website for maps of the proposed routes > for these lines and they never had them on their website until recently. > > I have been worried about this high power transmission line from when > I first heard about this project about 1 to 2 years ago. > > The area I live in is in the bulls eye of a couple of proposed > routes. I do not live in an unpopulated area so these routes would > affect many residents in this area of Berkeley County. > > But actually most of these routes in Berkeley County are in populated > areas. > > We live in a beautiful area of Berkeley County that has beautiful > views of the mountains, that would be marred by this transmission > line. Also looking at these proposed routes these lines will > literally be in people's backyards. > > Even though the transmission line will not be in my backyard it will > still be in the area I live. > > I would like to compose a handout to make my neighbors more aware of > the possibility of this happening in our area. > > I received the Mountain State Sierran that had an article about PATH > but I cannot find it. > > Could you please offer some guidance in who to get in touch with about > my concerns and if you have any information that could help me in this > endeavor. > > I hope to hear from you soon, we don't have much time to voice our > concerns. > > I copied the paragraph below from the PATH website: > > These maps are designed to help property owners and other interested > parties learn more about the alternatives under consideration for the > line segments. The specific line route has not been selected. The > companies expect to determine the exact proposed route of the line by > late fall of 2008. > Thank you, > > Debbie Redfern > 304 Duchess Way > Martinsburg, WV 25403 > > > > _______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC(a)osenergy.org<mailto:EC@osenergy.org> http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec<http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec>

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Fwd: New liquid coal materials
by Paul Wilson 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Virginia Cramer <virginia.cramer(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:09 PM Subject: New liquid coal materials To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Hi everyone, As promised, here are some new liquid coal messaging materials. A big thanks to everyone who helped pull these together. Follow this link for updated talking points, sample letters to the editor, a sample op/ed and links to our other liquid coal resources. http://www.clubhouse.sierraclub.org/conservation/energy/coal/coal-messaging. aspx As always, let me (or Nithin) know if you have any questions or want to kick around ideas for using these materials. Thanks, ginny --------------------- Virginia Cramer Associate Press Secretary Sierra Club tel: 804-225-9113 x 102 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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Fwd: Sierra Club on federal approvals for coal plant financing
by Paul Wilson 27 Aug '08

27 Aug '08

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Verena Owen <baumling(a)aol.com> Date: Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 12:20 PM Subject: Fwd: Sierra Club on federal approvals for coal plant financing To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org -----Original Message----- From: Mark Kresowik <mkresowiksc(a)earthlink.net> To: CONS-EQST-AIR-MW-COAL-COMM(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Sent: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:07 am Subject: Sierra Club on federal approvals for coal plant financing Today the Sierra Club sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture expressing concern about the USDA's approvals for electric cooperatives to pursue private financing for coal plants without any environmental analysis. Billions of dollars of outstanding loans - taxpayers money - and our energy bills are in the balance. This could affect the financing arrangements for at least ten coal plants around the country. I've attached the letter that was sent to the USDA today and the press release, including Rep. Henry Waxman, is below. Our first lawsuit on this matter, on the Holcomb plant in Kansas, will go to trial next summer. Mark Poor Government Financial Decisions Could Raise Energy Bills Press Room: For Immediate Release Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet August 26, 2008 Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 ext.102 Consumers Could See Significant Rate Increases Federal Government Jeopardizes Billions in Loan Repayment by Authorizing Risky Energy Projects Washington, DC: The Sierra Club today voiced its concern that consumers could be faced with higher electric bills if the federal government continues to approve unsound investments in new coal-fired power plants across the nation. Already burdened with $36 billion in unpaid loans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is now allowing rural utilities to take on billions of dollars in additional debt to build new coal-fired power plants, at enormous financial risk to taxpayers. "In the past weeks families across the country have already seen their energy rates increase dramatically, in some cases almost double," said Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club's National Coal Campaign. "Approving these plants will push rates even higher as both the cost of energy and the additional debt are pushed off on ratepayers." The federal government, through the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service, is approving rural utilities' ownership in at least ten new coal-fired power plants across the country. In every instance, the government has failed to fully vet the plants' potential impacts before authorizing their construction, ignoring key concerns like the financial risk associated with the coal plants' contribution to global warming, adverse impacts on the environment and the availability of cleaner, cheaper alternatives. The government's failure to fully evaluate the environmental risks of and alternatives to these new coal-fired power plants violates the National Environmental Policy Act. "The Rural Utilities Service is rubber stamping new coal-fired power plants," continued Nilles. "And in the process is unfairly saddling the American public with huge amounts of debt. We need to be making smarter decisions with our money, especially in today's economic climate." Environmental impacts play an integral role in a utility's ability to repay its loans, a fact recognized by the nation's largest banks, which already consider the cost of carbon dioxide pollution before granting loans. Other parts of the federal government, including the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have also recognized the financial risks associated with failing to account for the cost of global warming pollution from new coal plants. The Committee has warned the Rural Utilities Service that future carbon regulations will make coal increasingly costly and that failing to consider those costs will place taxpayer dollars and ratepayers at risk. "It is irresponsible to approve investments in new coal-fired power plants without considering the environmental and financial risks. The Rural Utilities Service is placing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in serious jeopardy," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In the past rural utility cooperatives have gone bankrupt rather than pass on cost increases to customers. If that were to happen in this situation, the American taxpayers will be left with billions of dollars in debt which is unable to be repaid. "Coal is a fuel of the past. Instead of looking for ways to use more of it, like fueling our cars, we should be working to move beyond it to a cleaner energy future. There are real, affordable energy solutions, like efficiency and renewable energy that are ready today to meet our energy needs, without the financial, health and environmental risks associated with coal," said Nilles. Mark Kresowik Corporate Accountability Representative Sierra Club's National Coal Campaignmark.kresowik(a)sierraclub.org 319-621-7393 (cell) 608-257-4994, x112 (work) 608-257-3513 (fax) 122 W. Washington Ave. Suite 830 Madison, WI 53703 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-EQST-AIR-MW-COAL-COMM list, send any message to:CONS-EQST-AIR-MW-COAL-COMM-signoff-request@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp ------------------------------ Get the MapQuest Toolbar<http://mapquest.com/toolbar?ncid=mpqmap00050000000010>. Directions, Traffic, Gas Prices & More! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-6975

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