EC July 2009

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

10 participants
21 discussions

FW: NYT (Friedman -- While Detroit Slept)
by James Kotcon 05 Jan '10

05 Jan '10

From my father-in-law. JBK >>> "Bob Elliott" <rdelliott(a)socal.rr.com> 12/12/2008 7:29 AM >>> <http://www.nytimes.com/> <http://www.nytimes.com/> The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/> _____ December 10, 2008 Op-Ed Columnist While Detroit Slept By <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/tho maslfriedman/index.html?inline=nyt-per> THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN As I think about our bailing out Detroit, I can't help but reflect on what, in my view, is the most important rule of business in today's integrated and digitized global market, where knowledge and innovation tools are so widely distributed. It's this: Whatever can be done, will be done. The only question is will it be done by you or to you. Just don't think it won't be done. If you have an idea in Detroit or Tennessee, promise me that you'll pursue it, because someone in Denmark or Tel Aviv will do so a second later. Why do I bring this up? Because someone in the mobility business in Denmark and Tel Aviv is already developing a real-world alternative to Detroit's business model. I don't know if this alternative to gasoline-powered cars will work, but I do know that it can be done - and Detroit isn't doing it. And therefore it will be done, and eventually, I bet, it will be done profitably. And when it is, our bailout of Detroit will be remembered as the equivalent of pouring billions of dollars of taxpayer money into the mail-order-catalogue business on the eve of the birth of eBay. It will be remembered as pouring billions of dollars into the CD music business on the eve of the birth of the iPod and iTunes. It will be remembered as pouring billions of dollars into a book-store chain on the eve of the birth of Amazon.com and the Kindle. It will be remembered as pouring billions of dollars into improving typewriters on the eve of the birth of the PC and the Internet. What business model am I talking about? It is Shai Agassi's electric car network company, called Better Place. Just last week, the company, based in Palo Alto, Calif., announced a partnership with the state of Hawaii to road test its business plan there after already inking similar deals with Israel, Australia, the San Francisco Bay area and, yes, Denmark. The Better Place electric car charging system involves generating electrons from as much renewable energy - such as wind and solar - as possible and then feeding those clean electrons into a national electric car charging infrastructure. This consists of electricity charging spots with plug-in outlets - the first pilots were opened in Israel this week - plus battery-exchange stations all over the respective country. The whole system is then coordinated by a service control center that integrates and does the billing. Under the Better Place model, consumers can either buy or lease an electric car from the French automaker Renault or Japanese companies like Nissan (General Motors snubbed Agassi) and then buy miles on their electric car batteries from Better Place the way you now buy an Apple cellphone and the minutes from AT&T. That way Better Place, or any car company that partners with it, benefits from each mile you drive. G.M. sells cars. Better Place is selling mobility miles. The first Renault and Nissan electric cars are scheduled to hit Denmark and Israel in 2011, when the whole system should be up and running. On Tuesday, Japan's Ministry of Environment invited Better Place to join the first government-led electric car project along with Honda, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Better Place was the only foreign company invited to participate, working with Japan's leading auto companies, to build a battery swap station for electric cars in Yokohama, the Detroit of Japan. What I find exciting about Better Place is that it is building a car company off the new industrial platform of the 21st century, not the one from the 20th - the exact same way that Steve Jobs did to overturn the music business. What did Apple understand first? One, that today's technology platform would allow anyone with a computer to record music. Two, that the Internet and MP3 players would allow anyone to transfer music in digital form to anyone else. You wouldn't need CDs or record companies anymore. Apple simply took all those innovations and integrated them into a single music-generating, purchasing and listening system that completely disrupted the music business. What Agassi, the founder of Better Place, is saying is that there is a new way to generate mobility, not just music, using the same platform. It just takes the right kind of auto battery - the iPod in this story - and the right kind of national plug-in network - the iTunes store - to make the business model work for electric cars at six cents a mile. The average American is paying today around 12 cents a mile for gasoline transportation, which also adds to global warming and strengthens petro-dictators. Do not expect this innovation to come out of Detroit. Remember, in 1908, the Ford Model-T got better mileage - 25 miles per gallon - than many Ford, G.M. and Chrysler models made in 2008. But don't be surprised when it comes out of somewhere else. It can be done. It will be done. If we miss the chance to win the race for Car 2.0 because we keep mindlessly bailing out Car 1.0, there will be no one to blame more than Detroit's new shareholders: we the taxpayers. _____ Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try <http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000 010> it now.

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Re: [EC] National Trust grant project for PATH
by Frank Young 31 Jul '09

31 Jul '09

To follow up- I have reason to believe that WV Highlands Conservancy could put some of its own matching $$$ into this. And Patience and Keryn have some matching funds already- but I do not know how much. So it would likely be a multi-organizational effort. Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: Frank Young To: ec(a)osenergy.org Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 2:28 PM Subject: Fw: National Trust grant project for PATH Jim and all- On last week's call some of us expressed an interest in producing anti-PATH radio / TV spots for airing. A few months ago some of us doing Stop PATH work got a $ 2,000 National Trust grant to produce anti-PATH ad spots for radio / TV airing. This grant must be used to produce spots, not for air time. The grant requires $2,000 of matching funds. Could Sierra Club put some up $$$ to help meet the match requirement, and we work collaboratively on this? We have the $2,000 of National Trust grant monies in hand. But we can't spend it until we have matching $$$$. A natural question might be, "Then who would be managing this"? Currently Patience Wait and Keryn Newman (both eastern panhandle Stop PATH activists who Karen and perhaps others of you know) have been managing it, with me as the liaison with WV Highlands Conservancy- the fiscal agent for the NT grant. And if there are Sierra Club folks with some relevant talent to offer, we would welcome it. Frank Young ----- Original Message ----- From: Keryn Newman To: Patience Wait ; Frank Young Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:22 AM Subject: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH My thoughts -- if the Sierra Club is willing to kick in some $$ to match the grant funds, we could get started tomorrow creating the ads. I'd be willing to work with Sierra Club to get this underway. We've been treading very carefully to be sure we do everything within grant guidelines. Someone from the Sierra Club with grant experience could be very helpful in letting us know what/what not to do. Maybe we're being too careful? I dunno... Keryn ----- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:13 PM Subject: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH We're trying to finish raising the matching $2K we have to have on hand before we can start spending it. We have ideas for rebuttal ads - as we read the grant, we can use the funds to create the ads, but not to run them. So if we can get them made, then we can make them available to anyone who is willing to pay for space (or time, if TV or radio). I'll talk to Keryn and see if we can give you a target date when we think we can get to spend it! P. On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 7:43 PM, Frank Young <fyoung(a)mountain.net> wrote: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH Patience, what is happening on this? Sierra Club is interested in seeing some radio/TV response PSAs to the current barrage of PATH company advertising. I think Sierra may have few $$$ or so to put into it. Could this be a collaborative effort with Sierra Club folks? Or are you and Keryn well along on this on your own? Frank ---- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 12:58 PM Subject: Re: Grant follow-up Perfect, thank you. And we will be exceptionally cautious! P. On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 12:52 PM, Frank Young <fyoung(a)mountain.net> wrote: Being as it is all in my name and WVHC, you will not need to sign anything. But what I need you / Keryn to do is take great care to document all needs for disbursements before we write a check(s), and to document all expenses afterward. I cannot over-emphasize the need for adequate documentation. When you see the award letter, you will understand why this is important. I will bring copies of both the award letter and our letter of agreement with the grant requirements to the meeting Saturday- one copy each for you and Keryn. Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:42 AM Subject: Grant follow-up Frank - Do you need Keryn's signature as well as mine on the grant paperwork? I'll be at the WVEC meeting Saturday, but Keryn won't; if you're coming, can you bring the paperwork (or a copy) so I can sign it and we can begin identifying what the guidelines are for getting bids on some of the work? There's probably more I ought to say, but I've got to head into town for a 10 a.m. meeting. I'll be back this afternoon if you want to chat. P.

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Fw: National Trust grant project for PATH
by Frank Young 31 Jul '09

31 Jul '09

Jim and all- On last week's call some of us expressed an interest in producing anti-PATH radio / TV spots for airing. A few months ago some of us doing Stop PATH work got a $ 2,000 National Trust grant to produce anti-PATH ad spots for radio / TV airing. This grant must be used to produce spots, not for air time. The grant requires $2,000 of matching funds. Could Sierra Club put some up $$$ to help meet the match requirement, and we work collaboratively on this? We have the $2,000 of National Trust grant monies in hand. But we can't spend it until we have matching $$$$. A natural question might be, "Then who would be managing this"? Currently Patience Wait and Keryn Newman (both eastern panhandle Stop PATH activists who Karen and perhaps others of you know) have been managing it, with me as the liaison with WV Highlands Conservancy- the fiscal agent for the NT grant. And if there are Sierra Club folks with some relevant talent to offer, we would welcome it. Frank Young ----- Original Message ----- From: Keryn Newman To: Patience Wait ; Frank Young Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:22 AM Subject: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH My thoughts -- if the Sierra Club is willing to kick in some $$ to match the grant funds, we could get started tomorrow creating the ads. I'd be willing to work with Sierra Club to get this underway. We've been treading very carefully to be sure we do everything within grant guidelines. Someone from the Sierra Club with grant experience could be very helpful in letting us know what/what not to do. Maybe we're being too careful? I dunno... Keryn ----- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:13 PM Subject: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH We're trying to finish raising the matching $2K we have to have on hand before we can start spending it. We have ideas for rebuttal ads - as we read the grant, we can use the funds to create the ads, but not to run them. So if we can get them made, then we can make them available to anyone who is willing to pay for space (or time, if TV or radio). I'll talk to Keryn and see if we can give you a target date when we think we can get to spend it! P. On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 7:43 PM, Frank Young <fyoung(a)mountain.net> wrote: Re: National Trust grant project for PATH Patience, what is happening on this? Sierra Club is interested in seeing some radio/TV response PSAs to the current barrage of PATH company advertising. I think Sierra may have few $$$ or so to put into it. Could this be a collaborative effort with Sierra Club folks? Or are you and Keryn well along on this on your own? Frank ---- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 12:58 PM Subject: Re: Grant follow-up Perfect, thank you. And we will be exceptionally cautious! P. On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 12:52 PM, Frank Young <fyoung(a)mountain.net> wrote: Being as it is all in my name and WVHC, you will not need to sign anything. But what I need you / Keryn to do is take great care to document all needs for disbursements before we write a check(s), and to document all expenses afterward. I cannot over-emphasize the need for adequate documentation. When you see the award letter, you will understand why this is important. I will bring copies of both the award letter and our letter of agreement with the grant requirements to the meeting Saturday- one copy each for you and Keryn. Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: Patience Wait To: Frank Young Cc: Keryn Newman Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:42 AM Subject: Grant follow-up Frank - Do you need Keryn's signature as well as mine on the grant paperwork? I'll be at the WVEC meeting Saturday, but Keryn won't; if you're coming, can you bring the paperwork (or a copy) so I can sign it and we can begin identifying what the guidelines are for getting bids on some of the work? There's probably more I ought to say, but I've got to head into town for a 10 a.m. meeting. I'll be back this afternoon if you want to chat. P.

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Fwd: looking for the stop the PATH signs
by Paul Wilson 26 Jul '09

26 Jul '09

Greetings: we now have 500 signs in 5 boxes plus 10 boxes of wire stands (50 per box). We want to keep 100 here in the EP, but can move the rest to Morgantown or other locales. So who needs them and how do we get them out to you?? let me know. Keryn may make a trip to the Aug. 10th hearing in Charleston and that may be a good time. Otherwise I can load up some in my truck and meeting someone, somewhere! cheers,paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: StopPath <stoppath(a)frontiernet.net> Date: Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 9:48 PM Subject: Re: looking for the stop the PATH signs To: Kim Bjorgo-Thorne <bjorgo(a)wvwc.edu> Cc: Paul Wilson <pjgrunt(a)gmail.com> Hi Kim, The Sierra Club just had 500 Stop the PATH signs printed. They are selling them for $3.00 per sign. I currently have them in my garage in Shepherdstown (Jefferson County). How many signs are you looking for? We may be traveling to Charleston on Aug. 9/10 for the intervenors' status hearing and could possibly drop them off on the way, or if you're traveling this way, you're welcome to pick them up. I am copying the WV Sierra Club Rep. on this -- perhaps he knows of some of their folks heading your way. Best regards, Keryn Newman StopPATH/Jefferson Co. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kim Bjorgo-Thorne" <bjorgo(a)wvwc.edu> To: <stoppath(a)frontiernet.net> Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:51 PM Subject: looking for the stop the PATH signs Hi there- we live in WV and would like to get some of the Stop the PATH > signs. How would I go about getting those? Thanks for your help! > > Cheers, > Kim > -- > > > > Kim Bjorgo-Thorne, Ph.D. > > bjorgo(a)wvwc.edu <mailto:bjorgo@wvwc.edu> > > Assistant Professor of Environmental Science > > West Virginia Wesleyan College > > 59 College Avenue Box 61 > > Buckhannon, WV 26201 > > (304) 473-8126 > > Environmental Science Website < > http://www.wvwc.edu/aca2/dept/biol/envirosci/> > > > > NTMail K12 - the Mail Server for Education > > -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha

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so sorry!
by Jim Sconyers 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Mea culpa! I can only apologize for screwing up the conference call tonight. I got sidetracked by some things I was working on, and it simply slipped my "mind." I am terribly sorry. I hope we can reschedule soon. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

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FW: US Wind Force
by Grubb, Karen 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Here is what Frank Young sent. He is now helping Energy Committee with wind energy issues, so please include him on emails. From: Frank Young [mailto:fyoung@mountain.net] Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:44 PM To: Grubb, Karen; kevin fooce Subject: Re: US Wind Force Karen & Kevin, U.S. Wind Force operates under several wholly owned subsidiary corporate names, including Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC . U.S. Wind Force was also the applicant for the Liberty Gap Wind Force wind farm in Pendleton County last year- which Sierra Club opposed- and which was eventually denied by the State Public Service Commission. I will have more time next week to look further into this and another proposed wind farm in the same general area. But a quick search found the following two "initial filing" documents- one by the applicant, the other by an opposing intervener. I will try to research and explain the specific environmental issues at debate in this case when I get back next week. Frank Young ---------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivi tyID=261962&NotType='WebDocket' JACKSON Kelley J ATTORNEYS AT LAW PLLC I600 LAIDLEY TOWER * PO. BOX 553 * CHARLESTON,WESTVlRGlNlA 25322 TELEPHONE: 304-340- IO00 e TELECOPIER: 304-340- I I30 m.jacksonkelly. corn E-Mail: snchambcrs(~iacksonkellv.corn State Bar No. 694 DIRECT TELEPHONE: (304) 340- 12 14 DIRECT TELECOPIER: (304) 340-1 080 March 17,2009 Sandra Squire, Executive Secretary Public Service Commission of West Virginia 201 Brooks Street Charleston, West Virginia 25301 Re: CASENO. 09 -E-CS Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC Application for a Siting Certificate to Authorize the Construction and Operation of an Electric Wholesale Generating Facility and Related Transmission Support Line of Less than 200 kV and Associated Interconnection Facilities in Mineral County, West Virginia. Dear Ms. Squire: Please find enclosed an original and twelve copies of a Siting Certificate Application for the Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage in Mineral County, West Virginia ("Application") filed by Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC ("Pinnacle"). In its Application, Pinnacle requests that the Commission grant a Siting Certificate authorizing it to construct, own, and operate an electric generating facility and associated facilities known as the Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage ("Project"), to be constructed on Green Mountain, southwest of the City of Keyser, Mineral County, West Virgnia. The Project will consist of up to 23 wind turbines, each with an anticipated nameplate capacity of 2,400 kilowatts (KW), capable of producing a combined total of approximately 55.2 megawatts (MW) of electric power. It should be noted that in my letter of January 30, 2009, advising the Cornmission of the forthcoming filing of this application, it is stated that the Project will consist of 23 wind turbines with a nameplate capacity of 2 MW. The stated total capacity in my prior letter was based on the potential use of 2,500 KW turbines. At this time, only 2,400 KW turbines are available, and that is the capacity of the turbines generally referenced in the Application. Nevertheless, Pinnacle seeks the flexibility to use 2,500 KW turbines should they become available by the time the Project is ready to commence construction. Consequently, the enclosed filing fee, in the amount of $29,000, is based on a total capacity for the Project of 58 MW. The Project also includes the construction of 0.75 miles of 138 kV transmission line to connect the Project to the existing Albright-Black Oak 13 8 kV transmission line. The construction and operation of the Project will provide substantial economic benefits to Mineral County and the State of West Virginia. Pinnacle has previously briefed members of the Commission Staff on the Project and the expected filing of the Application. In addition to its request for a Siting Certificate, Pinnacle also respectfully requests that the Commission waive hearing on the Application if no substantial protest is received and grant such additional authorizations, waivers, approvals, and other relief as may be, necessary to permit Pinnacle to begin construction-related activities of the Project in the first calendar quarter of 201 0. Pinnacle asserts that because it is not a public utility within the meaning of West Virginia Code 5 24-2-1 1 , considerations relevant to the issuance of a certificate of convenience and necessity, such as the need for the Project and the infomation required by Tariff Rule 42, should not be addressed by the Commission. Therefore, Pinnacle requests a waiver of the Public Service Commission's filing requirements to provide certain information, including the utility service rendered, proposed rates, project construction costs, project financing and estimates of operating revenues and expenses, and the information required by Tariff Rule 42 (e.g., statements of net income, operating revenues, depreciation, West Virginia jurisdictional rate base, plant in service and capital structure). In addition, because Pinnacle will not be regulated by the Commission as a public utility following completion of the Project, it requests a waiver of all the Commission's filing and reporting requirements, metering requirements, customer relations, inspections and tests, standards and quality of service, promotional practices, consumer reimbursement program, uniform accounting requirements, and the requirement to allow Commission inspection of books, papers, reports and statements that are specific to regulated public utilities whose practices impact captive ratepayers. In an effort to make the Application and its supporting materials more readily available to the public, Pinnacle will also be forwarding a copy of the Application, including the appendices thereto, to the Keyser Public Library, the Elk Garden Community School, and the Piedmont Public Library. The Application will also be available at the following website: www.uswindforce.corn. Please note the appearance of Chstopher L. Callas and Stephen N. Chambers as counsel to Pinnacle. ------------------------------------- Also: http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/WebDocket/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivi tyID=265119&NotType='WebDocket' PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON CASE NO. 09-0360-E-CS PETITION TO INTERVENE OF ALLEGHENY FRONT ALLIANCE The Allegheny Front Alliance ("the Alliance"), pursuant to Rule 12.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, respectfully petitions the Commission to intervene as a party in the above-styled case. The Alliance is an organization primarily comprised of residents of the counties of the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. The Alliance seeks to intervene in order to ensure that the Commission and the public receive complete and accurate information regarding the burdens imposed by wind energy development. The Alliance believes that its membership and the State as a whole would be substantially adversely affected by the construction and operation of the project proposed by Pinnacle Wind Force, LLC ("Pinnacle"). Accordingly, the Alliance seeks relief in the form of denial of the application of Pinnacle. ----- Original Message ----- From: Grubb, Karen <mailto:Karen.Grubb@fairmontstate.edu> To: kevin fooce <mailto:fmoose39@hotmail.com> Cc: Frank Young <mailto:fyoung@mountain.net> Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 9:48 PM Subject: RE: US Wind Force Frank Young is helping Energy Committee with Wind issues. He may be away from email for a few days, but I suggest asking him. From: kevin fooce [mailto:fmoose39@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 9:36 PM To: Jim Kotcon; Jim Sconer; Jonathon Rosenbaum; Grubb, Karen; Beth Little; Bill DePaulo; Bill Price; Mary Davis; Mike Price; Paul Wilson Subject: I need some info. on US Wind Force "Pinnacle Wind Farm". Anyone know anything about this project! I have looked over the PSC, fish and wildlife, etc. listings but find nothing about the environment besides the view. Kevin Fooce fooce(a)hotmail.com 304-593-2875 EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me <http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/?source=EML_WLHM_GreaterGood>

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Fwd: [WVUSSC] Coal Electricity down 14%, Oil down 27%, wind up 35%
by James Kotcon 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Check out the US-DOEs Energy Information Agency data for electricity generation, April 2008 versus April 2009. Solar - up 2.3 % Hydro - up 18 % Wind - up 34.8 % coal - down 13.9 % Gotta love growth industries JBK >>> Nathan Askins <nate.askins(a)gmail.com> 7/21/2009 11:04 PM >>> http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/tablees1a.html -- Nathan Askins Bachelor of Arts Candidate Multi-Disciplinary Studies: Environmental Protection & Economics and Sustainable Design West Virginia University (724) 561-6349 Morgantown, WV 26501 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SSCWVU" group. To post to this group, send email to SSCWVU(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to SSCWVU+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SSCWVU?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Reminder: Energy Committee Conference call 6:30 PM tonight
by James Kotcon 22 Jul '09

22 Jul '09

Conference Call tonight (Wednesday, June 22) at 6:30 PM. Dial 866-501-6174. Conference Code 1005700# Agenda: 1) New Energy Committee members. (Jim Kotcon, Jim Sconyers?) 2) Wind Farms. Several new proposals are before the PSC. I have asked Frank Young to monitor these, but it needs 1-2 more people. 3) Coal-To-Liquids (TransGas Development, LLC in Mingo County). The Club's Environmental Law Program in San Francisco is monitoring this one closely, and will likely want us to intervene. Bill Price has contacts with citizens in Mingo County, but we need 1-2 more volunteers. 4) Carbon Capture and Sequestration (Mason County) Also a CCS Working Group at WV-DEP is preparing rules for CCS facilities, so we should be monitoring both. 5) Fly Ash impoundments. Jim Sconyers and I drafted comments on the Kammer facility, and new federal and state rules are needed. 6) PATH. This is our big one. Bill DePaulo, Jim Kotcon, and at least 2-3 others are needed. I suggest we do one subcommittee on "local organizing", one on "fund raising", and one on "technical experts/legal strategy". Barbara Fallon is doing fundraising on this, and 1-2 more people are needed to make stuff happen on that. 7) Cap and Trade. This federal legislation is the main driver for everything we do, and so far, that anti-cap and trade folks have had all the demonstrations and media attention. We need 2-3 people who will follow up on the bill, lobby Rockefeller and Byrd, and organize local media events in support of whatever we are in support of. The Sierra Club's position is that we support Cap and Trade, but the House bill needs major strengthening. (Note: WVEC has taken the position that the House bill is hopelessly weak and complex, and they support a carbon tax as a quicker, simpler alternative. I don't see it happening, unless the Waxman bill dies.) I got a call from Associated Press Friday, asking for a response from someone in favor of it, because no one except the opponents is saying anything. We are almost invisible in West Virginia. 8) Longview Mitigation Fund. Bill Depaulo, Jim Sconyers and Jim Kotcon. This will take some effort this summer and fall, but it looks like it is a "Go". 9) Landfill gas. Methane recovery facility at the Greenbrier Landfill. Kevin Fooce? 10) Mountaintop removal. Jim Sconyers I have promised that this call will not go beyond 8 PM, so it will be important that we move expeditiously. My primary goal is to assign tasks and get subcommittees started on these issues. So this is not the time for long-winded brainstorming on issues, and if I get too long-winded, someone cut me off. The average time per issue must not exceed 7.5 minutes. JBK

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Energy Committee Conference Call
by James Kotcon 20 Jul '09

20 Jul '09

I have come to recognize that it is time to get several issues organized for the Chapter Energy Committee. How is everyone's schedule for a conference call this week? I propose 6:30 PM, Wednesday evening, but am pretty flexible all week except Tuesday and Thursday night. I propose that we identify major issues, and assign subcommittees of 2-3 people to take the lead on each. That way, no one is working alone, but no one has to do the homework to become the expert on every issue, and 2-3 people is small enough that things can actually get done with a phone call or two. So look over the list of issues and volunteer for the one or two you will be able to commit to. Here are some items to consider: 1) New Energy Committee members. (Jim Kotcon, Jim Sconyers?) 2) Wind Farms. Several new proposals are before the PSC. I have asked Frank Young to monitor these, but it needs 1-2 more people. 3) Coal-To-Liquids (TransGas Development, LLC in Mingo County). The Club's Environmental Law Program in San Francisco is monitoring this one closely, and will likely want us to intervene. Bill Price has contacts with citizens in Mingo County, but we need 1-2 more volunteers. 4) Carbon Capture and Sequestration (Mason County) Also a CCS Working Group at WV-DEP is preparing rules for CCS facilities, so we should be monitoring both. 5) Fly Ash impoundments. Jim Sconyers and I drafted comments on the Kammer facility, and new federal and state rules are needed. 6) PATH. This is our big one. Bill DePaulo, Jim Kotcon, and at least 2-3 others are needed. I suggest we do one subcommittee on "local organizing", one on "fund raising", and one on "technical experts/legal strategy". Barbara Fallon is doing fundraising on this, and 1-2 more people are needed to make stuff happen on that. 7) Cap and Trade. This federal legislation is the main driver for everything we do, and so far, that anti-cap and trade folks have had all the demonstrations and media attention. We need 2-3 people who will follow up on the bill, lobby Rockefeller and Byrd, and organize local media events in support of whatever we are in support of. The Sierra Club's position is that we support Cap and Trade, but the House bill needs major strengthening. (Note: WVEC has taken the position that the House bill is hopelessly weak and complex, and they support a carbon tax as a quicker, simpler alternative. I don't see it happening, unless the Waxman bill dies.) I got a call from Associated Press Friday, asking for a response from someone in favor of it, because no one except the opponents is saying anything. We are almost invisible in West Virginia. 8) Longview Mitigation Fund. Bill Depaulo, Jim Sconyers and Jim Kotcon. This will take some effort this summer and fall, but it looks like it is a "Go". Dos anyone else have other issues that the Energy Committee should be dealing with over the next year? Jim Kotcon 304-293-8822 (office) 304-594-3322 (home) P.S. Jonathon, could you add Frank Young to the EC List-serve? Then send me a current list of who is on this List-serve Thanks. JBK

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Fwd: [GW-ACT-LEADERS] CEC Decision Means U.S.-Wide Rooftop PV Capacity Has Great Relevance to RPS Go
by James Kotcon 20 Jul '09

20 Jul '09

This is a huge decision, with relevance to PATH/TrAILCo and related West Virginia issues. If on-site urban photovoltaics can come in at 9-11 cents per kilowatt (compared to the current cost of 5-6 cents for new coal plants), and if local utilities can avoid the cost of multi-billion dollar transmission lines, new fossil fuel plants are not needed, at least not for peaking power. As carbon emissions costs get factored in (adding 20-50 % to the cost of coal-fired electricity), the challenge for generators will be to decide how to ramp down and phase out existing fossil fuel plants. JBK >>> Edward Mainland <emainland(a)COMCAST.NET> 7/19/2009 8:00 PM >>> Landmark decision: In June California's Energy Commission ruled that PV solar arrays on rooftops and parking lots may now be considered a viable alternative to gas turbine projects. The decision's relevance to RPS goals is clear, according to Bill Powers (see below) who says it has far-reaching implications for renewable energy development in California and the nation. California's investor-owned utilities now will have more difficulty ignoring or neglecting this resource, which Bill estimates nationally as more than one million MW (more than twice the average U.S. electrical load). Utilities no longer can so easily promote more gas peaker plants, large remote solar thermal projects and new transmission lines in wild lands at the expense of distributed power closer to consumers. For CEC, the urban PV alternative is now the potential "first in line" generation resource. Proponents of any new gas-fired generator or large, remote renewable facility arguably must now pass a much more rigorous urban PV litmus test to gain CEC project approval. See below an exchange between Bill Powers and Carl Zichella. See also Bill's attached article in "Natural Gas & Electricity Journal". -- Ed M. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-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

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EC July 2009