EC July 2011

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

16 participants
34 discussions

Fwd: 8 coal-burners closed Fwd: Ontario Waves Bye-Bye To Coal Fired Power Generation
by James Kotcon 28 Jul '11

28 Jul '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jane Feldman <feldman.jane(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 11:19 AM Subject: 8 coal-burners closed Fwd: Ontario Waves Bye-Bye To Coal Fired Power Generation To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Hi,all - THIS is what today's technology and today's grid can do. It looks like a feed-in-tariff led the way. Jane --- Ontario Waves Bye-Bye To Coal Fired Power Generation by Energy Matters [image: Coal fired power generation phaseout - Ontario Canada] Ontario, Canada's most populated province, has seen a boom in renewable energy jobs, with 20,000 employed in the sector. It's not such a rosy picture for the coal industry though, with coal fired power generation in Ontario slated to go the way of the dodo by 2014. Ontario's Ministry of Energy says the province's Green Energy Act is on track to create 50,000 clean energy jobs by 2012 and coal usage for the first six months of 2011 was 94 per cent lower than for the same period in 2003. According to Ontario's recently released 2011 Progress Report<http://www.ontario.ca/en/initiatives/progressreport2011/index.htm>, eight coal fired power generation units have been closed already and two more will close later in 2011. Thanks to initiatives such as feed-in tariffs, renewable energy is rapidly replacing fossil fuels. To date, over 2,000 medium and large-scale feed in tariff projects have been announced, representing enough electricity each year to provide the power requirements for around 900,000 homes. Ontario's government says it will be one of the first places in the world and the first in North America to cease coal-fired power generation totally. It has set a goal of eliminating coal entirely by 2014. It believes shutting down coal will save Ontario's health care system CAD$3 billion annually and in relation to emissions, will be the equivalent of taking up to 7 million cars off the roads. The Ministry predicts that by 2018, 10.7 gigawatts of clean renewable electricity from wind<http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/wind-energy/> , solar <http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/solar-power/> and bio-energy will be operational; producing enough electricity for 2 million households. Residents of Ontario are also becoming more energy efficient, saving 1,700 megawatts of electricity through conservation - which is the equivalent of taking half a million homes off the grid. Ontario's clean energy economy has generated more than $20 billion in new private-sector investment. The province's energy plan will rebuild 70 per cent of its electricity infrastructure over the next 2 decades. While Ontario's commitment to renewables and the end of coal is admirable; its continuing love affair with nuclear power has been criticised. Nuclear power has been part of Ontario's energy mix since the 1960's and currently provides more than half of the power used by Ontarians every day. ### - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the TOIYABE-ENERGY-TF list, send any message to: TOIYABE-ENERGY-TF-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ -- Jane Conservation Chair, Southern Nevada Group of the Sierra Club Energy Chair, Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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

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Public hearing report from Clarksburg
by James Kotcon 28 Jul '11

28 Jul '11

It was standing room only, with over 800 in attendance. 115 people spoke with comments limited to 90 seconds, so it was 11:30 PM before we finished. Several other area Delegates attended, but again, no one from the State Senate. Del. Tim Manchin chaired and indicated the Senate was tied up in re-districting meetings, but was there "in spirit" Industry did pull out the stops, as a lot of people had the "Natural Gas" stickers on their shirts. They got in early, and 22 of the first 24 speakers were from industry. But they also mostly left early, which prompted some complaints from those landowners speaking near the end, but a number from the pro-regulation side also left early, so I am not sure that was a valid complaint. The pro-regulation side ended up with 64 speakers, the industry reps had 49, and 2 were so unclear, convoluted and confused that I could not tell which side they were on. My final count for the three hearings is 74 pro-industry, 136 pro-regulation, 10 unclear. The tally should probably be even higher because most of the pro-industry reps said they supported a clean environment and "reasonable" regulations, but always emphasized jobs, which I interpret as code for "No More Regs" because they always insisted they were already doing a great job. JBK

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Gazettee discovers Tomblin weakened Executive Order
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 28 Jul '11

28 Jul '11

http://wv4mom.org/content/charleston-gazette-discovers-tomblin-weakened-exe… -Jonathan

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Fwd: FW: [fom] Manchin's millions from coal
by Jim Sconyers 26 Jul '11

26 Jul '11

Read it and weep. In the U. S. Senate, this is not a conflict of interest! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Vivian Stockman <vivian(a)ohvec.org> Date: Tue, Jul 26, 2011 at 1:12 PM Subject: FW: [fom] Manchin's millions from coal To: Jim Sconyers <jimscon(a)gmail.com> Great quote!**** ** ** *From:* fom-owner(a)lists.riseup.net [mailto:fom-owner@lists.riseup.net] *On Behalf Of *Vernon Haltom *Sent:* Tuesday, July 26, 2011 1:01 PM *To:* FOM, List *Subject:* [fom] Manchin's millions from coal**** ** ** Just in case anybody had any doubts about why Manchin doesn't mind MTR killing us: http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/26/26greenwire-sen-manchin-maintains-l… -- Vernon Haltom Executive Director, Coal River Mountain Watch 304-854-2182 www.crmw.net**** ** ** -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Re: [EC] In Beckley paper: Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
by Jim Sconyers 26 Jul '11

26 Jul '11

Translation: "Coal now, coal forever! And to hell with the consequences!" On Sat, Jul 23, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Vivian Stockman <vivian(a)ohvec.org> wrote: > July 22, 2011 **** > Money to Sierra Club prompts boos<http://www.register-herald.com/local/x202401951/Money-to-Sierra-Club-prompt…> > **** > > By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter<http://www.register-herald.com> > **** > > > http://www.register-herald.com/local/x202401951/Money-to-Sierra-Club-prompt… > **** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > An industry leader joined a union chief and political luminaries in West > Virginia in a sustained chorus of boos directed Thursday at billionaire New > York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s hefty gift to an environmental group bent on > wiping out the coal industry. > > Bloomberg disclosed he handed a $50 million donation to the Sierra Club > from his own pocket for use in the group’s quest to shut down coal mining > the two consider an environmental hazard. > > His action triggered a swift and predictable response in coal-rich West > Virginia. > > “The next time the lights go out, the people in New York City will all know > exactly whom to blame — their mayor, Michael Bloomberg,” Rep. Nick Rahall, > D-W.Va., said from his Capitol office. > > Bloomberg said his gift would enable the Sierra Club to close as many as > one-third of America’s oldest coal-fired power plants by 2020. > > Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin weighed in on the latest controversy involving > the industry, calling coal “the most stable, cost-effective means of meeting > the energy demands of our country and the world.” > > “With the use of our natural resources here in West Virginia, our country > becomes more energy-independent,” Tomblin said. > > Tomblin helped break ground on the new Willow Island hydro-electric project > near Saint Marys. > > “The fact, however, that we are looking for other sources of energy — and > developing clean coal technologies — does not mean that our country can > afford to no longer use coal,” the governor said. “Coal must be a part of > any realistic solution to meet our growing demand for energy.” > > Given the size of the charitable gift that could be spent on hiring lawyers > to challenge coal production and power plants alike, Bill Raney, president > of the West Virginia Coal Association, said the industry must view > Bloomberg’s threat seriously. > > “It sends a terrible message to coal miners and families that depend on > coal, not only in West Virginia but across this country,” Raney said. “It > has provided energy to make steel and power throughout the history of this > country. Now, all of a sudden, he’s made a lot of money doing something, and > he wants to put it into something that sounds pretty shallow, pretty > selfish.” > > Raney noted the mercury hovered at 100 degrees in both New York and > Washington, D.C., and was 97 in Charleston, and questioned how Bloomberg > would act if the electricity suddenly stop-ped with a lack of coal. > > “Let’s assume he takes all the coal generation off the grid,” he said. “If > he accomplishes quickly what he wants to do, I’m wondering what he’s going > to do?” > > The industry has been in a roiling feud with the Obama administration over > its Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to mining permits, and Raney > said coal operators must brace themselves for a well-heeled assault by the > Sierra Club in a bid to stop coal plants and force others to retreat from > remodeling plans. > > “They’ll just be flinging grenades, is what I think,” he said. “It’s simply > not fair to the people who have made a living trying to provide energy in > this country. It’s just like he thumbed his nose at it. It doesn’t make a > lick of sense.” > > Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., found it disappointing that Bloomberg launched > an attack on coal, rather than work to achieve a balance between production > and environmental concerns. > > “Coal not only built this country, but it built the skyscrapers of New York > City, and, without coal, the lights of that city would be dark and its > economy would be devastated,” the senator said. > > “I have said from day one, and will say until my last breath, that there > has to be a balance in our country between the environment as well as our > economic and national security, which are threatened by this country’s > addiction to foreign oil.” > > Sen. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, pointed to a time when the lights indeed > went out in the Big Apple, in a major blackout that crippled much of the > eastern seaboard. > > And with one of the worst heat waves to ever paralyze much of that region > now in sway, Browning said coal takes on an even more critical role in > supplying the energy to keep the air conditioners humming. > > “Can you imagine what it would be like today without electricity right now, > as far as air conditioners go?” > > If coal weren’t being burn-ed to supply energy needs, he said, those swept > up in the heat would be at nature’s mercy without benefit of relief. > > “That’s not the kind of leadership that I would want to set for the people > I represent, to advocate something that’s going to be detrimental to their > way of life,” Browning said. > > Browning said he considers himself both an environmentalist and a realist. > > “In today’s life, we need to make electricity, and the only feasible way to > do that at this point is with coal,” the senator said. “There will come a > day we can do better with coal. We’re all trying to achieve that today.” > > Browning pointed to research in progress in both Pittsburgh and West > Virginia University aimed at cleaning up the use of coal. > > “We all want to have cleaner coal, and we’re getting there,” he said. “In > the meantime, we can’t stop using it until we get an alternative.” > > The Sierra Club says it has applied the brakes to more than 150 new > coal-fired power plants in recent years through the use of the courts and > local action. > > “If we are going to get serious about reducing our carbon footprint in the > United States, we have to get serious about coal,” Bloomberg said in making > his announcement. > > “Coal is a self-inflicted public health risk, polluting the air we breathe, > adding mercury to our water and the leading cause of climate disruption.” > > Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Maloney vowed to take on Bloomberg, > the Sierra Club, President Obama “and anybody else who attacks one of the > pillars of our state’s economy.” > > “I’m convinced that when you get elected to office, there must be some > magic potion they feed you that causes you to become completely detached > from reality and lose touch with regular people,” he said of Bloomberg. > > “This is just another example of career politicians with half-baked ideas > that would devastate our economy.” > > United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts likewise decried Bloomberg’s > gift, saying that it would throw miners out of work and plunge them deeper > into the throes of a recession. > > In some parts of Appala-chia, the union executive said, mining jobs provide > the only decent incomes that allow workers to sustain a solid, middle-class > lifestyle. > > Moreover, he suggested, there is a measure of hypo-crisy to the > environmental cause trumpeted by groups such as the Sierra Club. > > “I suspect that many of their members and supporters spend thousands of > dollars every year on automobiles, computers, smart phones and other goods > made in China, India and other countries, which are rapidly building > economies more robust than ours by using more and more coal as their chief > source of energy,” he said. > > “I would also point out that China is swiftly becoming the world’s leader > in developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which will meet > the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions > when commercially applied to coal-fired power plants.” > > Delegate Randy Swartz-miller, D-Hancock, suggested Bloomberg not try to run > for office in West Virginia because his vote total would be scant. > > “That is, if he didn’t get run out of the state first,” Swartzmiller said. > > “Just have to wonder if someone that rich is smart enough to know what > truly powers that little switch that makes the lights come on.” > > — E-mail: mannix(a)register-herald.com**** > > [image: http://w.sharethis.com/chicklets/email.gif]**** > > ** ** > -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Re: [EC] In Beckley paper: Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
by James Kotcon 25 Jul '11

25 Jul '11

I think we need to attack the short-sighted leaders who think of coal first, and deny the reality of global warming, especially during this year of unprecedented weather. Manchin ran his campaign by literally shooting at the Cap-And-Trade bill, which would have included the subsidies for Clean Coal and the economic incentives needed for CCS. West Virginia's political leaders do not have any plans for developing a transition to a post-coal future, and are therefore blind to the possibilities and are locking us into ever-increasing dependence on an industry doomed to run out, and sooner than they imagine. Projections show a 40 % decline ion coal produciton in WV within 5 years, yet they continue to talk as if coal is the future of West Virginia's economic development. I believe we need to respond soon. It will expose us to a lot of attacks, but it will also position us as credible leaders on the issues. I think we need a press release, or even a press conference by Monday. Whaddya Tink? JBK >>> Jim Sconyers 07/23/11 8:43 AM >>> Translation: "Coal now, coal forever! And to hell with the consequences!" On Sat, Jul 23, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Vivian Stockman <vivian(a)ohvec.org> wrote: July 22, 2011 Money to Sierra Club prompts boos By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter http://www.register-herald.com/local/x202401951/Money-to-Sierra-Club-prompt… An industry leader joined a union chief and political luminaries in West Virginia in a sustained chorus of boos directed Thursday at billionaire New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s hefty gift to an environmental group bent on wiping out the coal industry. Bloomberg disclosed he handed a $50 million donation to the Sierra Club from his own pocket for use in the group’s quest to shut down coal mining the two consider an environmental hazard. His action triggered a swift and predictable response in coal-rich West Virginia. “The next time the lights go out, the people in New York City will all know exactly whom to blame * their mayor, Michael Bloomberg,” Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said from his Capitol office. Bloomberg said his gift would enable the Sierra Club to close as many as one-third of America’s oldest coal-fired power plants by 2020. Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin weighed in on the latest controversy involving the industry, calling coal “the most stable, cost-effective means of meeting the energy demands of our country and the world.” “With the use of our natural resources here in West Virginia, our country becomes more energy-independent,” Tomblin said. Tomblin helped break ground on the new Willow Island hydro-electric project near Saint Marys. “The fact, however, that we are looking for other sources of energy * and developing clean coal technologies * does not mean that our country can afford to no longer use coal,” the governor said. “Coal must be a part of any realistic solution to meet our growing demand for energy.” Given the size of the charitable gift that could be spent on hiring lawyers to challenge coal production and power plants alike, Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said the industry must view Bloomberg’s threat seriously. “It sends a terrible message to coal miners and families that depend on coal, not only in West Virginia but across this country,” Raney said. “It has provided energy to make steel and power throughout the history of this country. Now, all of a sudden, he’s made a lot of money doing something, and he wants to put it into something that sounds pretty shallow, pretty selfish.” Raney noted the mercury hovered at 100 degrees in both New York and Washington, D.C., and was 97 in Charleston, and questioned how Bloomberg would act if the electricity suddenly stop-ped with a lack of coal. “Let’s assume he takes all the coal generation off the grid,” he said. “If he accomplishes quickly what he wants to do, I’m wondering what he’s going to do?” The industry has been in a roiling feud with the Obama administration over its Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to mining permits, and Raney said coal operators must brace themselves for a well-heeled assault by the Sierra Club in a bid to stop coal plants and force others to retreat from remodeling plans. “They’ll just be flinging grenades, is what I think,” he said. “It’s simply not fair to the people who have made a living trying to provide energy in this country. It’s just like he thumbed his nose at it. It doesn’t make a lick of sense.” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., found it disappointing that Bloomberg launched an attack on coal, rather than work to achieve a balance between production and environmental concerns. “Coal not only built this country, but it built the skyscrapers of New York City, and, without coal, the lights of that city would be dark and its economy would be devastated,” the senator said. “I have said from day one, and will say until my last breath, that there has to be a balance in our country between the environment as well as our economic and national security, which are threatened by this country’s addiction to foreign oil.” Sen. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, pointed to a time when the lights indeed went out in the Big Apple, in a major blackout that crippled much of the eastern seaboard. And with one of the worst heat waves to ever paralyze much of that region now in sway, Browning said coal takes on an even more critical role in supplying the energy to keep the air conditioners humming. “Can you imagine what it would be like today without electricity right now, as far as air conditioners go?” If coal weren’t being burn-ed to supply energy needs, he said, those swept up in the heat would be at nature’s mercy without benefit of relief. “That’s not the kind of leadership that I would want to set for the people I represent, to advocate something that’s going to be detrimental to their way of life,” Browning said. Browning said he considers himself both an environmentalist and a realist. “In today’s life, we need to make electricity, and the only feasible way to do that at this point is with coal,” the senator said. “There will come a day we can do better with coal. We’re all trying to achieve that today.” Browning pointed to research in progress in both Pittsburgh and West Virginia University aimed at cleaning up the use of coal. “We all want to have cleaner coal, and we’re getting there,” he said. “In the meantime, we can’t stop using it until we get an alternative.” The Sierra Club says it has applied the brakes to more than 150 new coal-fired power plants in recent years through the use of the courts and local action. “If we are going to get serious about reducing our carbon footprint in the United States, we have to get serious about coal,” Bloomberg said in making his announcement. “Coal is a self-inflicted public health risk, polluting the air we breathe, adding mercury to our water and the leading cause of climate disruption.” Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Maloney vowed to take on Bloomberg, the Sierra Club, President Obama “and anybody else who attacks one of the pillars of our state’s economy.” “I’m convinced that when you get elected to office, there must be some magic potion they feed you that causes you to become completely detached from reality and lose touch with regular people,” he said of Bloomberg. “This is just another example of career politicians with half-baked ideas that would devastate our economy.” United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts likewise decried Bloomberg’s gift, saying that it would throw miners out of work and plunge them deeper into the throes of a recession. In some parts of Appala-chia, the union executive said, mining jobs provide the only decent incomes that allow workers to sustain a solid, middle-class lifestyle. Moreover, he suggested, there is a measure of hypo-crisy to the environmental cause trumpeted by groups such as the Sierra Club. “I suspect that many of their members and supporters spend thousands of dollars every year on automobiles, computers, smart phones and other goods made in China, India and other countries, which are rapidly building economies more robust than ours by using more and more coal as their chief source of energy,” he said. “I would also point out that China is swiftly becoming the world’s leader in developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which will meet the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating greenhouse gas emissions when commercially applied to coal-fired power plants.” Delegate Randy Swartz-miller, D-Hancock, suggested Bloomberg not try to run for office in West Virginia because his vote total would be scant. “That is, if he didn’t get run out of the state first,” Swartzmiller said. “Just have to wonder if someone that rich is smart enough to know what truly powers that little switch that makes the lights come on.” * E-mail: mannix(a)register-herald.com -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Re: [EC] Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Gas Drilling
by James Kotcon 23 Jul '11

23 Jul '11

I suggested this to a Committee staffer last Thursday night, and he implied that just was not realistic. We will need more than one person saying it Monday nioght to have an impact. I think I will make the point that the landscape has changed since March. At the end of the regular session, the issue being debated was whether or not to regulate. Now, the issue is whether the regulate, or ban Marcelus fracking. And the momentum for a ban will increase if there is not comprehensive regulation imposed before more fracking gets done. Unless the Legislature gets serious about comprehensive rules, the controversy will continue to grow, as will demands for a permanent ban. A moratorium on new permits and a comprehensive bill imposing emergency rules on existing permits are the only way to demonstrate that the Legislature is serious and is proceeding in a logical manner to develop the industry responsibly. JBK >>> Jim Sconyers 07/22/11 11:57 PM >>> I agree - the more the delay, the more drilling gets done fast before regulation, and their mess becomes a fait accompli. On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 8:54 PM, John Garlow <ecomodjag(a)gmail.com> wrote: The problem with Earl Ray's emergency is that it really must not be an emergency since even if the DEP does come up with any meaningful regulation and enforcement system, and even if the house comes up with 2 million to pay for monitoring and inspections, it will take about a year to get "ramped up" according to DEP. So, the drilling and fracking will continue on for at least another year with the blessing of the state and the who knows what might happen to the environment attitude. This is similar to the days when anyone could dig a hole in their bank for coal that left us with lots of yellow boy streams and clean up costs. I want to keep pushing hard for a moratorium since the lack of control of this industry has already been called an emergency. Since this is a valuable national resource, it should be regulated in terms of how it is used. Companies should disclose their end consumer. Perhaps this should be coupled with conversion programs from gasoline to compressed gas vehicles. Why should we risk our environment so that a few people can make money selling our gas to China? I want to keep pushing the word "emergency" as used by the gov. He needs to take action and be a leader. He is already being attacked by Mahoney for lack of leadership saying something should have been done years ago. Is he going to stand up for WV's environment or bend to China's desire for our gas? John Garlow On Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 12:03 PM, James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu> wrote: The WV4MoM discussed this last night, and we agree that it needs to have a good turnout, preferably at all three hearings. Chuck, can you start contacting folks in the Northern Panhandle and Clarksburg areas? The Upshur County group should also get out, as Clarksburg is pretty close. I have a call in to get more details as to the format, but this is a great opportunity, and we need to start preparing ASAP. I suspect that there will be an opportunity for a few invited speakers, but whether this will be an open opportunity for everyone to speak is not clear. Two key themes will be: 1) Follow the Money. If industry says they support "Responsible Regulation" does that mean they will withhold campaign contributions from legislators that block "Responsible Regulation"? I suspect that the Doug Facemire's of the Committee will change their tune pretty quickly if industry says they will, but I also suspect that "Responsible Regulation" will turn out to be code words for "Do Nothing". If we can demonstrate to the Legislature that the industry propaganda actually means "Continue poisoning the water", we may sway a few votes, in spite of the industry campaign contributions. And when the industry says they want decisions based on facts and not "emotionalism", we need to point out that it is the industry "experts" that have let their pursuit of profits blind them to real science, and their greed that creates the emotional disconnect with reality. 2) Discredit the claims that fracking is safe and has never contaminated ground water. I am putting together news accounts of well contamination, spills, and violations to demonstrate that the industry claims that they are clean do not match reality. For example, PA-DEP identified seven cases of gas migrating into ground water for every 1000 wells in 2010. They issued over 1000 citations for violations of environmental protection rules between 2008 and August 2010. But WV-DEP has only 15 inspectors for 59,000 wells, so drillers here know they are unlikely to ever get an inspection. It is certainly true that some wells can be drilled without problems, and that some companies are doing a better job than others. That is why we need real regulations, to rein in the rogue operators and put everyone on a level playing field. If we can couple this demonstration that real problems exist, that industry experts are distorting the facts, and that the industry is in denial, with an assertion that strong regulations mean we can have both gas drilling and clean water, we will win. JBK >>> "Chuck Wyrostok" <wyro(a)appalight.com> 7/16/2011 9:57 AM >>> FYI, folks.c Chuck Wyrostok Sierra Club Outreach Organizer Toll free 877 252 0257 E: outreach(a)marcellus-wv.com www.marcellus-wv.com _____ From: Julie Archer [mailto:julie@wvsoro.org] Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:31 AM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: WV-SORO Update: Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Gas Drilling Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Marcellus Drilling The House members of the legislature's Select <http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/interims/committee.cfm?abb=marcellu s> Committee on Marcellus Shale have announced they will hold three public hearings on drilling issues to get input on how problems and concerns related to natural gas drilling should be addressed. In media reports, Delegate Tim Manchin, House chairman of the committee said, "The committee members have heard much about both the potential benefits and problems associated with the Marcellus Shale development - what we are now looking for are suggestions on measures that should be included in a new state law that encourages efficient development of the resource while addresses local and environmental concerns." The hearings are set for Wheeling on July 21, Morgantown on July 25, and Clarksburg on July 27. The times and locations will be announced early next week. We'll send out more details once they become available. They will also be posted on the Legislature's website, www.legis.state.wv.us. The entire Select Committee met earlier this week, and heard presentations from a variety of experts and interest groups including WV-SORO. The full committee plans to reconvene and hold three working meetings during the August interim meetings of the legislature (August 1-3). Also this week, Senator President Earl Ray Tomblin, acting as Governor, signed an executive <http://www.governor.wv.gov/Documents/20110713150559476.pdf> order directing the Department of Environmental Protection to develop rules to regulate Marcellus Shale gas drilling. The plan is a positive first step, but is no substitute for legislative action which is needed to address the problems surface face in their dealings with the drillers. You can read Tomblin's press release and the executive order here <http://www.governor.wv.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/GovernorAnnouncesMa rcellusShaleRegulation.aspx> . We have posted links to a number of news stories related to the Select Committee meetings and Tomblin's announcement at www.wvsoro.org. -- Julie Archer WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization 1500 Dixie Street Charleston, WV 25311 (304) 346-5891 (304) 346-8981 FAX www.wvsoro.org _______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC(a)osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Re: [EC] Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Gas Drilling
by James Kotcon 22 Jul '11

22 Jul '11

The WV4MoM discussed this last night, and we agree that it needs to have a good turnout, preferably at all three hearings. Chuck, can you start contacting folks in the Northern Panhandle and Clarksburg areas? The Upshur County group should also get out, as Clarksburg is pretty close. I have a call in to get more details as to the format, but this is a great opportunity, and we need to start preparing ASAP. I suspect that there will be an opportunity for a few invited speakers, but whether this will be an open opportunity for everyone to speak is not clear. Two key themes will be: 1) Follow the Money. If industry says they support "Responsible Regulation" does that mean they will withhold campaign contributions from legislators that block "Responsible Regulation"? I suspect that the Doug Facemire's of the Committee will change their tune pretty quickly if industry says they will, but I also suspect that "Responsible Regulation" will turn out to be code words for "Do Nothing". If we can demonstrate to the Legislature that the industry propaganda actually means "Continue poisoning the water", we may sway a few votes, in spite of the industry campaign contributions. And when the industry says they want decisions based on facts and not "emotionalism", we need to point out that it is the industry "experts" that have let their pursuit of profits blind them to real science, and their greed that creates the emotional disconnect with reality. 2) Discredit the claims that fracking is safe and has never contaminated ground water. I am putting together news accounts of well contamination, spills, and violations to demonstrate that the industry claims that they are clean do not match reality. For example, PA-DEP identified seven cases of gas migrating into ground water for every 1000 wells in 2010. They issued over 1000 citations for violations of environmental protection rules between 2008 and August 2010. But WV-DEP has only 15 inspectors for 59,000 wells, so drillers here know they are unlikely to ever get an inspection. It is certainly true that some wells can be drilled without problems, and that some companies are doing a better job than others. That is why we need real regulations, to rein in the rogue operators and put everyone on a level playing field. If we can couple this demonstration that real problems exist, that industry experts are distorting the facts, and that the industry is in denial, with an assertion that strong regulations mean we can have both gas drilling and clean water, we will win. JBK >>> "Chuck Wyrostok" <wyro(a)appalight.com> 7/16/2011 9:57 AM >>> FYI, folks.c Chuck Wyrostok Sierra Club Outreach Organizer Toll free 877 252 0257 E: outreach(a)marcellus-wv.com www.marcellus-wv.com _____ From: Julie Archer [mailto:julie@wvsoro.org] Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:31 AM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: WV-SORO Update: Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Gas Drilling Delegates Schedule Public Hearings on Marcellus Drilling The House members of the legislature's Select <http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/interims/committee.cfm?abb=marcellu s> Committee on Marcellus Shale have announced they will hold three public hearings on drilling issues to get input on how problems and concerns related to natural gas drilling should be addressed. In media reports, Delegate Tim Manchin, House chairman of the committee said, "The committee members have heard much about both the potential benefits and problems associated with the Marcellus Shale development - what we are now looking for are suggestions on measures that should be included in a new state law that encourages efficient development of the resource while addresses local and environmental concerns." The hearings are set for Wheeling on July 21, Morgantown on July 25, and Clarksburg on July 27. The times and locations will be announced early next week. We'll send out more details once they become available. They will also be posted on the Legislature's website, www.legis.state.wv.us. The entire Select Committee met earlier this week, and heard presentations from a variety of experts and interest groups including WV-SORO. The full committee plans to reconvene and hold three working meetings during the August interim meetings of the legislature (August 1-3). Also this week, Senator President Earl Ray Tomblin, acting as Governor, signed an executive <http://www.governor.wv.gov/Documents/20110713150559476.pdf> order directing the Department of Environmental Protection to develop rules to regulate Marcellus Shale gas drilling. The plan is a positive first step, but is no substitute for legislative action which is needed to address the problems surface face in their dealings with the drillers. You can read Tomblin's press release and the executive order here <http://www.governor.wv.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/GovernorAnnouncesMa rcellusShaleRegulation.aspx> . We have posted links to a number of news stories related to the Select Committee meetings and Tomblin's announcement at www.wvsoro.org. -- Julie Archer WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization 1500 Dixie Street Charleston, WV 25311 (304) 346-5891 (304) 346-8981 FAX www.wvsoro.org

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Report from Wheeling Marcellus hearing
by James Kotcon 22 Jul '11

22 Jul '11

The Select Committee on Marcellus held their first public hearing in Wheeling last night. About 150-200 attended, and 34 people spoke. Attending were at least four House members of the Committee, as well as one State Senator. Also attending were about 4-5 other legislators from the northern panhandle region. Industry reps got there early and were 9 of the first 12 speakers. Almost all spoke mostly about jobs and economic development, very few raised specific suggestions for legislation, or even stated they opposed regulation. ALL of the last 20 speakers supported stronger regulations, and had numerous suggestions for specific issues that need to be addressed. I mention this because the tv cameras left after the first half and probably did not convey that calls for regulations outnumbered industry people by over 2-to-1. Two people (of the 34 who spoke) gave statements so convoluted and confusing that I could not figure out what side they were on, or what they wanted. So my count is 10 pro-industry, 22 pro-regulation, and two unclear. The only substantive comment from industry was when Mike McCowan of IOGA said they "would SUPPORT reasonable INCREASES in fees". (Perhaps the key word there is "reasonable"). Lots of concerns were expressed about water and air pollution, several people objected to forced pooling, a couple raised safety issues, explosions, property rights issues, or concerns about foreign exports of gas. Recommendations for future hearings next week. 1) Keep your points focused. The chair allowed only 2 minute per person, and everyone almost always ran out of time to say very much. I recommend writing out some key points and do a practice with a stop watch to make sure you get in the key statements. ( I hate it when I have a really powerful finish planned and never get to use it because I run out of time, it just leaves the whole presentation with a weak, dangling end.) If the Morgantown crowd is even bigger, the time allowed will likely be cut proportionately. 2) Show up early. I recommend at least one hour before the start if you want to speak early. We were there 40 minutes early, and there were already 18 speakers signed up ahead of me. 3) Coordinate who says what. With only 120 seconds to speak, it is important to avoid wasting valuable seconds repeating a point that has already been made a dozen times. Practice your statement with a stop watch. 4) Write out specific suggestions for rules, as this is more likely to get included into a bill than vague statements of support or opposition to drilling generally. Even if you don't have time to say everything, written comments are more easily incorporated into a bill by Committee staff. 5) Practice your statement with a stop watch. Jim Kotcon

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Bloomberg gives $50 M to SC
by Jim Sconyers 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

Awesome! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michael Brune and Robin Mann, Sierra Club < membership.services(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Thu, Jul 21, 2011 at 10:53 AM Subject: Congratulations! You're Making History! To: jimscon(a)gmail.com View a web version of this email.<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=Rnl09JkC9Y-xR7WfqVVU5A..> [image: The Sierra Club] Dear Jim, As the Sierra Club's Executive Director and President, we've had many opportunities to communicate with you about the work we all do together as America's largest grassroots environmental organization. Today we're thrilled to announce that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Bloomberg Philanthropies, in recognition of our efforts nationwide, has provided a donation of $50 million to accelerate the Sierra Club's history-making fight against coal and to support America's clean energy future<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=Nqxj0K6CPkVvjWlYceoRag..>. We can all celebrate this as a game-changing new start for the most important environmental campaign of the 21st century and a watershed moment for our Sierra Club. Every one of you -- from those working with the Angeles Chapter on cleaning up ports to those protecting Vermont's beautiful rivers and streams -- can take pride in, and will benefit greatly from, this contribution Bloomberg Philanthropies is giving this major donation to our Beyond Coal campaign because of the Club's remarkable success in working with allies and local communities to stop more than 150 new coal plants. Mayor Bloomberg believes that people coming together in communities across the country to end America's use of this dirty, 19th-century fuel is the single biggest step we can take to improve public health, combat the pollution of our water and air, and address climate disruption. Those of you who have worked tirelessly for years to confront the fossil fuel industry can rest assured that this investment will lead to important new victories. We will quickly build our grassroots activism across the country to retire existing coal plants and confront coal's corrupting influence on American politics. We will rapidly increase our support of the innovative energy technologies that are already generating new jobs and building the foundation for future prosperity. We're confident, too, that this ringing endorsement of our organization will attract new members and supporters and encourage new donations to increase the success of all the critically important work we do in every one of our chapters from Alaska to Florida, and in all of our conservation campaigns, from protecting Arizona's deserts to taking young people hiking on the Appalachian trail. You'll be hearing more about this exciting announcement in the media and in an upcoming call. We look forward to answering your questions and hearing your thoughts about how we can build on this moment to become bigger, stronger, and more successful in our mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. Thank you again for helping to make this incredible announcement possible. Today, we encourage everyone to show your appreciation for this donation and support for our united efforts by pledging to end coal and usher in a new clean-energy future<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=zWqgLT_HFXaCEPoiMWnGvw..>. Onward! Michael Brune, Executive Director Robin Mann, President Sierra Club [image: Share this page on Facebook]<http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=johnmuir&s=facebook&url=http%3A//ac…>[image: Share this page on Twitter]<http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=johnmuir&s=twitter&url=http%3A//act…>[image: Share this page with other services]<http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?pub=johnmuir&url=http%3A//action.sierra…> Update My Profile<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=hRGunUFTpIIh0d4cbP3QWA..>| Manage My Email Preferences<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/CO?i=AlIAYYLrdMwE-phzBDbwhUMBlZmbGgHO&cid…> | Update My Interests<http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=1xwZBJ4cPF73u6uCfDtkyg..> | Unsubscribe <http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=rxjAtq6MqNy0P5uNM1-HRQ..> Sierra Club 85 Second St. San Francisco, CA 94105 -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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