EC January 2014

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9 participants
19 discussions

ideas for speakers for Sierrafest
by Sally Wilts 22 Jan '14

22 Jan '14

The committee working to organize Sierrafest for Sept 19-21st this year welcomes your ideas for possible speakers for the weekend. The tentative list we have generated includes: Bill McKibben Josh Fox Ben Stout Bill Hughes Maya Nye Sandra Fallon political candidate(s) Micheal Mann Thanks! Sally Wilts

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AST Side-By-side
by James Kotcon 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

Attached is my initial review of Sen. Unger's Water Resources Protection Act Amendments (SB 373) versus Governor Tomblin's AST bill. As I read the list of exemptions in Tomblin's bill, I have to wonder how many tanks would be covered (sounds like this is a very limited universe). While Tomblin's bill requires a comprehensive spill Response Plan and includes source protection and prevention plans, it also has broad, but nebulous language to protect confidential business information. Unger's bill (SB 373) applies to all tanks (over 1100 gal) , period, but is silent on several aspects covered in Tomblin's bill. Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: Vivian Stockman <vivian(a)ohvec.org> Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 9:18 PM To: 'Paula Swearengin'; 'Jen Osha' Cc: 'Bill Price'; 'Danny Ray Cook'; 'Angie Rosser'; 'Robert L. Malin'; 'Dustin White'; 'DONNA BRANHAM'; 'Carey Jo Grace'; 'Karan Ireland'; 'Matt Sherman'; James Kotcon; 'Robin Blakeman'; 'michael morrison'; 'Chuck Nelson'; 'MAYA NYE'; 'Kat Wallace'; 'Parson Brown'; 'Daniel Chiotos'; 'Maria Gunnoe' Subject: legislative note For Tuesday, January 21, we need turn out in Senate Judiciary room (west Wing, second floor) about noon-ish (after the floor session) as the Senate Natural Resources committee meets to discuss Senate Bill 373, a Comprehensive Water Regulatory Bill. This is Senator Unger's (D-Berkley; majority leader) bill. Sen. Brooks McCabe (D-Kanawha) is wanting to change the bill, reportedly. McCabe wants to split is up, but Unger want to keep it as it, as do our peeps. Come out if you can. From

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FW: Gov's bill
by James Kotcon 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

In case it did not come through the first time. JBK ________________________________ From: Angie Rosser <arosser(a)wvrivers.org> Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 5:35 PM To: Angie Rosser; Brent Walls; Cindy Rank; Dianne Bady; Don Garvin; Emily Russell; Evan Hansen; Helen Gibbins; James Kotcon; James Van Gundy; Kathleen Tyner; Margaret Janes Subject: Gov's bill Attached FYI Angie Rosser Executive Director West Virginia Rivers Coalition 304-637-7201 www.wvrivers.org<http://www.wvrivers.org>

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Re: [EC] Gov's bill
by James Kotcon 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

I counted no less that 20 exemptions, loopholes, and caveats, including plenty of blanket exemptions for many coal and gas facilities. And plenty of language to let DEP cover up "Confidential Business Information" (AKA "Dirty Secrets"). There may be some useful policy approaches in here, but it starts out on bad turf and the legislative findings are all about how important industry is for the economy. Let's insist that it is DOA. JBK ________________________________ From: Angie Rosser <arosser(a)wvrivers.org> Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 5:35 PM To: Angie Rosser; Brent Walls; Cindy Rank; Dianne Bady; Don Garvin; Emily Russell; Evan Hansen; Helen Gibbins; James Kotcon; James Van Gundy; Kathleen Tyner; Margaret Janes Subject: Gov's bill Attached FYI Angie Rosser Executive Director West Virginia Rivers Coalition 304-637-7201 www.wvrivers.org<http://www.wvrivers.org>

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US to begin exporting 'fracked' gas
by Beth Little 20 Jan '14

20 Jan '14

So much for cheap gas and energy independence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23317370

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WVU Law National Energy Conference 2014
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 17 Jan '14

17 Jan '14

This may be an interesting conference to attend at WVU on February 24. Free registration: http://energy.law.wvu.edu/energy-conference-2014 -Jonathan

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Water Vigil in Charleston, Jan. 21
by James Kotcon 17 Jan '14

17 Jan '14

In case you have not seen it, here are the details as of late last night. More planning is happening by the minute, but just do it. Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: Bill Price <bill.price(a)sierraclub.org> Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 5:46 PM https://www.facebook.com/events/1441712489379104/ Bill Price, Organizing Representative Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Campaign Phone: 304-389-8822 (Cell) Email: bill.price(a)sierraclub.org<mailto:bill.price@sierraclub.org>

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Jon Stewart on the Elk River spill
by James Kotcon 14 Jan '14

14 Jan '14

Another black eye for West Virginia, but for those on the ground who appreciate gallows humor, here's the latest. Jim Kotcon http://www.thewrap.com/jon-stewart-west-virginia-spill-building-chemical-ta…

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FW: Solar arrives! MN Judge finds solar PV electricity cheaper than natural gas (without subsidies)!!
by James Kotcon 09 Jan '14

09 Jan '14

Woo Hoo! Jim Kotcon ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bradley Stark <bradley.stark(a)gmail.com<mailto:bradley.stark@gmail.com>> Date: Wed, Jan 8, 2014 at 2:17 PM Subject: [GW-ACT-LEADERS] Solar arrives! MN Judge finds solar PV electricity cheaper than natural gas (without subsidies)!! To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)lists.sierraclub.org<mailto:CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS@lists.sierraclub.org> Solar opinion with highlights attached. This opinion stands for the proposition that peaker plants are cheaper when solar than natural gas which are more for intermediate needs. Opinion makes a very good point. As demand may fluctuate with demographic changes, solar is the quickest and most scalable energy resource. The opinion also notes that a consideration is that for peaker plants during summer generate less power and with uncertain demand projections (back up) needs, solar makes more sense than building a natural gas plant that remains idle for periods when no peak demand and recognizes the advantages of distributed power. * Article by: DAVID SHAFFER<http://www.startribune.com/bios/10645931.html> , Star Tribune * Updated: January 2, 2014 - 11:51 AM A judge’s ruling notably said the renewable energy proposal would be a better deal for ratepayers. Minnesota soon could see at least a sevenfold expansion of solar power. In an unprecedented ruling, a judge reviewing whether Xcel Energy<http://www.startribune.com/topics/entities/xcel-energy.html>should invest in new natural gas generators vs. large solar power arrays concluded Tuesday that solar is a better deal. If the finding by Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman is upheld by the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Edina<http://www.startribune.com/topics/places/edina.html>-based Geronimo Energy plans to build about 20 large solar power arrays on sites across Xcel’s service area at a cost of $250 million. “It says solar is coming in a big way to the country and to Minnesota,” Geronimo Vice President Betsy Engelking said of the ruling. Geronimo’s Aurora Solar Project would receive no state or utility subsidies, but would qualify for a federal investment tax credit. Engleking said it is the first time in the United States that solar energy without a state subsidy has beaten natural gas in an official, head-to-head price comparison. “The cost of solar has come down much faster than anyone had anticipated,” she said in an interview. “This is one of the reasons solar is going to explode.” The largest of the Geronimo projects would be five times bigger than the state’s largest solar array in Slayton, Minn. Some would cover up to 70 acres of land. The proposed sites are in 17 counties, mostly in central, eastern and southeastern Minnesota. It is the first time the state has used a competitive bidding process for a major power generation project. The commission ordered the trial-like proceeding to force energy companies to compete on price. Xcel, based in Minneapolis<http://www.startribune.com/topics/places/minneapolis.html>, and three other energy companies offered various proposals, mostly generators powered by natural gas. Xcel’s plan included a new gas generator at its Black Dog plant in Burnsville<http://www.startribune.com/topics/places/burnsville.html>, where the utility intends to retire the remaining coal-burning units. In a 50-page ruling, Lipman said “the greatest value to Minnesota and Xcel’s ratepayers is drawn from selecting Geronimo’s solar energy proposal …” If the Aurora project is built, Xcel likely would purchase the power under a long-term agreement. That could help Xcel toward its requirement to get 1.5 percent of its power from the sun by 2020 under a new state energy law. Xcel also is counting on rooftop solar systems, community-owned arrays and its own large projects to meet that goal. Lipman said that if solar alone can’t supply all of Xcel’s extra power needs in the next few years, the utility could take up an offer to purchase surplus energy from Great River Energy, the state’s second-largest power company. The judge also said Xcel will have time to consider other generation projects if electrical demand picks up. Xcel said in a statement that it appreciated Lipman’s work, but that it disagreed with some of the findings and would file a written response. Under the PUC’s rules, the competitors and other interests can take exception to the judge’s ruling before the five-member commission takes a vote. Geronimo already does business with Xcel, selling the output of its Prairie Rose Wind Farm in Rock County, in far southwestern Minnesota. Two of four planned wind farms that Xcel will add in the next two years — near Windom, Minn., and near Jamestown, N.D. — are being built by Geronimo. The company has built two smaller wind farms in southeastern Minnesota and is about to construct two more wind farms in Michigan and Nebraska for other utilities. Other competitors The other competitors considered by the judge were Houston-based Calpine, which proposed a gas turbine in Mankato at its existing power plant there and Chicago-based Invenergy, which proposed gas turbines at Cannon Falls and Hampton. Xcel also proposed two gas units near Hankinson, N.D. “We are reviewing the [judge’s] recommendations, and will evaluate our next steps in the docketed proceeding,” Craig Gordon, Invenergy vice president of sales and marketing, said in an e-mail Tuesday. If the Aurora Project is approved, Geronimo said the solar arrays would be built in 2015 and 2016. Engelking said that Geronimo already has signed deals for land and that it has identified more sites than needed in case some don’t work out. Each of the ground-mounted arrays would be next to an existing substation, avoiding transmission-line costs. She said the company still needs state or local permits. But the company has visited with local governments and has pledged to make payments in lieu of taxes ranging from $50,000 to $110,000 a year. Geronimo, a renewable energy developer, doesn’t intend to own the projects, she said. Its financing partner, Enel Green Power, has the first option to acquire them, she said. But it’s possible Geronimo could make a deal to sell the arrays to Xcel or other energy companies, she said. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG<mailto:CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG> Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

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EC January 2014