EC November 2014

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2 participants
5 discussions

Fwd: Fracking to be permitted in GW National Forest
by Paul Wilson 18 Nov '14

18 Nov '14

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Angie Rosser <arosser(a)wvrivers.org> Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2014 at 9:26 AM Subject: Fracking to be permitted in GW National Forest To: "birthplaceofrivers(a)tws.org" <birthplaceofrivers(a)tws.org> Threat hook… Fracking to be permitted in GW National Forest By BROCK VERGAKIS Associated PressNovember 18, 2014 [image: National Forest-Fracking] In this May 10, 2013 photo, Lynn Cameron of Mount Crawford, Va., looks out at the view while hiking the Mines Run Trail, on Shenandoah Mountain, Va., which is in the George Washington National Forest in Rockingham County, Va. Over the objection of environmental groups and Virginia’s governor, a federal management plan released Tuesday will allow a form of natural gas drilling known as fracking to occur in parts of the George Washington National Forest, the largest national forest on the East Coast. NIKKI FOX — AP NORFOLK, Va. — Over the objection of environmental groups and Virginia's governor, a federal management plan released Tuesday will allow a form of natural gas drilling known as fracking to occur in parts of the largest national forest on the East Coast. The U.S. Forest Service originally planned to ban fracking in the 1.1 million-acre George Washington National Forest, but energy companies cried foul after a draft of the plan was released in 2011. It would have been the first outright ban on the practice in a national forest. "We think we've ended up in a much better place, which is we are allowing oil and gas drilling," Robert Bonnie, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's undersecretary for natural resources and environment, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "From a policy perspective, the Forest Service allows fracking on forest lands throughout the country. We didn't want to make a policy decision or change policy related to fracking. This decision is about where it's appropriate to do oil and gas leasing." Land in national forests is commonly leased out for commercial and recreational purposes, such as mining, timber, and skiing. The plan also addresses timber acreage, wildlife habitat and waterways. Under the new plan, which is subject to appeal, drilling will only be permitted on 167,000 acres where there are existing private mineral rights and on about 10,000 acres that are already leased to oil and gas companies. The leased acreage is in Highland County, while the private mineral rights are scattered throughout the forest. Many local government officials near the forest objected to allowing any drilling, and in September, Gov. Terry McAuliffe told the inaugural meeting of a climate change panel that he wouldn't allow fracking in the forest as long as he was governor. Ken Arney, a regional manager for the U.S. Forest Service whose area includes the George Washington National Forest, had the final word on the plan. It is the first time the management plan has been updated since 1993. Among other things, it eliminates the potential for oil and gas leases on 985,000 acres where it was previously allowed. Arney said local objections led to that decision. The forest is located in Virginia, although about 100,000 acres of it extend into West Virginia. Bonnie said energy companies could already have been drilling on the land they're leasing, but nobody has wanted to. "The economic value of these reserves is very low. We've had very little interest on oil and gas on the forest," Bonnie said. The decision was highly anticipated by environmentalists and the energy industry because about half the national forest sits atop the Marcellus shale formation. The formation is home to a vast deposit of natural gas running from upstate New York to West Virginia and yields more than $10 billion worth of gas annually. A sliver of the formation extends into northwest Virginia. The Forest Service said before any drilling in the forest occurs, additional environmental analysis and opportunities for public comment would occur. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a drilling technique to extract oil and gas from the shale by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel, and chemicals. Environmental groups fear the drilling would pollute mountain streams that directly provide drinking water to about 260,000 people in the Shenandoah Valley. Another 2.7 million people in Northern Virginia and Washington rely upon the forest for a portion of their water supply. An industry group, The American Petroleum Institute, has said hydraulic fracturing can be done safely and that the drilling poses no risk to groundwater. The science on the impact of fracking has not been conclusive. Besides fears that drilling and its waste would foul pristine mountain streams, opponents have also argued that the trucks, wells and other infrastructure that would come with gas drilling are incompatible with the forest's primary attractions of hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, tourism and its abundant wildlife. The forest includes a section of the Appalachian Trail and attracts more than 1 million visitors annually. It is also home to the headwaters of the James and Potomac rivers, which feed into the Chesapeake Bay. The estuary is amid a multibillion-dollar, multistate restoration directed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/11/18/3819522_fracking-to-be-permitted-in-gw.h… -- 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 "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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WVU Shale Gas Research Center
by James Kotcon 07 Nov '14

07 Nov '14

Some of you may recall legislative efforts to create this at WVU. See news release below. JBK? WVU creates the first-ever field laboratory for the long-term study of shale gas resources - As the Appalachian Region feels the impact of the burgeoning shale-energy industry, a consortium of researchers and industrial partners led by West Virginia University, with the assistance of The Ohio State University, will conduct the first-ever long-term, comprehensive field study of a natural resource that has changed the country's - and the world's - energy supply. The five-year, $11 million agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy will allow the research team to create and manage the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory, a field site and dedicated research laboratory at the Morgantown Industrial Park. Together with the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory and Northeast Natural Energy - a Charleston-based private oil and natural gas company that owns and operates the site - the lab will engage a unique and diverse team of geoscientists, hydrologists, engineers, ecologists, social scientists and public health professionals. The team will identify and demonstrate technologies required for best practices in environmentally responsible shale development, from drilling to completion through production. Additionally, the lab will offer real-world education and training for undergraduate and graduate students to address the complex technical, environmental and social issues surrounding unconventional energy development and production. "To date, there has been no comprehensive long-term field study that addresses baseline measurements, subsurface development and environmental monitoring with unconventional resource development," said Timothy Carr, WVU's Marshall Miller professor of geology, principal investigator of the award and director of the lab. - See more at: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/11/06/wvu-creates-the-first-ever-field-labor… [http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/resources/1/1415305013_md.jpg]<http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/11/06/wvu-creates-the-first-ever-field-labor…> WVU creates the first-ever field laboratory for the long-term study of shale gas resources WVUToday, *the* source for news and information regarding West Virginia University. Read more...<http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/11/06/wvu-creates-the-first-ever-field-labor…>

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from ScienceDaily e-newsletter; Renewable energy support programs: New studies examine how and when they work
by Paul Wilson 07 Nov '14

07 Nov '14

Renewable energy support programs: New studies examine how and when they work <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/36J…> Posted: 05 Nov 2014 08:23 AM PST Scientists have quantitatively analyzed the effects of various schemes to support renewable energy generation and, consequently, to reduce carbon emissions and end fossil fuel dependence. <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=36J…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=36J…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=36J…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=36J…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=36J…> -- 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 "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: [Coal Volunteers List] WEBINAR: How we can increase clean energy in the Southeast through EPA's Clean Power Plan
by Paul Wilson 05 Nov '14

05 Nov '14

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Angela Garrone <angela(a)cleanenergy.org> Date: Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 9:46 AM Subject: [Coal Volunteers List] WEBINAR: How we can increase clean energy in the Southeast through EPA's Clean Power Plan To: Tennessee-News <TENNESSEE-NEWS(a)lists.sierraclub.org> <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tSd31qHw9roZUPYf8OruRrR8KEi…> [image: Save the Date] *WEBINAR* *The Clean Power Plan and the Southeast: How to Advocate for Clean Energy Solutions* *We invite you to join us November 14, 2014 at 1:00 PM ET * *for an exciting discussion.* [image: Register Today!] <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GYjsU0o6XzSJBIBaL2iMjhDZivC…> The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) continues its webinar series with a presentation on the EPA's Clean Power Plan. On June 2nd the Environmental Protection Agency released proposed standards for the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants, under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, called the Clean Power Plan. This webinar follows our June webinar explaining the basics of the Clean Power Plan and will go into more detail on the specific requirements of the proposal and explain how the public can submit comments on the proposed rule in order to ensure it is successful in reducing dangerous carbon dioxide emissions. SACE staff will explain the renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities available in the Southeast and discuss how you can help push EPA and our Southeastern states to adopt clean energy compliance solutions for the Clean Power Plan. To register, please visit our webinar sign-up page <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2B9B5xsv5CU9vHWjiT6iDURDZi…>, and don’t forget to mark *November 14, 2014, 1:00 p.m. ET on your calendar!* ------------------------------ *Title:* The Clean Power Plan and the Southeast: How to Advocate for Clean Energy Solutions *Date:* Friday, November 14, 2014 Ti*me:* 1:00 p.m. ET ------------------------------ System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer Space is limited. <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kv%2Ftm0t%2FbqNt7NHKr%2BupY…> The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=zEYeIaLwqPksvVhLxgIRpRDZivC…> is proud to offer an exciting webinar series to its members. Through this free webinar service, members will be able to directly engage with SACE staff and learn about the clean energy technologies, opportunities, and issues that SACE deals with everyday. SACE is excited to use this technology as a way to share with its members the most current happenings in the clean energy field. <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=c8Nmzr1F1ROyM3hwlJCM37R8KEi…> Click here to unsubscribe <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=edO7FB3JJKwhEbbXKGMUyxDZivC…> [image: facebook] <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=rFtb6%2FhwA5EBHYWhG9FH8RDZi…> <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2m9WoclAhYYCN7J9jCAmjRDZivC…>[image: youtube] <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mmaIcPtMaLjZEy4Kn%2F%2FAgxD…>[image: flickr] <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ej%2BemAex1%2FWdgobOamUTTBD…> [image: www.cleanenergy.org] <http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=NXG43d7vQUxjLwNFJPfFhxDZivC…> [image: empowered by Salsa] <http://www.salsalabs.com/?email> -- Jennifer S. Rennicks, Director of Policy & Communications *Southern Alliance for Clean Energy* Phone: 828-275-0564 Media Line: 865-235-1448 jrennicks [at] cleanenergy.org _____________________________________________________ The Southeast Climate & Energy Network (SCEN) is a group of 200+ members (environmental, clean energy, public health, policy, rural, governmental, and faith) across 12 states in the region whose mission is "strategic coordination among organizations in the Southeast to secure fair, just and science-based climate and energy policies." This listserve exists to help with communication, coordination, and capacity-building in the Southeast region to meet mission. This listserve exists to help with communication, coordination, and capacity-building in the Southeast region to meet mission. You received this message as a subscriber on the list: se-climate(a)lists.usclimatenetwork.org To be added to the list, send any message to: se-climate-subscribe(a)lists.usclimatenetwork.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: se-climate-unsubscribe(a)lists.usclimatenetwork.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.usclimatenetwork.org/lists/info/se-climate To subscribe to this or other SCEN lists, email Rudi Navarra at rnavarra(a)climatenetwork.org -- *Angela Garrone | Southeast Energy Research Attorney* *Southern Alliance for Clean Energy* P.O. Box 1842 Knoxville, TN 37901 angela(a)cleanenergy.org | 865-637-6055 ex. 23 http://www.cleanenergy.org http://blog.cleanenergy.org CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL COMMUNICATION / WORK PRODUCT: The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to whom it is addressed, and may contain privileged and confidential attorney-client communications and/or confidential attorney work product. If you receive this message in error, please send a reply e-mail to the sender and delete the material from any and all computers. Unintended transmissions shall not constitute waiver of the attorney-client or any other privilege. -- To access the Beyond Coal Campaign Resource Portal, go to: https://sites.google.com/a/sierraclub.org/beyond-coal-resource-portal/ To sign up for this list, email neha.mathew(a)sierraclub.org with the subject and message "SUBSCRIBE #coal-volunteer" --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "#Coal-Volunteers" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coal-volunteers-list+unsubscribe(a)sierraclub.org. To post to this group, send email to coal-volunteers-list(a)sierraclub.org. -- 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 "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: Top U.S Energy Efficienct States Released.
by James Kotcon 01 Nov '14

01 Nov '14

?ACEEE rankings of states came out and the news is not good in WV. We were listed as the "Most Improved" state in 2013, but have made zero progress in 2014, leaving us at 46th in the nation in terms of EE policies. Among the various sectors ranked, "Utility Policies and Programs" was the worst, earning Zero (0) points in WV (That's a big goose egg, Nada, Zilch, No Points!). See the other WV scores at: http://www.aceee.org/files/pdf/state-sheet/west-virginia.pdf How about a press release, or an Op/Ed column? Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: wvec-board(a)yahoogroups.com <wvec-board(a)yahoogroups.com> on behalf of Larry Thomas larryvthomas(a)aol.com [wvec-board] <wvec-board(a)yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 8:38 PM Subject: [wvec board & supporters] Fwd: Top U.S Energy Efficienct States Released. FYI Larry Recently, The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy released it's annual Scorecard for State Energy Efficiency. To have a look at how your State ranks click this link. ==> STATE ENERGY SCORECARD<http://earth2volts.com/iem/link.php?M=385622&N=181&L=50&F=H> So is your State among the leaders in promoting and embracing Energy Efficiency? Not only are some States seeing environmental benefits from investing in energy efficiency, but some have enjoyed an over 300% return on their investment. Creating jobs and reduced energy costs have made a very positive direct impact on some of these States. If you would like to read a little more about this, please hit the link below. ==> US ENERGY EFFICIENCY RANKS.<http://earth2volts.com/iem/link.php?M=385622&N=181&L=50&F=H> __._,_.___ ________________________________ Posted by: Larry Thomas <larryvthomas(a)aol.com> ________________________________ Reply via web post<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wvec-board/conversations/messages/4613;…> * Reply to sender <mailto:larryvthomas@aol.com?subject=Re%3A%20Fwd%3A%20Top%20U%2ES%20Energy%20Efficienct%20States%20Released%2E> * Reply to group <mailto:wvec-board@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re%3A%20Fwd%3A%20Top%20U%2ES%20Energy%20Efficienct%20States%20Released%2E> * Start a New Topic<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wvec-board/conversations/newtopic;_ylc=…> * Messages in this topic<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wvec-board/conversations/topics/4613;_y…> (1) Visit Your Group<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wvec-board/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbGJnYm9lBF…> [Yahoo! Groups]<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNWt1c2UzBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkA…> * Privacy<https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> * Unsubscribe<mailto:wvec-board-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe> * Terms of Use<https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> . __,_._,___

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EC November 2014