EC January 2017

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WV State Journal New Op/Ed by Brooks McCabe
by James Kotcon via EC 23 Jan '17

23 Jan '17

McCabe is a member of the PSC, so these may give insights into his position on PSC issues, as well as provide arguments that may resonate. Key initiatives he supports include: * Support and invest in the Appalachian Storage Hub to create the multistate pipeline backbone for the petrochemical manufacturing resurgence that is on the immediate horizon based on the Marcellus and Utica Shale resources in West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. * Support accelerated development of the Rock Creek Development Park on the abandon Hobet Mine site as a future hub for industrial, commercial and residential development using the federal government's Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. * Nature-based economic development that matches the state's natural resources to economic opportunities with a thoughtful overlay of current and future impacts on the environment offers major opportunities. Using the best-available science, state-of-the-art development practices and conservation can put the state ahead of many of its competitors in agriculture, forestry and natural gas and minerals extraction. * Increase state government and industry research funding for alternative uses of coal and natural gas with a logical source of funding being future severance taxes available after the market resets to a new normal. Industry needs to address the technical and environmental issues related to extraction, refinement and use of these energy resources. The future of both industries will be based, in no small part, on new technologies and practices. West Virginia and its universities, research parks and private industry all need to be at the table. Full story is at: http://www.theet.com/statejournal/new-administration-capable-of-several-gam…

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Wyoming Considers Ban On Solar And Wind Energy
by James Kotcon via EC 19 Jan '17

19 Jan '17

Should we be watching for this in WV? >>>>> Wyoming's legislature is considering a bill<http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2017/Introduced/SF0071.pdf> that would effectively outlaw renewable energy in the state. The so-called "Electricity Production Standard<http://trib.com/news/electricity-production-standard/article_224f2c66-3112-…>" proposes to penalize utilities in Wyoming for generating electricity from solar and wind energy. The bill would allow electric power to be generated using one of six pre-approved sources, including oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydropower and coal, to be used by Wyoming utility companies for electricity generation. Neither solar nor wind energy are included on the list of allowed fuel sources. If the bill is passed, utilities in Wyoming would incur a penalty of $10 per megawatt hour whenever they used wind or solar to produce electricity for state customers. "I don't know how seriously to take it," Rep. Marti Halverson, R-Etna, told the Jackson Hold News & Guide<http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/legislature/bills-could-deter-use-of-ren…>. "My guess is that it's a little push back to the legislation that is being passed in other states that's saying, 'No coal, no how.'" The proposed legislation is arguably the most benighted of the half-baked proposals to promote coal energy floated to date in coal-friendly states. Full story is at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2017/01/18/wyoming-considers-de… Jim Kotcon

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Fwd: WV Senators and the White House
by Yarnell, Karen via EC 17 Jan '17

17 Jan '17

_____________________________ From: Matt Kearns <mkearns(a)wvrivers.org<mailto:mkearns@wvrivers.org>> Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 12:57 PM Subject: WV Senators and the White House To: Birth Place of Rivers <birthplaceofrivers(a)tws.org<mailto:birthplaceofrivers@tws.org>> http://www.theet.com/news/free/gauging-west-virginia-s-relationship-with-wh… Matt Kearns Public Lands Campaigns West Virginia Rivers Coalition 304-873-6556 office | 304-444-4567 mobile WVRivers.org<http://WVRivers.org> |Sign up for e-news<http://www.wvrivers.org/make-a-difference/join-us>

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Great LTE by Carol Nix in today's Dominion Post
by Sally Wilts via EC 16 Jan '17

16 Jan '17

So, which one is it? Almostheaven or almost hell?You ’ve seen the acres of greenplastic pipe piling up along thewest bank of the Monongahlea River,you’ve seen the trains bringingmore every day, and maybe youknow that it will be used for theAtlantic Coast Pipeline.But did you know that thispipeline hasn’t even been approvedyet? Can you smell a rubber stamp?Did you know that it’s designed tocarry West Virginia gas to an exportterminal in Norfolk, Va.? And to anout-of-state power plant? That none ofthat gas will be for West Virginians’use? That the pipeline will cut throughthe Monongahela National Forest insidea ditch 30 feet deep, will crossstreams more than 600 times throughour steep and scenic mountains.It will require that trees be cuton a right-of-way wider than a footballfield, and this will have to bemaintained by massive doses of herbicidesforever. It will require newaccess roads through farms andwild forest that trample the rightsof wildlife and landowner alike.But the worst effect of thispipeline will be the immediate andhorrendous escalation of frackingin our state.We can expect the gas companies’profits to go elsewhere, andtheir waste products to stay righthere, their radioactive brinesspread on our roadways andpumped into groundwater, “hot”drill cuttings in our landfills, klieglights, trucks, noise and fumes inevery neighborhood.It takes a lot of gas to fill a 38-inch pipeline 650 miles long. WillWest Virginians stand for this?Haven’t we learned anything as thecoal companies move on, leaving ourstreams acidic and lifeless, our mountainsflat and our miners pensionless?Our Native American brothersin North Dakota showed us how tofight for what we love. They stoodup against another pipeline andare, for the moment, winning.Climate change is real, andmethane is just another fossil fuel.A real transition to renewable energyis possible and necessary, andother countries are doing just that.This pipeline locks us into backwardness,and maybe even annihilation.It is not in the best interestsof West Virginia or the atmosphere.Will we have the courage ofthose Native Americans in theDakotas, or will we be rubberstamped upon? Make your voiceheard, the choice is ours —almostheaven or almost hell?Carol NixIndependence

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Study finds net benefit for fracking communities
by James Kotcon via EC 14 Jan '17

14 Jan '17

I have not done a thorough review, but since this is likely to get a lot of press, be aware that the study admits three glaring weaknesses. 1) The study assumes that local property owners own their mineral rights and we see lease revenue as a gain in income. 2) the study assumes that all workers are "homogeneous", and have an equal chance of getting jobs with fracking companies. But an older worker without the specialized skills needed for fracking is very unlikely to ever get a job, or the training to even compete for those jobs. 3) The study does not address climate change or incorporate the Social Cost of Carbon. Those will likely ring true to many listeners in West Virginia, and we should emphasize those to the industry people who will tout this study. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-business/20170110/study-finds-net-benefit…

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Accuracy of climate projections.
by James Kotcon via EC 06 Jan '17

06 Jan '17

Great You-Tube video comparing 40 years of climate projections from meteorologists, versus actual NASA temperature records, showing remarkable consistency and accuracy. Be sure to watch through to the end for a comparison with climate models by "contrarians". Please share with any "denier" colleagues. Jim Kotcon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPSIvu0gQ90&feature=youtu.be

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"Clean Coal " trying for a comeback
by James Kotcon via EC 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

In the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/science/donald-trump-carbon-capture-clean… [https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/01/03/science/03SCI-CarbonCover/03SCI-…]<http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/science/donald-trump-carbon-capture-clean…> Can Carbon Capture Technology Prosper Under Trump?<http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/science/donald-trump-carbon-capture-clean…> www.nytimes.com Progress has come in fits and starts, but supporters believe a new plant in Texas may provide a clear economic argument for fighting global warming. And from an earlier story about the Kemper plant. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/science/kemper-coal-mississippi.html?acti… [https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/05/08/us/00KEMPER1/00KEMPER11-facebook…]<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/science/kemper-coal-mississippi.html?acti…> Piles of Dirty Secrets Behind a Model 'Clean Coal' Project<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/science/kemper-coal-mississippi.html?acti…> www.nytimes.com A Mississippi project, a centerpiece of President Obama's climate plan, has been plagued by problems that managers tried to conceal, and by cost overruns and questions of who will pay. This second one kind of reminds me of the current efforts to build gas pipelines. Enjoy. JBK

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EQT Corp. will drill 43 wells in the Marcellus Shale in West Virginia in 2017 and an undisclosed number in the Utica Shale, the company has announced.
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. via EC 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

so, what are YOUR plans for 2017? *CLICK <http://www.theet.com/statejournal/eqt-announces-wv-gas-well-drilling-plans/…>* *AND THAT'S NOT ALL....* Lewis County and state oil and gas industry to grow in 2017 and beyond <https://www.theet.com/news/local/lewis-county-and-state-oil-and-gas-industr…> - by Darlene J. Swiger STAFF WRITER - Dec 25, 2016 WESTON — Lewis County is poised for tremendous growth, as the oil and gas industry is expected to rebound in 2017 and beyond, officials say. EQT rig <https://www.theet.com/eqt-rig/image_90e0db69-ae36-5025-95dd-797c5e4f59ad.ht…> - Submitted photo - Dec 23, 2016 - EQT employees work at a rig site. The company plans to drill 43 wells in West Virginia in 2017. EQT pipeline construction <https://www.theet.com/eqt-pipeline-construction/image_ca3a3d5a-2d68-5c85-84…> - Submitted photo - Dec 23, 2016 - EQT will be a key player in the Mountain Valley Pipeline project to take West Virginia’s abundant supply of natural gas to new markets. EQT construction site <https://www.theet.com/eqt-construction-site/image_bc6a3a1f-ef7f-5f01-98f5-d…> - Submitted photo - Dec 23, 2016 - EQT is expanding its footprint in the state, where it currently has about 500 employees. William V. DePaulo, Esq. 122 N Court Street, Suite 300 Lewisburg, WV 24901 Tel 304-342-5588 <(304)%20342-5588> Fax 866-850-1501 <(866)%20850-1501> william.depaulo(a)gmail.com

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EC January 2017