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Fwd: Fw: PEC Wins Appeal on Federal Transmission Siting!
by James Kotcon 19 Feb '09

19 Feb '09

This is hugely important good news, and it gives us more hope for PATH. JBK >>> <Elena.Saxonhouse(a)sierraclub.org> 2/19/2009 1:55 PM >>> ----- Forwarded by Elena Saxonhouse/Sierraclub on 02/19/2009 10:41 AM "Bri West, PEC" <pecnews(a)pecva.org> Sent by: pecnews(a)pecva.org 02/19/2009 10:27 AM PEC Wins Fourth Circuit Appeal -- Ruling helps fix part of the problem with NIETC. I apologize for all of the acronyms, but bear with me, this is good news. We've just won a case in front of the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that strikes a blow to the federal government's fast-tracking, environment-be-damned approach to transmission line siting under the NIETC process. The ruling makes it possible for a state utility commission to deny a transmission line project, without giving the utility a second bite at the apple at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Ruling in PEC's favor, the court overturned FERC's "expansive interpretation" of its own siting authority, and found that FERC violated Council on Environmental Quality regulations related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The decision restores a semblance of federal-state balance in the overall transmission line siting process. Although it is unlikely to influence the Dominion/TrAILCo transmission line case, the decision could impact all future transmission line cases. View the Court Ruling Court Rules: State Can Deny a Project The Fourth Circuit ruling makes it possible (once again) for a state utility commission to consider a transmission line project, weigh the pros and cons, and then make a decision to deny a permit, without fear of federal reprisal. Under FERC's prior interpretation, a utility was virtually guaranteed two shots at getting their project approved. If the state wouldn't say 'yes', the utility could try again at the federal level. Read the 4th Circuit Decision View PEC's Press Release 9th Circuit Case Still Pending This lawsuit was the first of two filed by PEC relating to the Department of Energy's National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors. The second, which seeks to overturn the DOE’s designation of multi-state corridors for transmission line siting, is pending before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This 4th Circuit ruling validates many of the arguments we've made over the past few years. Thanks for your support and continued donations to our Energy and Transmission campaign. We're working on energy efficiency and renewable bills down in Richmond, moving forward with our Virginia Supreme Court appeal, and playing an active role in the state and national discussion on transmission. Very best, Bri West Piedmont Environmental Council pecnews(a)pecva.org Received this from a friend? Sign up to receive alerts and news from PEC. This message was sent to elena.saxonhouse(a)sierraclub.org. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from The Piedmont Environmental Council, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line). pecva.org | Donate | Change E-Mail Address | Request Password Copyright © 2008 | Piedmont Environmental Council 45 Horner Street, Warrenton, Virginia 20188 Questions or Comments? Call us at (540) 347-2334 or email us at pec(a)pecva.org

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WV Action Re: EPA and the Johnson Memo
by James Kotcon 19 Feb '09

19 Feb '09

The reversal of the Johnson memo, includes the explicit statement that states with their own SIP should not rely on it as a basis for permitting. (See attached copy of the actual letter from EPA to Sierra Club). It seems like this would also apply to CTL plants such as is proposed in Mingo County, WV. I can not think of any reason why it would not. I am thinking about filing a letter with or WV DEP asking them to require emissions limits and BACT controls for CO2 for this plant. This would be a pretty big step, so I am looking for advice, but if we are going to do it, I would like to do it promptly (perhaps by Monday), perhaps with media work to go with it. If done right, this might help kill, or at least significantly delay that project. Whaddya Tink? Jim Kotcon 304-293-8822 (office) >>> Virginia Cramer <virginia.cramer(a)SIERRACLUB.ORG> 2/19/2009 10:26 AM >>> Hi all, As you know we won a great victory on Tuesday when the EPA took the first steps toward regulating global warming pollution from new coal-fired power plants. We know many of you still have questions about what exactly happened and just what it means for your local fights. David Bookbinder has put together a good summary to help answer those questions which we've posted on Clubhouse. We've also posted a copy of the letter from the EPA so you can read it in its entirety. For those of you interested in using this opportunity to do some media outreach also posted are talking points, sample LTEs and a sample op/ed. Thanks to Heather Moyer for pulling these materials together. Here is the link to the materials: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/conservation/energy/coal/coal-messaging.aspx If the link doesn't work you can get to the Clubhouse page by following these steps. 1. Go to the Clubhouse webpage http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/ 2. Click on the "Conservation" tab at the top 3. Click on "Coal" on the left hand side 4. Click on "Messaging Headquarters" Thanks, ginny --------------------- Virginia Cramer Associate Press Secretary Sierra Club tel: 804-225-9113 x 102 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp

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Transmission Line Training & Strategy Meeting
by Jim Sconyers 19 Feb '09

19 Feb '09

SAVE THE DATE and please pass this on to any person or group that might be interested - thanks! Transmission Line Training & Strategy Meeting Thursday, March 19, 2009 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Cacapon Resort State Park Berkeley Springs, West Virginia The Sierra Club is sponsoring a one-day meeting to educate activists, attorneys, public officials, and others on transmission line issues in the east. The goal of the meeting is to bring together individuals and organizations concerned about new transmission lines that are intended to expand coal-fired power generation, with an eye towards the upcoming Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) in particular. Topics we plan to cover include, among others: the PJM planning process, how to support transmission for renewables without supporting coal, alternatives to new transmission, the legal framework for transmission line siting, and lessons from the TrAILCo line. In mid-afternoon, those who are interested will break into litigation and organizing strategy groups, which will focus on concrete next steps to push for greener and more economical alternatives to coal-by-wire. Detailed agenda and schedule to follow. RSVP to Violet Lehrer at violet.lehrer(a)sierraclub.com or 415-977-5766 at your earliest convenience and no later than March 6. Please indicate in your reply whether you plan to attend one of the strategy sessions (litigation or organizing/lobbying). Please see www.cacaponresort.com for lodging and travel information, or call 1-800-CALL-WVA or 304-258-1022 to make a reservation. Lodging is also available in nearby Berkeley Springs. **Please forward widely to fellow advocates for clean, affordable power.** Elena Saxonhouse Environmental Law Fellow Sierra Club Environmental Law Program 85 Second St., 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 977-5765 (415) 977-5793 (fax) Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: Transmission Training & Strategy Meeting - March 19
by James Kotcon 18 Feb '09

18 Feb '09

Please forward to anyone you think should come. JBK >>> <Elena.Saxonhouse(a)sierraclub.org> 2/17/2009 1:57 PM >>> SAVE THE DATE Transmission Line Training & Strategy Meeting Thursday, March 19, 2009 8:30 am - 6:00 pm Cacapon Resort State Park Berkeley Springs, West Virginia The Sierra Club is sponsoring a one-day meeting to educate activists, attorneys, public officials, and others on transmission line issues in the east. The goal of the meeting is to bring together individuals and organizations concerned about new transmission lines that are intended to expand coal-fired power generation, with an eye towards the upcoming Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) in particular. Topics we plan to cover include, among others: the PJM planning process, how to support transmission for renewables without supporting coal, alternatives to new transmission, the legal framework for transmission line siting, and lessons from the TrAILCo line. In mid-afternoon, those who are interested will break into litigation and organizing strategy groups, which will focus on concrete next steps to push for greener and more economical alternatives to coal-by-wire. Detailed agenda and schedule to follow. RSVP to Violet Lehrer at violet.lehrer(a)sierraclub.com or 415-977-5766 at your earliest convenience and no later than March 6. Please indicate in your reply whether you plan to attend one of the strategy sessions (litigation or organizing/lobbying). Please see www.cacaponresort.com for lodging and travel information, or call 1-800-CALL-WVA or 304-258-1022 to make a reservation. Lodging is also available in nearby Berkeley Springs. **Please forward widely to fellow advocates for clean, affordable power.** Elena Saxonhouse Environmental Law Fellow Sierra Club Environmental Law Program 85 Second St., 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 977-5765 (415) 977-5793 (fax)

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Fwd: SB 240 (Repealing Nuke Ban) Update
by James Kotcon 18 Feb '09

18 Feb '09

To Energy Committee: Senate Bill 240 would repeal the ban on nuclear power plants in WV. It is interesting that AEP is pushing this, as this could be used to imply that AEP wants the PATH line to transport nuclear power. I think some letters to the editor in home town newspapers would be in order. Just a paragraph or two, calling on the sponsors to reconsider, and urging other Senators to vote this toxic bill down. JBK >>> <dsgjr(a)aol.com> 2/18/2009 3:51 PM >>> The Senate EIM Committee took up SB 240 this morning, and after about 45 minutes of discussion opted to send the bill to a subcommittee for further work. Chairman Mike Green appointed Sen. Jenkins to chair the subcommittee. Other members are Sens. Minard, Williams, and Deem. Senator Deem had told the committee he could not vote in favor of the bill. There was barely a quorum at the meeting this morning. Before the meeting Senator Green told me he was in favor of the bill, using the same talking points that Senator McCabe has used in the press, etc., about the ban detracting from our claim to being "the energy state." However, McCabe brought with him a cast of characters from AEP in support of the bill today. AEP is the same group of folks who fought the ban back in 1996. The chairman allowed me to address the committee in opposition to the bill, and then asked Sen. McCabe to speak in defense of the bill. We will try to attend the subcommittee meetings, but I doubt there is any way they can amend SB 240 that will be acceptable to us. Jim Pittrolo, the governor's legislative liaison told me today not to worry, that the bill wasn't going anywhere. Somehow that doesn't reassure me. Any how, that's the update for now. Don Garvin WVEC Legislative Coordinator (Danny -- Denise is not receiving the WVEC list messages. Can you check that out? She needs to be on the list. Thanks, don) **************Need a job? Find an employment agency near you. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntusye…)

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Transgas coal to gas video
by Jim Sconyers 18 Feb '09

18 Feb '09

This is pretty interesting - except PAINFULLY SLOW! Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Mon, 2/16/09, Emily.Ulmer(a)sierraclub.org <Emily.Ulmer(a)sierraclub.org> wrote: From: Emily.Ulmer(a)sierraclub.org <Emily.Ulmer(a)sierraclub.org> Subject: Coal to gas video To: bruce.nilles(a)sierraclub.org, pat.gallagher(a)sierraclub.org, andrea.issod(a)sierraclub.org, jim_scon(a)yahoo.com Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 5:51 PM Thought you might be interested in this fancy animation from Transgas's website http://www.transgasdevelopment.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i… Emily Ulmer Paralegal Sierra Club Environmental Law Program 85 Second Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 415.977.5693 415.977.5793 fax emily.ulmer(a)sierraclub.org CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL COMMUNICATION/WORK PRODUCT This e-mail may contain privileged and confidential attorney-client communications and/or attorney work product. If you receive this e-mail inadvertently, please reply to the sender and delete all versions on your system. Thank you.

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william.depaulo@gmail.com has shared: ${socialTitleEscape}
by william.depaulo＠gmail.com 17 Feb '09

17 Feb '09

william.depaulo(a)gmail.com wanted to share this with you: Detailed description of carbon sequestration project in Illinois ${socialTitleEscape} http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/02/carbonstorage.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Powered by ShareThis http://sharethis.com

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Fwd: Fw: Neill's report on hearing on GA HB 276: mountaintop removal coal billDiary for Feb 13-16, d
by James Kotcon 17 Feb '09

17 Feb '09

You might find the following description interesting, or even useful. If bills like this one from Georgia start passing elsewhere, we may actually see an end to MTR. It will be a long battle, but I am seeing an end game now. And there may be some useful lobbying ideas in here for our hearings. I like the light bulb trick, let's use it. JBK I am sure that the Sierra Club lobbyist in Georgia is an objective, calm, factual, "Nothing But The Truth" kind of guy and the language used below is an accurate representation of the hearing. :-) >>> <Paula.Carrell(a)sierraclub.org> 2/17/2009 1:25 PM >>> Subject: Neill's report on hearing on GA HB 276: mountaintop removal coal bill Feb. 16, Monday, back to the State Capitol. The Energy Subcommittee of the Rollover for GA Power Committee had a hearing on MMO’s bill to place a 5 year moratorium on new coal plants and a phase out of mountaintop removal coal from GA boilers. The Power Co witness was a droning testimony reader named Burleson, who took about 20 minutes to find all sorts of things wrong with the bill without ever dealing with any specific facts, only generalities, and the sort of half-truths Power Co planners use as their lingua franca. Basically, pass this, or anything resembling it, and everyone will move to Alabama or some other paradise where they can burn any goddamned coals they wish and we will be ruint. This is only a variation on the same shit they said 30 years ago, when they said if they couldn’t raise rates that “grass would grow in GA’s streets.” The pro-bill testimony was refreshingly good, and reached the committee in ways that GA Power and that pathetic liar ex-Rep. Dean Alford (D-Conflict of Interest) who was there to spin nothing buy fiction about his proposed Washington Co. coal plant. He even talked about how the pine trees were going to eat the carbon from it. I think it is about time to start circulating the Dean stories from 1991, where he had to quit the legislature because he got caught lobbying for himself. Johnny Noels was very good, with a handout that the Chair, Jeff May referred to twice with respectful admiration, at the amount of cheap power available from efficiency, and Noels was clever enough to point out the EXIT sign in the back of the room, said, “It may have a low wattage fluorescent bulb in it, running 24-7, but if they put one of these,” whipping out an Edison base LED, “They can cut the use to 2% of the incandescent wattage and get the same service, and no maintenance again.” The Appalachian Voices guys were great, and have a very impressive slide show, that enabled them to totally embarrass the Power co, which said they didn’t pay too much attention to the mining technique that produced their coal; these guys said, “We do,” and proceeded to show amazing maps that they could zoom in on, and showed what a mtn top removal site looks like after they are done (17,000 acres of wasteland) and what one looks like at startup. They also had wonderful stats about costs and production totals, the fact that this is a declining resource with rising costs built in. Damning stuff. And it got the committee’s attention despite themselves.

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Fwd: Service Learning Project/ West Virginia University
by Rodger Dotson 17 Feb '09

17 Feb '09

Does anyone have an idea and be willing to get Traci started on a project? thanks, Rodger ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alex Rock <upallnightwithalex(a)yahoo.com> Date: Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:00 AM Subject: Service Learning Project/ West Virginia University To: Rodger Dotson <bhaddaka(a)gmail.com> Dear Roger, I am a graduate student at WVu and I am interested in working with the Sierra Club for a Service Learning project as part of a minor field for my PhD. Does the local chapter of the Sierra Club take on students as volunteers? I am interested in a variety of environmental areas, including the Decker's Creek clean up project and mountaintop removal. Please let me know if you would be interested in taking on a student volunteer. Your time would be minimal as there are very few forms to fill out. I would be responsible for the projectand volunteer hours. I have been a Sierra Club member for some time now, and I look forward to committing my time and effort to the local chapter here in Morgantown. Cheers Traci Scully --- On *Fri, 2/6/09, Rodger Dotson <bhaddaka(a)gmail.com>* wrote: From: Rodger Dotson <bhaddaka(a)gmail.com> Subject: February Program Meeting for the Mon Group Sierra Club To: bhaddaka(a)gmail.com Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 7:08 AM Greetings! This month we will be co-hosting a meeting with the Friends of Deckers Creek. The topic will be the drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shale. The meeting will be at 6:30 on Thursday, February 19, at the WVU Agricultural Sciences Building. The Marcellus shale, which lies beneath most of West Virginia, has the potential to be the largest natural gas source in history. While burning natural gas has lower greenhouse gas emissions than other fossil fuels, this drilling has other environmental impacts that may negatively affect our environment. To date, most of the drilling in the Marcellus shale has occurred in Pennsylvania and has resulted in increased solids in the Monongahela River. Another surface water concern is the use of proprietary chemicals used while drilling a gas well. Unfortunately, WV does not have the regulatory measures in place to adequately protect our environment from the predicted increase in drilling. Please see the attached flier for more details thanks, Rodger -- Most people think the mountains belong to the government, but actually the mountains belong to those who love them. - Dogen (1200-1253) -- Most people think the mountains belong to the government, but actually the mountains belong to those who love them. - Dogen (1200-1253)

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NYTimes.com: Is America Ready to Quit Coal?
by william.depaulo＠gmail.com 15 Feb '09

15 Feb '09

This page was sent to you by: william.depaulo(a)gmail.com. BUSINESS | February 14, 2009 Is America Ready to Quit Coal? By MELANIE WARNER With regulations to address climate change looming, coal power looks increasingly expensive. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/business/15coal.html?emc=eta1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

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