Colleagues
 
A couple of days ago, there was an article reporting how Governor Manchin has "finally" gat the attention of former President Bill Clinton about the need for coal to be the solution to our energy crisis."
 
In today's Gazette, there is a report by Tim Huber of Associated Press with the headline "Support Needed for Coal To Liquid" in section A...(I clipped it...so did not get the page number).
 
It outlines our challenge.
 
Supporters of seeking Federal Government subsidies for funding CTL, because Wall Street won't without the Government guarantees, Congressmen Rahall and Murtha and sadly, Senator Rockefeller.
 
Here's Rockefeller's statement, which is unbelievably wrong...but probably politically correct:. 
    "Coal-clean coal-must be the solution for our energy needs"....It is the only solution to our energy needs. That is what is so ridiculous about all of it.  It is what we have got.  God gave it to us"
 
There is total disregard for Global warming, and the economic opportunities that reversing it present.  We must mount a massive two part public education effort. I have tried to outline the issues below, and bear with me, as I know all of you know the issues and alternatives. 
 
First we need to refute, and educate, with independent studies and evidence, Rockefeller's arguments:
  1. There is no clean coal technology yet developed that is commercially viable.    
  2. CTL is NOT the only solution to our energy needs...by a long shot.  To start with, Energy conservation and efficiency is very low hanging fruit that can dramatically cut our imported oil addiction.
  3. The widespread independent opinions about the horrors of CTL,
  4. The truth that carbon sequestration technology on the scale that will be required is not proven or viable...as the Australians have already concluded
  5. God delivers more energy every single day in sunlight than we would need, or could consume in 20+ years.
We need to start with Rockefeller and the rest of the WV Delegation, (well maybe excluding Capito) and educate them that
  1. Solar energy is coming down in cost at such a rate that it will be competitive with coal by 2015.
  2. The Renewable energy industry, whether it be solar, wind or biomass and alternative fuels, but particularly the solar manufacturing industry is growing so rapidly that West Virginia is going to be in worse economic shape if it does not participate NOW 
  3. Several States have already embraced the inevitable switch to renewable energy, including Murtha's Pennsylvania.
  4. There needs to be aggressive support for raising the C.A.F.E. Standards...because the battery technology exists to achieve 100 m.p.g. in a plug in Prius, so the technology to get higher gas mileage is here and emerging...so Government support needs to be focused on accelerating and incentivizing its adoption. 
When can we all get together and develop a strategy, and a program to counter the effort that the CTL crowd are going to make?  I urge you all to see this as a major crisis requiring bold and immediate action. 
 
There are National organizations in addition to the Sierra Club that may have resources to help us. We need a ground swell of opposition to thwart this CTL crowd. And proposing alternatives will bring a positive focus to our efforts, and show that we are not opposed to jobs and economic development, quite the contrary, there are just as well paying jobs in renewable energy that are safer, (Sago, Utah Miners) , do not pollute or use our precious water and air.
 
We all have a lot on our plates right now, I am sure. I am quite immersed in starting anew manufacturing business, that ironically, will save jet fuel in commercial airlines when brought to fruition.
 
But stopping this CTL effort, and educating the citizens of this State that the ere are alternatives energy policies and technologies that will be better for almost everyone except the Blankenship CEO types and politicians he and his ilk have bought and paid for.  
 
I for one am ready, with my available slides and training from the Gore Climate Project, to get on the road and get "our side" of this case out there.  But I cannot do it alone....
 
Let me hear from you all...am I just a ranting old man, (I turned 75 today), or are you with me?
 
Timing is NOW...bring me your commitment so we can together move this effort forward...and it will be the best birthday present that I could ever want...
 
Allan
 
Allan Tweddle
 
Quidvis recte factum quamvis humile praeclarum
Sir Henry Royce, 1924 
 
 
Allan
 
Allan Tweddle
 
Quidvis recte factum quamvis humile praeclarum
Sir Henry Royce, 1924