One of the attendees at the fundraiser last week raised a lot of concern about trying to make this a public outreach campaign. Any way you look at it, this will take a few dozen stable, good-paying jobs out of Preston County. How do we come out looking like the good guys to those families? The concern was that we are going to get massacred in the media.
I got a brain storm from the Michael Brune column in the latest Sierra magazine.
How about if we be pro-active and make the media campaign about pressuring First Energy to transition those jobs to energy efficiency and renewables. The message is that those old dinosaurs are over the hill and doomed to close, and the only question left is whether First Energy will take care of their workers and prepare for a New Energy Economy, or will First Energy abandon them and blame everyone but themselves. We need to be the first ones to look out for those jobs,and push First Energy to do the right thing. This also gets the conversation started about First Energy's abysmal energy efficiency program proposal, and how EE creates more jobs than keeping the plants running would.
Whaddya Tink?
Jim Kotcon
"Petra&John Wood" pbjmwood@gmail.com 12/17/2011 12:06 PM >>>
I'll be there -- John
On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 11:43 AM, Jim Sconyers jimscon@gmail.com wrote:
Folks - In my view this will be a very important meeting. With the
new SO2
rule, and now one on mercury, we have major artillery to go ahead on
our 3
target FE plants. Besides giving new ammo for shutting down these
plants,
we are also presented with the opportunity to do community outreach
and
organizing as we go to Albright etc. and : get the experts to talk
about
consequences of these rules, get FE to say what they are doing to
prepare
for the shutdowns, promote clean energy, etc.
Not the least benefit - this should be an issue that can help
revitalize
the chapter's conservation work specifically and the Chapter itself generally. Just sayin'.....
I hope to see you there and to get some good thinking and planning
started.
On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 1:54 PM, James Kotcon jkotcon@wvu.edu
wrote:
I should have checked with my wife, she is hosting a Girl Scout
meeting
that afternoon at 2 PM.
How about we move this up an hour and start at noon, be done by 2
PM?
Jim Kotcon
Jim Sconyers jimscon@gmail.com 12/6/2011 12:25 PM >>>
Folks -
We are embarking on an exciting campaign, with a huge potential payoff.
- First Energy's (Mon Power, Potomac Edison parent) Albright,
Rivesville, and Willow Island coal-burning power plants are our target.
- Retiring these plants is our goal.
- Creating public awareness and support are essential.
Some developments coming along mean that the time is now for us to
get
moving. We want to set a major public event for mid-January - which is a
lot
sooner than it sounds.
You are invited - very warmly! - to a planning session. This is a
new
venture, and we *need* your ideas and energy to make this a
success.
Planning session: Sunday, December 18, 1:00 - 3:00 (+/-) PM Jim Kotcon's/Candice Elliott's home in Morgantown (414 Tyrone Avery Road).
<directions below>
This link is a google map just to show where these three First
Energy
plants are.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216452375754882078896.0004a28d...
*Directions to Jim and Candice’s home*
From I-68, Exit 7, take Rt 857 North 1.0 mile.
Turn right onto Tyrone Avery Road.
Go 1.0 mile (watch for a sharp right followed by a sharp left at
0.7
miles, be sure to take that left).
Look for 4 mailboxes and a utility pole on the right, just before
our
driveway.
Come up the gravel drive to the second house on the right.
If you need directions help day of the meeting keep this phone
number
handy: Jim Kotcon/Candice Elliot 304.594.3322
-- Jim Sconyers jimscon@gmail.com 304.698.9628
Remember, Mother Nature bats last.
-- Jim Sconyers jimscon@gmail.com 304.698.9628
Remember, Mother Nature bats last.