Just catching up to this string. I can have Nick from our media team draft up some points for a reply to these pieces and run them by y'all.
Bill Price, Sierra Club Organizing Representative
Environmental Justice Program
Beyond Coal to Clean Energy Campaign
Phone 304-389-8822
Email bill.price@sierraclub.org
_____
From: Paul Wilson [mailto:pjgrunt@gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 1:38 PM To: Vivian Stockman Cc: Allan Tweddle; William V. DePaulo, Esq.; James Kotcon; bill.price@sierraclub.org; ec@osenergy.org; aaron.isherwood@sierraclub.org Subject: Re: [EC] In Beckley paper: Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
Lots of op-ed pieces seem to be in order. That said, I am in Newfoundland where they are feeling the effects of climate change first hand. So I will leave this to other to get the letters and op-eds flowing. I will certainly chip in upon my return. Could Bill P provide a format or talking points for those less well inform than those on the thread? thanks, paul p.s I will eat a cod dinner in your collective honor!
On Sun, Jul 24, 2011 at 6:11 AM, Vivian Stockman vivian@ohvec.org wrote:
Here's one from Bluefield paper:
http://bdtonline.com/columns/x202403107/Coal-powers-Bloomberg-s-New-York-jus t-as-it-does-the-rest-of-the-nation
From: Allan Tweddle [mailto:allantweddle@msn.com] Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 3:25 PM To: William V. DePaulo, Esq.; James Kotcon
Cc: ec@osenergy.org; aaron.isherwood@sierraclub.org; vivian@ohvec.org; bill.price@sierraclub.org Subject: Re: [EC] In Beckley paper: Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
Importance: High
Bill is right. The facts are on our side.
These two articles from Ken Bossing's newsletter offer additional facts worth considering. West Virginia is continuing to fall behind the global trend towards renewable energy by clinging to coal.
And I am not talking just about the jobs that would be created by a more favourable climate for renewable energy companies and installers, I am also talking about the industry that manufactures` the systems in renewable energy. We have a much greater potential in renewable energy if we established a State Economic Development Policy of aggressively pursuing the jobs intensive renewable energy systems manufacturers as well as establishing a real RPS, and real incentives for people to participate. And that's where a F.I.T. program would work.
The Silicon refining plant in Alloy WV produces silicon for, among other products, solar cells. It's shipped out of state. Blocks opf silicon must be very pure, and transporting them by truck can cause wastage. If a P.V. manufacturing plant was built next to the Alloy plant, transportation costs might be cut significantly.
But Our Economic Development Department does not pursue new technologies such as P.V. manufacturing. Believe me, my efforts to get help from that Department were fruitless, and it may have been because I have an emerging manufacturing business that addresses the carbon footprint of airlines.
Thermal Coal. like asbestos, should be left in the ground. The true cost of coal is much higher than the current prices, and there are better, cleaner and competitive alternatives, when priced fairly, that will create more jobs than the coal industry will...especially as it declines.
Allan
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY NETWORK
8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2; Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-588-4741
sustainable-energy-network@hotmail.com
Sustainable Energy News Summaries
July 23, 2011
23.) Renewables Surge to 16.4% of Net U.S. Electrical Generation in April 2011 While Nuclear's Share Drops to 18.1%:
Energy Information Administration, July 20, 2011
http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html
According to the latest issue of EIA's "Electric Power Monthly," the mix of renewable energy sources (biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) accounted for 16.38% of net U.S. electrical generation in April 2011 - the latest month for which data are available. This represents an increase of 43.68% compared to April 2010. Hydropower accounted for 10.36% of net electrical generation in April 2011 while non-hydro renewables accounted for 6.02%. By comparison, nuclear power's share of net electrical generation in April 2011 dropped to 18.05%. Year-to-date (i.e., January 1 - April 30, 2011), renewables - including hydropower - accounted for 13.74% of net electrical generation; non-hydro renewables alone accounted for 5.04%. Compared to the first four months of 2010, solar has expanded by 69.5%, hydropower has increased by 37.6%, wind has grown by 35.5%, and geothermal has expanded by 5.2%. Among renewable energy sources, only biomass-generated electricity declined - by 4.6%. On the other hand, nuclear power has dropped by 0.9% and coal has declined by 4.9%; natural gas increased by 3.6%.
26.) Report Finds Wind, Solar Power Growth Is Beginning to Outpace Coal, Nuclear:
North American Windpower, July 19, 2011 http://www.nawindpower.com/naw/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.826 4 http://www.nawindpower.com/naw/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8264
The installed capacity of wind and solar power grew faster than that of any other power technology, according to a recent analysis of the global power plant market released by Greenpeace International. In addition, renewable energy reached its biggest market share in 2010, providing enough capacity to supply electricity to the equivalent of one-third of Europe. The report also highlights how renewable energy plants accounted for more than a quarter (26%) of all new power plants added to the worldwide electricity grid over the past decade, compared to nuclear power stations, which represented 2% of new installations in the same period. The report shows that while the global wind industry added approximately 35,000 MW of capacity in 2010 alone, it took the global nuclear industry from 2000 to 2010 to achieve this. During the same period, new coal installations went into decline in every country except China.
From: William mailto:william.depaulo@gmail.com V. DePaulo, Esq.
Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2011 1:33 PM
To: James Kotcon mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu
Cc: ec@osenergy.org ; aaron.isherwood@sierraclub.org ; vivian@ohvec.org ; bill.price@sierraclub.org
Subject: Re: [EC] In Beckley paper: Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
I agree that a reasoned, calm, detailed and fact driven response would be appropriate. I think it's important NOT to take their bait and come back with a personal attack on the individuals. The facts are powerful enuf.
On Saturday, July 23, 2011, James Kotcon jkotcon@wvu.edu wrote:
I think we need to attack the short-sighted leaders who think of coal
first, and deny the reality of global warming, especially during this year of unprecedented weather.
Manchin ran his campaign by literally shooting at the Cap-And-Trade bill,
which would have included the subsidies for Clean Coal and the economic incentives needed for CCS. West Virginia's political leaders do not have any plans for developing a transition to a post-coal future, and are therefore blind to the possibilities and are locking us into ever-increasing dependence on an industry doomed to run out, and sooner than they imagine. Projections show a 40 % decline ion coal produciton in WV within 5 years, yet they continue to talk as if coal is the future of West Virginia's economic development.
I believe we need to respond soon. It will expose us to a lot of attacks,
but it will also position us as credible leaders on the issues. I think we need a press release, or even a press conference by Monday.
Whaddya Tink?
JBK
Jim Sconyers 07/23/11 8:43 AM >>>
Translation: "Coal now, coal forever! And to hell with the consequences!"
On Sat, Jul 23, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Vivian Stockman vivian@ohvec.org wrote:
July 22, 2011
Money to Sierra Club prompts boos
http://www.register-herald.com/local/x202401951/Money-to-Sierra-Club-prompt s-boos
By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter
http://www.register-herald.com/
http://www.register-herald.com/local/x202401951/Money-to-Sierra-Club-prompts -boos
An industry leader joined a union chief and political luminaries in West
Virginia in a sustained chorus of boos directed Thursday at billionaire New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's hefty gift to an environmental group bent on wiping out the coal industry.
Bloomberg disclosed he handed a $50 million donation to the Sierra Club
from his own pocket for use in the group's quest to shut down coal mining the two consider an environmental hazard.
His action triggered a swift and predictable response in coal-rich West
Virginia.
"The next time the lights go out, the people in New York City will all
know exactly whom to blame - their mayor, Michael Bloomberg," Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said from his Capitol office.
Bloomberg said his gift would enable the Sierra Club to close as many as
one-third of America's oldest coal-fired power plants by 2020.
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin weighed in on the latest controversy
involving the industry, calling coal "the most stable, cost-effective means of meeting the energy demands of our country and the world."
"With the use of our natural resources here in West Virginia, our country
becomes more energy-independent," Tomblin said.
Tomblin helped break ground on the new Willow Island hydro-electric
project near Saint Marys.
"The fact, however, that we are looking for other sources of energy - and
developing clean coal technologies - does not mean that our country can afford to no longer use coal," the governor said. "Coal must be a part of any realistic solution to meet our growing demand for energy."
Given the size of the charitable gift that could be spent on hiring
lawyers to challenge coal production and power plants alike, Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said the industry must view Bloomberg's threat seriously.
"It sends a terrible message to coal miners and families that depend on
coal, not only in West Virginia but across this country," Raney said. "It has provided energy to make steel and power throughout the history of this country. Now, all of a sudden, he's made a lot of money doing something, and he wants to put it into something that sounds pretty shallow, pretty selfish."
Raney noted the mercury hovered at 100 degrees in both New York and
Washington, D.C., and was 97 in Charleston, and questioned how Bloomberg would act if the electricity suddenly stop-ped with a lack of coal.
"Let's assume he takes all the coal generation off the grid," he said. "If
he accomplishes quickly what he wants to do, I'm wondering what he's going to do?"
The industry has been in a roiling feud with the Obama administration
over its Environmental Protection Agency's approach to mining permits, and Raney said coal operators must brace themselves for a well-heeled assault by the Sierra Club in a bid to stop coal plants and force others to retreat from remodeling plans.
"They'll just be flinging grenades, is what I think," he said. "It's
simply not fair to the people who have made a living trying to provide energy in this country. It's just like he thumbed his nose at it. It doesn't make a lick of sense."
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., found it disappointing that Bloomberg launched
an attack on coal, rather than work to achieve a balance between production and environmental concerns.
"Coal not only built this country, but it built the skyscrapers of New
York City, and, without coal, the lights of that city would be dark and its economy would be devastated," the senator said.
"I have said from day one, and will say until my last breath, that there
has to be a balance in our country between the environment as well as our economic and national security, which are threatened by this country's addiction to foreign oi