I have come to recognize that it is time to get several issues organized for the Chapter Energy Committee.
How is everyone's schedule for a conference call this week? I propose 6:30 PM, Wednesday evening, but am pretty flexible all week except Tuesday and Thursday night.
I propose that we identify major issues, and assign subcommittees of 2-3 people to take the lead on each. That way, no one is working alone, but no one has to do the homework to become the expert on every issue, and 2-3 people is small enough that things can actually get done with a phone call or two. So look over the list of issues and volunteer for the one or two you will be able to commit to.
Here are some items to consider:
1) New Energy Committee members. (Jim Kotcon, Jim Sconyers?)
2) Wind Farms. Several new proposals are before the PSC. I have asked Frank Young to monitor these, but it needs 1-2 more people.
3) Coal-To-Liquids (TransGas Development, LLC in Mingo County). The Club's Environmental Law Program in San Francisco is monitoring this one closely, and will likely want us to intervene. Bill Price has contacts with citizens in Mingo County, but we need 1-2 more volunteers.
4) Carbon Capture and Sequestration (Mason County) Also a CCS Working Group at WV-DEP is preparing rules for CCS facilities, so we should be monitoring both.
5) Fly Ash impoundments. Jim Sconyers and I drafted comments on the Kammer facility, and new federal and state rules are needed.
6) PATH. This is our big one. Bill DePaulo, Jim Kotcon, and at least 2-3 others are needed. I suggest we do one subcommittee on "local organizing", one on "fund raising", and one on "technical experts/legal strategy". Barbara Fallon is doing fundraising on this, and 1-2 more people are needed to make stuff happen on that.
7) Cap and Trade. This federal legislation is the main driver for everything we do, and so far, that anti-cap and trade folks have had all the demonstrations and media attention. We need 2-3 people who will follow up on the bill, lobby Rockefeller and Byrd, and organize local media events in support of whatever we are in support of. The Sierra Club's position is that we support Cap and Trade, but the House bill needs major strengthening. (Note: WVEC has taken the position that the House bill is hopelessly weak and complex, and they support a carbon tax as a quicker, simpler alternative. I don't see it happening, unless the Waxman bill dies.) I got a call from Associated Press Friday, asking for a response from someone in favor of it, because no one except the opponents is saying anything. We are almost invisible in West Virginia.
8) Longview Mitigation Fund. Bill Depaulo, Jim Sconyers and Jim Kotcon. This will take some effort this summer and fall, but it looks like it is a "Go".
Dos anyone else have other issues that the Energy Committee should be dealing with over the next year?
Jim Kotcon 304-293-8822 (office) 304-594-3322 (home)
P.S. Jonathon, could you add Frank Young to the EC List-serve? Then send me a current list of who is on this List-serve Thanks. JBK