I think this is worth a shot, or at least a follow-up call. The testmony in January's TrAILCo hearing made it very clear that the US-DOE specifically requested that utilities and FERC assess "what it would take to move an additional 5000 MW of coal-fired electricity from the Ohio Valley to the East Coast." TrAILCo's testimony is that this line would allow construction of another 4 coal-fired power plants. Even if such plants were not built, the line would expand the capacity factor of existing plants to allow a comparable amount of coal to be burned. Given the lower efficiency of these old dirty plants, expanding thier operation would likely be even worse than building new plants.
But a project should focus on building grass-roots support, and holding Manchin accountable, not just legal and expert witness fees. While winning court cases is important, West Virginia desperately needs to expand our base of grass roots volunteers, especiually in the mid-eastern panhandle anbd in the central part of the state (PATH will go from the John Amos plant near Putnam County north through very rural and poorly organized counties in west-central WV.) And while I do not like conspiracy theorists, it is clear from our FOIA that PSC Staff felt substantial pressure due to their perception that Manchin supported the TrAILCo line. TrAILCo began pushing Staff for a settlement shortly after the hearings concluded, yet, as recently as April 7, the PSC cheif engineer said that they had no need to settle and that TrAILCo should withdraw the application. Then April 15, the settlement is announced.
Whaddya Tink?
JBK
Regina Hendrix regina1936@verizon.net 05/17/08 1:32 AM >>>
I still have a hard time understanding why the National Coal Campaign does not recognize that defeating TrailCo and PATH would prevent construction of coal-fired power plants. If we don't build the coal fired power plants in WV, our neighbors to the East will build plants in their area which will most likely not be coal fired.
Paul Wilson wrote:
fyi, paul
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Alice McKeown* <Alice.McKeown@sierraclub.org mailto:Alice.McKeown@sierraclub.org> Date: Fri, May 16, 2008 at 4:23 PM Subject: New Coal Small Grants Program To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS@lists.sierraclub.org mailto:COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS@lists.sierraclub.org
The National Coal Campaign is pleased to announce a new small grants program for 2008. Please see the link below for further details including eligibility and how to apply.
Projects must align with the following primary goals of the National Coal Campaign: prevent the construction of a new fleet of coal-fired power plants in the United States, divert investments into clean energy alternatives, retire or replace existing coal plants, prevent the construction of coal-to-liquids plants. Grants for mining related projects will be available under a different program coming soon.
http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/conservation/energy/coal/coal-resources.aspx
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and all funds must be spent by the end of the year.
If you have any questions, please email coal grants program volunteer coordinator Verena Owen at baumling@aol.com mailto:baumling@aol.com
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