Allan, April, et al.:
We are currently pushing various political bodies to support full funding of the President's Power Plus Plan. That would provide a billion dollars for Abandoned minelands clean-up, more money for economic diversification, and a couple billion to shore up miners health and retirement funds, etc.. Unfortunately, this has run into opposition from the Coal Association who thinks that any support for funding for "economic diversification" means you support a death sentence for coal. So most of our congressional delegation is either silent or actively opposes bringing billions in federal funding to the coal fields. (Where is Senator Byrd when we need him?)
Nevertheless, we must support economic transition in the coalfields or we will have abandoned those communities to the tender mercies of the coal companies.
An opportunity to speak to the PSC may be coming up soon, as the utilities must file their "Integrated Resource Plans" with the PSC in about 10 weeks. At that point, the PSC will open a case to take public input, and I think this will be an important venue to get the PSC to think long-term about where the electric industry is going in the next 5-10 years. The PSC has directed the utilities to describe how they will address the Clean Power Plan in their IRP, so this promises to be a fairly comprehensive and important case.
Jim Kotcon
________________________________ From: April Pierson-Keating aprilkeating@gmail.com Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2015 9:25 PM To: Citizens Climate Lobby of West Virginia Cc: James Kotcon; EC@osenergy.org; Mark.Kresowik@sierraclub.org; bridget.lee@sierraclub.org; bbraun@compositetranstech.com; garyz@wvcag.org; janet.ovec@gmail.com; fyoung@mountain.net Subject: Re: [EC] Governor Tomblin Appoints Kara Cunningham Williams to Public Service Commission
Great ideas, Allan. I want to be part of it.
Whatever JB comes up with, please let me in on it.
-april
On Friday, October 9, 2015 at 1:02:19 PM UTC-4, Allan Tweddle wrote: James
Disappointing, but not surprising. We have known that the Governor preferred to find a woman from outside Charleston.
But as a lawyer with Steptoe & Johnson, are there any conflict issues? That firm is heavily involved with the utilities and coal industry.
And, with all due respect for the legal profession, he has appointed “another lawyer?” With no background in the technologies, and especially with the current ant-net metering posture that is pervasive, there is no one is in the PSC to press for embracing the future energy technology and economic trends that are well underway...instead of accepting AEP & friends to thwart progress.
I’m admittedly prejudiced, but there needs to be a non lawyer voice, preferably an engineering voice either on, or in front of the PSC.
So isn’t it time to pull together a very vociferous ground swell of citizenry that demands progress...instead of clinging to the past and preventing progress? All the environmental organizations, plus AARP, plus Union of Concerned Scientists, plus who else?
I may seek an opportunity to testify in the PSC debate over net metering, as the current trend is to embrace the Koch Brother’s ALEC approach to defeat all efforts for growth of solar energy nation wide.
I’ve also asked John Christiansen if he has any detailed statistics of the physical potential of solar in West Virginia...a market analysis so that I/we could present the economic potential to the Governor, and Legislature, with loud and consistent public statements, op-eds, etc.
Preaching to the choir won’t do it. We must loudly educate the non coal aligned citizens of WV that as coal continues to decline, solar has real economic potential for the state to
1. offer miners a place to be retrained... 2. maybe attract our young talent to stay in the State with jobs aligned with the future 3. stimulate economic growth... 4. including tax revenue... 5. reduced unemployment... 6. be a way to comply with the CPP,...rather than wasting tax dollars suing the EPA..
Any thoughts?
Allan
From: James Kotcon Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 12:05 PM To: WV Chapter Energy Committee ; Mark Kresowik ; Bridget Lee Subject: [EC] Governor Tomblin Appoints Kara Cunningham Williams to Public Service Commission
FYI.
JBK
http://www.governor.wv.gov/media/pressreleases/2015/Pages/Governor-Tomblin-A...
10/9/2015
Page Content CHARLESTON, W.Va. (October 9, 2015) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced the appointment of Kara Cunningham Williams to the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC), effective immediately. Williams will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Commissioner Jon McKinney.
“There are a number of important issues pending before the PSC, which is why I took the time to find the most appropriate person for this important job,” Gov. Tomblin said. “Kara’s professional background and community involvement in both the Lewisburg and Charleston communities make her experienced and knowledgeable on a variety of issues that come before our state’s PSC. She will be a great asset to the Commission moving forward.”
A graduate of Washington & Lee University and Harvard Law School, Williams began her career in a commercial litigation practice at Hunton & Williams in Washington, D.C. In 1999, she returned home to West Virginia, where she worked at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. During her time at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, she served on the Recruiting and Ethics Committees, while practicing commercial litigation before state and federal courts and agencies. Williams has also served as an adjunct lecturer at West Virginia University College of Law, teaching courses in Payment Systems and Appellate Advocacy.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Public Service Commission, and I appreciate Governor Tomblin’s confidence in me to serve the people of West Virginia,” Williams said. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners in this new role.”
Williams shares her personal time and community service in both Lewisburg and Charleston. Since 2006, she has served as a volunteer at the YWCA of Charleston, where she is a past President of the Board of Directors. In addition, Williams currently serves on the Board of Directors for Carnegie Hall, Inc. in Lewisburg, where she has chaired the Legislative Affairs/Arts Advocacy Committee and served as a member of the Finance Committee.
Williams’ term expires June 30, 2017.
In addition to appointing Williams, Gov. Tomblin reappointed current Commission Brooks McCabe to a term that expires June 30, 2021.
Contact Information 304-558-4977
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