To Energy Committee:

Senate Bill 240 would repeal the ban on nuclear power plants in WV. It is interesting that AEP is pushing this, as this could be used to imply that AEP wants the PATH line to transport nuclear power.

I think some letters to the editor in home town newspapers would be in order. Just a paragraph or two, calling on the sponsors to reconsider, and urging other Senators to vote this toxic bill down.

JBK

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dsgjr@aol.com 2/18/2009 3:51 PM >>>

The Senate EIM Committee took up SB 240 this morning, and after about 45 minutes of discussion opted to send the bill to a subcommittee for further work. Chairman Mike Green appointed Sen. Jenkins to chair the subcommittee. Other members are Sens. Minard, Williams, and Deem. Senator Deem had told the committee he could not vote in favor of the bill. There was barely a quorum at the meeting this morning. Before the meeting Senator Green told me he was in favor of the bill, using the same talking points that Senator McCabe has used in the press, etc., about the ban detracting from our claim to being "the energy state." However, McCabe brought with him a cast of characters from AEP in support of the bill today. AEP is the same group of folks who fought the ban back in 1996. The chairman allowed me to address the committee in opposition to the bill, and then asked Sen. McCabe to speak in defense of the bill.

We will try to attend the subcommittee meetings, but I doubt there is any way they can amend SB 240 that will be acceptable to us. Jim Pittrolo, the governor's legislative liaison told me today not to worry, that the bill wasn't going anywhere. Somehow that doesn't reassure me.

Any how, that's the update for now.

Don Garvin WVEC Legislative Coordinator

(Danny -- Denise is not receiving the WVEC list messages. Can you check that out? She needs to be on the list. Thanks, don) **************Need a job? Find an employment agency near you. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=employment_agencies&ncid=emlcntu...)