West Virginia Blue
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Held on the grounds of our beautiful State Capitol Complex on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, and sponsored by the Coal River Wind Project this is one crowd of true mountaineers who showed, through their enthusiasm, abundant hope and firm resolve for the future of our State.
REAL mountaineers love their mountains enough to preserve them!
Regarding the "stay" orders requested of WEst Virginia's Governor by alternative energy and environmental groups, Lara Ramsburg, Gov. Manchin's communications director stated:
"It would be inappropriate for the governor to interfere in the regulatory process".
...JOE MANCHIN? NOT INTERFERE?!?
From: The State Journal: "Coal Industry Finds a Friend in Court"
"West Virginia coal interests must have sighed in relief last week, thankful that Gov. Joe Manchin's administration signed on as a friend of the court to oppose two federal court rulings that would impose greater controls over mountaintop mining." - 12/13/07
...So Manchin voluntarily testified in court against federal regulations that would prevent companies like Massey from dumping waste rock and dirt into WV rivers and streams. The same Massey that's "modernized" the coal industry, dropping to the number of miners in WV from 150,00 to 20,000. There are now more FLORISTS than miners in WV thanks to Massey!
That Coal River Mountain wind farm would permit deep mining, thus better protect our environment while employing far, far more West Virginians.
Joe Manchin: TOOL or NO TOOL? The WHOLE STATE IS WATCHING!
To any West Virginian who truly loves this state, this Coal River Mountain Wind Project makes the ultimate sense. Instead of flattening a huge area of beautiful mountains Raleigh County, WV, to get to the coal, why not place wind turbines across the area and consider deep mining the coal?
Coal River Mountain Wind Project's Community Organizer Loreli Scarbro points out the 6,600 acres
of Raleigh County, WV, which will be adversely affected under permits already granted by the state of WV.
There has already been a comprehensive study by WINDLOGICS, A nationally recognized firm commissioned by Appalachian Voices indicating that if the mountains are left standing to help harvest the wind, a total of 440 megawatts of renewable and clean energy could be generated.
According to a report in the Charleston Gazette, just last Friday, Governor Manchin announced that he'll be pushing renewable energy projects and making it the centerpiece of his next state of the state speech.
But is he willing to give Coal River Mountain Wind Project anywhere near the $200 million in tax breaks and other incentives that he's granted Consol for their filthy, outdated "coal-to-gas" conversion process? And is Governor Manchin (or his progeny) ready to stand accountable what will happen to West Virginia once Consol runs out of coal and all of our mountains are gone and our water is polluted?
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