I agree with Jim taht we need a strategy to win this thing. We need a strategy in order to get foundation funding for that matter. In the mean time we need to convice the ExCom that we have money to engage in effective intervention. Right now we don't have that.
Paul, How do I get on to the Sierra Clubhouse? I thought I would look around there for some mini-grants that could show good effort to the ExCom.
It is hard to get foundation money for expert witnesses. Grant making …
[View More]foundations want to give money for educational purposes generally .
Barbara
----- Original Message ----
From: James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>
To: Glen Besa <glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org>; James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>
Cc: aaron.isherwood(a)sierraclub.org; Mike Town <michael.town(a)cavtel.net>; dave.muhly(a)sierraclub.org; Paul Wilson <pjpaulgrunt(a)gmail.com>; bfallon(a)fairmontstate.edu; Peter.Martin(a)sierraclub.org; ec(a)osenergy.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 5:05:54 PM
Subject: Re: [EC] Allegheny Transmission line deadline
Glen, et al.:
The major players in Virginia are with the Piedmont Environmental Council. Several attended a regional strategy meeting in Cumberland MD last week and we are collaborating on joint letters to Congress regarding the Hinchey-Wolfe bill. But there was no discussion of cost-sharing, other than discussion of the concept that expert witnesses in one state could likely testify in other states at a much lower cost, since much of the analytical work would not need to be repeated.
The main players in PA are the Pennsylvania ECO, as well as a grassroots coalition called "Stop The Towers". They also are participating in what is currently being called the Mid Atlantic Energy Coalition. This entity apparently just was formed in the last month.
As Bill DePaulo stated, it will cost as much as we are willing to spend. We could intervene for a negligible cost, but getting the expert witnesses and spending the time to develop all the legal documents to win could cost $10,000 to $100,000, and if we had $200,000, we could spend all of that too.
I believe that this will require both the legal PSC intervention, as well as a political strategy, and a state legislative strategy, and a federal Congressional strategy to win. So if we are serious about winning, we should be developing a longer-range plan.
JBK
>>> "Glen Besa" <glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org> 6/12/2007 8:25 AM >>>
Jim,
Contact Aaron Isherwood on this powerline matter. Also, have any folks in
the VA horse country expressed an interest in supporting a WV challenge to
the power line? Do we have any idea of the cost? It is possible that VA
folks concerned about the power line thru their lands might desire to help
fight it in WV as well. Glen
Glen Besa, Regional Director
Sierra Club Appalachian Region
(DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
422 East Franklin Street, Suite 302
Richmond, VA 23219
O-804-225-9113 x 104
F-804-225-9114
C-804-387-6001
glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org
-----Original Message-----
From: James Kotcon [mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 9:09 PM
To: duane330(a)aol.com; KenW; BarbaraF; Rodger Dotson; William DePaulo; Mary
Rehmann; Paul Wilson; allantweddle; Nate Parr; James Kotcon; Sally Wilts;
brbr_fallon(a)yahoo.com
Cc: JonathonR; Beth Little; Karen Grubb; Stephen M. Walker; Autumn Bryson;
Mary Davis; Bill Price; Dave Muhly; Glen Besa; Regina Hendrix; Jim Kotcon
Subject: Allegheny Transmission line deadline
The scheduling order came out from the WV Public Service Commission today.
It specifies that petitions to intervene must be submitted within 30 days,
hence July 11 is the deadline if the Chapter wants to intervene.
I think we need a detailed plan for how to win this campaign if we are to
move forward. There is an emerging regional coalition (the Mid-Atlantic
Energy Coalition) which has representation from 4 states. Paul and I
attended a meeting last week, and there seems to be a consensus to oppose
the line, but the West Virginia portion of the case will need to be fought
by West Virginians.
JBK
_______________________________________________
EC mailing list
EC(a)osenergy.org
http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec
____________________________________________________________________________________
Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.
http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC
[View Less]
FYI:
At Aaron's request, I took the liberty of contacting Erin Chalmers to give him a status report on this issue. Erin indicated that we could file a New Matter Form before the Chapter ExCom approves intervention. This way, we could be working with National concurrently to relieve some of the time constraints from doing it sequentially. If the National Litigation Committee approves it, we would still need the Chapter ExCom's approval before proceeding, but we do not need to have these …
[View More]approvals in any specific order.
We do not need approval from other Chapters to intervene in the WV case, but since these cases are proceeding simultaneously in PA and VA, notification and collaboration would be useful and appropriate.
JBK
>>> <aaron.isherwood(a)sierraclub.org> 6/12/2007 1:59 PM >>>
Actually, for efficiency's sake, please call my colleague, attorney Erin
Chalmers **as soon as possible** at 415-977-5765.
Thanks,
Aaron
Aaron Isherwood
Senior Staff Attorney
Sierra Club Environmental Law Program
85 Second Street, 2d Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3441
Phone: (415) 977-5680
Fax: (415) 977-5793
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL COMMUNICATION/WORK PRODUCT
This e-mail may contain privileged and confidential attorney-client
communications and/or attorney work product. If you receive this e-mail
inadvertently, please reply to the sender and delete all versions on your
system.
Thank you.
"Glen Besa"
<glen.besa@sierra
club.org> To
"'James Kotcon'" <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>
06/12/2007 05:25 cc
AM "Paul Wilson"
<pjpaulgrunt(a)gmail.com>,
<dave.muhly(a)sierraclub.org>,
<aaron.isherwood(a)sierraclub.org>,
<Peter.Martin(a)sierraclub.org>,
<Peter.Martin(a)sierraclub.org>,
"'Mike Town'"
<michael.town(a)cavtel.net>
Subject
RE: Allegheny Transmission line
deadline
Jim,
Contact Aaron Isherwood on this powerline matter. Also, have any folks in
the VA horse country expressed an interest in supporting a WV challenge to
the power line? Do we have any idea of the cost? It is possible that VA
folks concerned about the power line thru their lands might desire to help
fight it in WV as well. Glen
Glen Besa, Regional Director
Sierra Club Appalachian Region
(DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
422 East Franklin Street, Suite 302
Richmond, VA 23219
O-804-225-9113 x 104
F-804-225-9114
C-804-387-6001
glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org
-----Original Message-----
From: James Kotcon [mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 9:09 PM
To: duane330(a)aol.com; KenW; BarbaraF; Rodger Dotson; William DePaulo; Mary
Rehmann; Paul Wilson; allantweddle; Nate Parr; James Kotcon; Sally Wilts;
brbr_fallon(a)yahoo.com
Cc: JonathonR; Beth Little; Karen Grubb; Stephen M. Walker; Autumn Bryson;
Mary Davis; Bill Price; Dave Muhly; Glen Besa; Regina Hendrix; Jim Kotcon
Subject: Allegheny Transmission line deadline
The scheduling order came out from the WV Public Service Commission today.
It specifies that petitions to intervene must be submitted within 30 days,
hence July 11 is the deadline if the Chapter wants to intervene.
I think we need a detailed plan for how to win this campaign if we are to
move forward. There is an emerging regional coalition (the Mid-Atlantic
Energy Coalition) which has representation from 4 states. Paul and I
attended a meeting last week, and there seems to be a consensus to oppose
the line, but the West Virginia portion of the case will need to be fought
by West Virginians.
JBK
[View Less]
Glen, et al.:
The major players in Virginia are with the Piedmont Environmental Council. Several attended a regional strategy meeting in Cumberland MD last week and we are collaborating on joint letters to Congress regarding the Hinchey-Wolfe bill. But there was no discussion of cost-sharing, other than discussion of the concept that expert witnesses in one state could likely testify in other states at a much lower cost, since much of the analytical work would not need to be repeated.
The …
[View More]main players in PA are the Pennsylvania ECO, as well as a grassroots coalition called "Stop The Towers". They also are participating in what is currently being called the Mid Atlantic Energy Coalition. This entity apparently just was formed in the last month.
As Bill DePaulo stated, it will cost as much as we are willing to spend. We could intervene for a negligible cost, but getting the expert witnesses and spending the time to develop all the legal documents to win could cost $10,000 to $100,000, and if we had $200,000, we could spend all of that too.
I believe that this will require both the legal PSC intervention, as well as a political strategy, and a state legislative strategy, and a federal Congressional strategy to win. So if we are serious about winning, we should be developing a longer-range plan.
JBK
>>> "Glen Besa" <glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org> 6/12/2007 8:25 AM >>>
Jim,
Contact Aaron Isherwood on this powerline matter. Also, have any folks in
the VA horse country expressed an interest in supporting a WV challenge to
the power line? Do we have any idea of the cost? It is possible that VA
folks concerned about the power line thru their lands might desire to help
fight it in WV as well. Glen
Glen Besa, Regional Director
Sierra Club Appalachian Region
(DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
422 East Franklin Street, Suite 302
Richmond, VA 23219
O-804-225-9113 x 104
F-804-225-9114
C-804-387-6001
glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org
-----Original Message-----
From: James Kotcon [mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 9:09 PM
To: duane330(a)aol.com; KenW; BarbaraF; Rodger Dotson; William DePaulo; Mary
Rehmann; Paul Wilson; allantweddle; Nate Parr; James Kotcon; Sally Wilts;
brbr_fallon(a)yahoo.com
Cc: JonathonR; Beth Little; Karen Grubb; Stephen M. Walker; Autumn Bryson;
Mary Davis; Bill Price; Dave Muhly; Glen Besa; Regina Hendrix; Jim Kotcon
Subject: Allegheny Transmission line deadline
The scheduling order came out from the WV Public Service Commission today.
It specifies that petitions to intervene must be submitted within 30 days,
hence July 11 is the deadline if the Chapter wants to intervene.
I think we need a detailed plan for how to win this campaign if we are to
move forward. There is an emerging regional coalition (the Mid-Atlantic
Energy Coalition) which has representation from 4 states. Paul and I
attended a meeting last week, and there seems to be a consensus to oppose
the line, but the West Virginia portion of the case will need to be fought
by West Virginians.
JBK
[View Less]
________________________________
From: Allison.Forbes(a)sierraclub.org
[mailto:Allison.Forbes@sierraclub.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:31 AM
To: michael.oleary(a)sierraclub.org; jan.oconnell(a)sierraclub.org;
spease4kc(a)everestkc.net; kathyandria(a)gmail.com; nwrpaladin(a)yahoo.com;
glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org; Murphydalzell(a)aol.com; fbdrinkwine(a)msn.com;
jsaxe(a)suscom-maine.net; standish7(a)yahoo.com;
Bob.Bingaman(a)sierraclub.org; robinmann(a)earthlink.net; APickel(a)aol.com;
…
[View More]massen(a)pacbell.net; linda.c.modica(a)mac.com; darrclarke(a)gmail.com;
bdfrank(a)centurytel.net; james.irwin(a)sierraclub.org; Ned.Ford(a)fuse.net;
blossomhoag(a)gmail.com; nancylaplaca(a)yahoo.com; dczamanske(a)hotmail.com;
boba(a)openaccess.org; jlasturner(a)socket.net; alsattler(a)igc.org;
Eadie2Act4Water(a)aol.com; stacey.kawakami(a)gmail.com;
willtoole(a)sbcglobal.net; Zichella(a)sierraclub-sac.org; fleslie(a)fit.edu;
lglustrom(a)gmail.com; bruce(a)chesdata.com; pjwray(a)verizon.net;
rainerd(a)gmail.com; jlindop(a)gmail.com; dennis.winters(a)verizon.net;
FRANKZAS(a)aol.com; BobFusinato(a)tx.rr.com; shirleyf(a)theriver.com;
Nmiller285(a)aol.com; patrea(a)execpc.com; rainmt(a)rochester.rr.com;
jerryhinkle(a)sbcglobal.net; becca.glenn(a)sierraclub.org;
shannon.harps(a)sierraclub.org; scrow(a)sover.net;
Dave.Hamilton(a)sierraclub.org; Jessica.Hodge(a)sierraclub.org;
janefeldman(a)earthlink.net; Jim(a)EarthDayLA.org;
donna.hoffman(a)sierraclub.org; jrclark(a)radiks.net; dmayhue(a)gmail.com;
alanskoalas(a)yahoo.com; ctwiliams(a)yahoo.com; kathyseal(a)gmail.com;
jonibosh(a)fastq.com; tmatteson1(a)mindspring.com;
randy.francisco(a)sierraclub.org; mark.bettinger(a)sierraclub.org;
chris.carney(a)sierraclub.org; DScott1575(a)aol.com; daveol(a)earthlink.net;
karen.woodsum(a)sierraclub.org; Cesia.Kearns(a)sierraclub.org;
rob.smith(a)sierraclub.org; p.morse(a)sbcglobal.net;
bob.muldoon(a)mindspring.com; Energy.Intern(a)sierraclub.org; glc44(a)aol.com;
jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; jim_scon(a)yahoo.com; scott.elkins(a)sierraclub.org;
sharonstephens(a)earthlink.net; ktharder(a)efg.com; worldgarden(a)igc.org;
emmapeel13(a)aol.com; toys(a)ritternet.com;
yvonne.cather(a)kansas.sierraclub.org; craig.lubow(a)kansas.sierraclub.org;
frank.drinkwine(a)kansas.sierraclub.org;
bill.griffith(a)kansas.sierraclub.org; thomas.kneil(a)wichita.edu;
craig.lubow(a)kansas.sierraclub.org; haydenb(a)bloomington.in.us;
peterfritz(a)hoosier.sierraclub.org; workmanjm(a)aol.com;
jerry.sutherland(a)comcast.net; phred(a)sunlightdata.com;
jlasturner(a)socket.net; dardenne(a)charter.net; hrbtsn(a)aol.com;
pjgrunt(a)gmail.com; regina1936(a)verizon.net; Grubb, Karen;
duane330(a)aol.com; roy.hengerson(a)sierraclub.org; Ron McLinden
Cc: scrow(a)sover.net; Dave.Hamilton(a)sierraclub.org
Subject: [energy activists and chapters] URGENT: MN NH AR KS IN OR MO WV
Importance: High
Energy Activists and Chapter staff in MN NH AR KS IN OR MO WV:
BEFORE 2pm TODAY: Ask your Senator to oppose amendments that undermine
Senator Bingaman's Renewable Electricity Standard and derail America's
path to renewable energy.
The Senate begins debate on energy legislation today. We need you to
call your Senator BEFORE 2pm Eastern. Please use the talking points
below to engage grassroots and grasstops. The vote on the amendment will
happen today.
Talking points:
* Hi, my name is XXXX and I'm calling from [city, state].
* I'm calling to ask Senator XXXX to oppose Senator Domenici's
amendment to the national renewable electricity standard.
* The amendment would weaken the deployment of truly clean and
renewable electricity sources like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal.
* The renewable standard is intended to promote our development of
clean, new energy sources, not give more subsidies to the coal and
nuclear industries.
* The renewable standard provides a way to save consumers like me
money on their utility bills by increasing the competition from
renewable energy sources and reducing the demand for natural gas
* Thank you.
MN
Coleman
202.224.5641
NH
Gregg
202.224.3324
AR
Pryor
202.224.2353
Lincoln
202.224.4843
KS
Brownback
202.224.6521
IN
Bayh
202.224.5623
OR
Smith
202.224.3753
MO
McCaskill
202.224.6154
WV
Rockefeller
202.224.6472
America's use of truly clean and renewable energy could get a historic
boost from the Senate today [June 12th], but the bill is threatened by
an amendment allowing nuclear, coal and other so-called "clean" energy
sources. Senator Bingaman's (D-NM) renewable electricity standard would
require utilities to acquire 15 percent of their energy from the wind,
sun, energy crops and the heat of the earth's core by 2020. Please call
your today senator to oppose amendments that undermine Senator
Bingaman's standard and derail American's path to renewable energy.
Please call now as the vote on the amendment will happen today!
Next energy activist call: Tuesday, June 12, 8:30pm Eastern -
1-866-501-6174 - 2239223#
Find resources at: clubhouse.sierraclub.org/energy/grassroots
Allison Forbes
National Conservation Organizer
Sierra Club Global Warming and Energy Program
(202) 548-6583
[View Less]
________________________________
From: Frank Young [mailto:fyoung@mountain.net]
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 10:10 PM
To: Lew; WVHCBOARD(a)yahoogroups.com
Cc: Jim Kotcon; Bill DePaulo; Dave Saville; Grubb, Karen
Subject: Allegheny proposes rate increase for proposed transmission line
Allegheny proposes rate increase for proposed transmission line
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Allegheny Energy wants a rate increase for the
West Virginia piece of a proposed 240-mile interstate transmission line
…
[View More]after all.
The Greensburg, Pa.-based electric company asked the Public Service
Commission for a 4.2 percent rate hike last week because of a Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission decision, Allegheny spokesman Allen
Staggers said. Allegheny did not ask for an increase in March, when it
filed for PSC approval of the West Virginia portion of the transmission
line.
Since then, however, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has
reconsidered the allocation of construction costs for the project,
prompting Allegheny to seek the rate increase, Staggers said.
Construction is expected to cost about $1.3 billion.
Allegheny's 492,000 residential customers in the state would see their
bills increase about 90 cents a month if the rate hike is approved.
Allegheny plans to build the transmission line with Richmond,
Virginia-based Dominion Energy. The line would begin in Washington
County, Pa., move into Greene County, Pa., and cross West Virginia to
Loudoun County, Va.
------
Information from: The Dominion Post, http://www.dominionpost.com
[View Less]
Everyone,
My florida trip took a couple of turns. First I did not have Internet access and so I have to catch up on emails today. Second, I was in Florida longer than expected because I had to rush my mother to the emergency room for atrila fribulation. She is fine now, just a serious scare.
I am back in my office today and I will catch up with all of you.
Barbara
____________________________________________________________________________________
Choose the right car based on …
[View More]your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.
http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/
[View Less]
I am in Florida visiting my mother until June 4th. I am keeping up with the energy committee and working on funding from here in florida. I am wondering if anyone was able to get to the PA meeting?
I can't find the email that circulated re: Virginia Sierra and expert witnesses. Can anyone resend that to me? or was I dreaming again////
My body is poolside, but my thoughts are with you.
REgards,
Barbara
…
[View More]____________________________________________________________________________________
Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
[View Less]
I regret that I will not be able to attend, I am hosting a workshop at the WVU Organic Research Farm Saturday, so it would be bad form for me to blow it off.
Attached is the (near) final version of the Fact sheet and reasons to oppose that the WV Chapter Energy Committee complied. I am also attaching a draft of the New Matter Form we prepared for the WV Chapter ExCom to intervene in the WV Public Service Commission case. It is my understanding that the WV ExCom has tabled this pending a …
[View More]more detailed budget and campaign plan, as well as a better listing of allies and affiliations. The PA Chapter may find it useful.
My understanding is that the deadline to intervene in the WV case is at least a month away, I do not know the timeframe for the PA-PUC case.
Jim Kotcon
304-293-8822 (office)
304-594-3322 (home)
>>> Jonathan Rosenbaum <freesource(a)cheat.org> 5/18/2007 11:50 AM >>>
Hi EC,
Attached are directions, and the Agenda for the PA Chapter's meeting
this Saturday at State College. This will be the first time they are
discussing TrAIL, and deciding on a course of action. Jeff Schmidt,
Chair, told me that Will Burns of Stop the Towers, will be making a
power point presentation after Lunch ( http://stopthetowers.org/ ).
This is a great opportunity for us to present the situation, and
establish important alliances.
Jeff would like to know by 4:00 p.m. today whether anyone from out
Committee is planning to attend. Alternatively, we could email him a
written statement. Please email back this list if you decide on any
action. I could ride up with someone, it's about 3 hours away.
You should contact:
To Chair: Jeff Schmidt <jeff.schmidt(a)sierraclub.org>
CC Conservation Chair: Tim Wolper <twolper(a)swanzoco.com>
CC: Energy Committee <ec(a)osenergy.org>
Thanks,
Jonathan
[View Less]
Hi EC,
Attached are directions, and the Agenda for the PA Chapter's meeting
this Saturday at State College. This will be the first time they are
discussing TrAIL, and deciding on a course of action. Jeff Schmidt,
Chair, told me that Will Burns of Stop the Towers, will be making a
power point presentation after Lunch ( http://stopthetowers.org/ ).
This is a great opportunity for us to present the situation, and
establish important alliances.
Jeff would like to know by 4:00 p.m. today …
[View More]whether anyone from out
Committee is planning to attend. Alternatively, we could email him a
written statement. Please email back this list if you decide on any
action. I could ride up with someone, it's about 3 hours away.
You should contact:
To Chair: Jeff Schmidt <jeff.schmidt(a)sierraclub.org>
CC Conservation Chair: Tim Wolper <twolper(a)swanzoco.com>
CC: Energy Committee <ec(a)osenergy.org>
Thanks,
Jonathan
[View Less]