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FW: STOP PATH rally program March 11/Charleston
by Grubb, Karen 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

Does anyone need a ride to E-Day and the PATH meeting in Charleston? -------------------------------------------------------------------- STOP PATH Event in Charleston March 11th In connection with the WV Environmental Council's annual E-day! events on March 11th, WV E-Council, WV Citizens Against PATH (CAP) and other organizations and interested individuals will be sponsoring a late afternoon rally and informational meeting in opposition to the proposed PATH electricity transmission … [View More]line. PATH is an acronym for Potomac-Allegheny Transmission Highline. PATH is a proposed joint venture between American Electric Power Company (AEP) of Columbus, Ohio and Allegheny Energy Company of Greensburg, PA. PATH, if approved by regulatory agencies and constructed, would be a giant 765 Kilovolt electrical power transmission line that would run 290 miles from AEP's John Amos power plant substation near St. Albans, W.Va., to a new substation near Frederick, MD. PATH would include a right-of-way swath 200 feet wide through farms and forests and other public and private properties, across up to a dozen or more WV counties, and through the state's eastern panhandle into Virginia and Maryland. The apparent purpose of PATH is to transfer coal fueled electricity from the Ohio Valley to eastern cities near the Atlantic coast. Strong local citizen opposition to PATH has developed over several months, with STOP PATH rallies and informational meetings held or soon to be held in almost every county through which PATH would pass. The STOP PATH rally in Charleston on E-day! will be held at the same location as the WVEC E-day! dinner and awards ceremony- at the Charleston Women's Club at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Virginia Street East, less than two blocks from the state capital building. The E-day! Charleston STOP PATH rally will be held from 3:30 PM until 5:00 or 5:15 PM. So if you would like to learn how to effectively work to STOP PATH, get a STOP PATH yard sign, or just learn more about PATH, then attend the STOP PATH rally at 3:30 Wednesday. We will talk about things like petitions against PATH, writing letters to the WV Public Service Commission (PSC) about PATH, and about how individuals and / or organizations can become an actual legally opposing party, called an intervener, once the PATH application is actually filed at the PSC. WV Citizens Against PATH will have a STOP PATH informational table in the capital building rotunda on E-day, with maps, signature petitions against PATH and other information. For further information or to offer to help with the Charleston STOP PATH rally, contact Frank Young, e-mail fyoung(a)mountain.net, or by telephone 304-372-3945. [View Less]

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Fw: [CCL] 2 draft policies open for comment on Clubhouse
by Jim Sconyers 04 Mar '09

04 Mar '09

FYI Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Wed, 3/4/09, Tina Schulstad <tinas715(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Tina Schulstad <tinas715(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [CCL] 2 draft policies open for comment on Clubhouse To: CCL-DELEGATES(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 11:50 AM On the Clubhouse website, 2 draft policies have now been posted that are requesting comments from Sierra Club members. Please see … [View More]

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FW: [wvec-board] Capitol Power Plant -- Judy, Elisa, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.- with thousands of others
by Grubb, Karen 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

From: wvec-board(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto:wvec-board@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cindyrank Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 7:43 AM To: fom(a)lists.riseup.net Cc: wvec-board(a)yahoogroups.com; WVHCBOARD(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [wvec-board] Capitol Power Plant -- Judy, Elisa, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.- with thousands of others WATERKEEPERS FORWARDED THIS LAST NIGHT --- ________________________________ The Huffington Post Posted March 2, 2009 | 11:05 AM (EST) Dirty Coal Has Left the … [View More]Building: Live Blog from DC <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/dirty-coal-has-left-the-b_b_ 171060.html> by Jeff Biggers (Updates will appear all day from the Capitol Climate Action in Washington, DC.) UPDATE 5:15 EST The Capitol Power Plant's days of coal are over. It's been the waiting game here: Since 2pm, over 2,000 activists have blockaded the three main gates to the Capitol Power Plant. The rather larger police turnout is impressive; clad in their best stocking caps, they dot the chain fence like lamp-posts, taking in the gregarious march with a bit of interest and fascination. No attempt at any arrest has been made. The crowd is controlled and peaceful; there is a festive atmosphere, young and old, all bundled up and dancing to keep warm on this crystal clear but chilly afternoon. The only clouds now, in this blue sky, are the coal-fired ones billowing from the Capitol plant. At 5pm, the Capitol Climate Action hailed the historic action a victory and dispersed. No arrests were made. It has been a fascinating and powerful day. Communities from across the country have come together in an amazing arm-to-arm support on the picket line. On stage in front of the main gate, tribal members from Michigan, New Mexico and Arizona have testified to the disastrous impact of coal mining in their communities, and coal-fired waste and mercury emissions in their water. Robert Kennedy, Jr., with his son and daughter at his side, made an impassioned case against the criminal elements of mountaintop removal policies and poorly enforced environmental abuse by willing coal companies. Kennedy recalled his own father's campaign to help end strip mining in the 1960s, citing the ultimate effect of mining on destroying local economies and the union movement. Kennedy called on Capitol Hill to recognize the "true costs of coal." Kennedy was hopeful, though, saying a "sea-change" had occurred with the new Obama administration. Kennedy, like all protesters, readied themselves for arrest. The End of Nature author Bill McKibben declared he had been waiting 20 years for this moment, dating back to his groundbreaking book on climate change. A series of chants of 350--the silver bullet number of parts per million of CO2--erupted. Kathy Mattea, the Grammy-award singer, beautiful weaved an old Jean Ritchie song, Blackwater, with other Appalachian ballads on coal. Judy Bonds, whose Coal River Mountain in West Virginia is literally being detonated daily by explosives, told the crowd: "I don't mind being poor, I don't mind being made fun of, but I do mind being blasted and poisoned." Dr. James Hansen called on the Obama administration and the nation's legislators to look at the root cause of climate destabilization, and reminded the crowd of the urgency of the moment. Hansen sounded the alarm on CO2 emissions over 25 years ago. Only steps away from actress Daryl Hannah, the legendary Larry Gibson, who has spent 25 years on a journey to stop mountaintop removal along his home of Kayford Mountain in West Virginia, has been standing on the line of arrest for hours. Like McKibben, this historic moment has been long in waiting. When Gibson began his crusade to end mountaintop removal two decades ago, he recalled barely being able to draw a crowd of two. While the coal industry may have invested over $40 million dollars in fictitious "clean coal" ads, the stunning array of banners and placards---Clean Coal is Like Dry Water, Coal is the Mother's Liver, Topless Mountains Are Obscene, Coal is Dirty, Power Past Coal--drove home the dirty reality of coal and coal-fired plants today. Dirty coal has indeed left the Capitol Power Plant. See you at Cliffside in Charlotte, North Carolina on April 20th for the next coal-fired plant to retire. UPDATE 1pm EST 12:55 pm EST Spirit of Justice Park Contingents of marchers are gathering in the park just to the south of the Capitol, a few blocks from the Capitol Power Plant. A long line of hundreds of younger marchers have just entered from the Powershift rally at the Capitol building. Dividing into four banner areas, Red (Power), Blue (Change), Green (Justice), and Yellow, the activists are chanting "Clean Coal is a Dirty Lie," among other chants. It's an energetic crowd, on a very windy and cold day, though the sun keeps attempting to break through the clouds. Ahjani Yepa-Sprague, from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, in Michigan, is handing out a statement that declares: "Mercury from coal-fired power plants, like this one, are of special concern to children and women of childbearing age like myself...Tribal lifeways have had to be altered because of the existing mercury in lakes and streams in Michigan....Tribal communities in Michigan and around the world are threatened by the pollution and harms caused by coal plants." Cassie Robinson, a young activist from eastern Kentucky with Mountain Justice, told me she has traveled to Washington to draw attention to climate change, the destruction of her communities from mountaintop removal, and an increasing concern about the problems of natural gas development in Appalachia, an issue often overlooked. Carl "Pete" Ramey, a great-grandfather from Wise County, Virginia, and VFW chaplain, who spent 37 years laboring in an underground mine, has just read an opening prayer: "Is faith asleep? Let it wake. Today is ours. Let's take it." Addressing the largely young crowd, Ramey recalled his increasing activism with the environmental movement after witnessing the impact of mountaintop removal in his region. "I'm inspired by these children." Author Bill McKibben held down the corner of the park with plenty of media cameras. He declared simply: "Coal is killing the planet. Green energy is going to drive us out of this recession." Kentucky farmer-poet Wendell Berry has arrived, stocking cap afixed, bracing in the cold wind as a crowd of young admirers swelled around him. The Capitol Power Plant action is set to begin in the next 30 minutes or so. 11am EST The great snow storm has passed. The clouds are parting. The sun is breaking through. Those tiny ripples of hope, that Robert Kennedy once invoked, are beginning to gather near Capitol Hill. The Capitol Power Plant: It was built at the same time the first Ford Model T cars rolled onto the streets. A century later, the Capitol plant will finally end its use of coal in the age of the iPhone and Blackberry. There's a new era in Washington, DC--a clean energy era. And with an Obama administration that wants to double our renewable energy production in three years, and has called for cap 'n trade legislation to limit carbon emissions, thousands of clean energy and coalfield activists are converging on the snow-swept streets of Washington, DC today to remind Capitol Hill that a growing and incredibly organized movement is ready to make this new clean energy era a reality. The Capitol Climate Action today is more than a historic protest against coal, coal-fired plants and their role in climate change. It's a celebration of a road map to end our dependence on our nation's dirtiest fossil fuel. For up-to-date information, see: capitolclimateaction.org The denials of coal's dirty past are over: Thousands of citizens are prepared to engage in civil disobedience at the Capitol Power Plant today to make clear the sense of urgency in dealing with climate change legislation and policy in an effective and timely manner. In anticipation of this first mass act of civil disobedience in our nation's history around climate change, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have asked the Acting Architect of the Capitol to end the use of coal at the Capitol plant as "an important demonstration of Congress' willingness to deal with the enormous challenges of global warming, energy independence and our inefficient use of finite fossil fuels." That's one small step for Congress; one giant leap for the nation, if we continue to retire the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired plants at a similar pace. In the meantime, at the other 635 coal-fired plants, over 40 percent of our nation's carbon dioxide emissions continue to erupt from electricity plant silos like as silent volcanoes of death. The urgency of this movement rings with a new message: We all live in the coalfields now. At the historic Powershift09 conference this weekend in Washington, DC, where over 12,000 students and clean energy activists gathered for a whirlwind of panels, workshops and speeches, scores of experts and community organizers in coal mining and coal-fired plant areas provided some dramatic backstory to the growing movement against climate destabilization. Elisa Young, a farm resident from Meigs County, spoke about the spike in cancer and asthma in an area beset with five coal-fired plants in southern Ohio. According to one recent study, men in Meigs County have the lowest life expectancy rate in the state. Judy Bonds, from the Coal River Mountain Watch in West Virginia, showed how near 500 mountains in central Appalachia have been toppled into the valleys, as part of mountaintop removal mining, wiping out 1,200 miles of streams, depopulating and ruining historic mountain hamlets and economies, and contaminating watersheds. The human costs of mountaintop removal have emerged as the most egregious violation of human rights in the region in our lifetimes. Chris Martin, a student from Tennessee, reminded the audience that the TVA coal ash leakages in his area last December brought out the fact that more than half of our nation's population and their water sources rest within a half hour drive of an unregulated coal ash pond and potential catastrophe. According to the American Lung Association, 24,000 Americans die prematurely from coal-fired plant pollution each year. Another 550,000 asthma attacks, 38,000 heart attacks and 12,000 hospital admissions are also attributed to coal-fired plants. In 1895, newspapers ran ads for smoke-free "clean coal" in Chicago, as the boom in coal-fired plant electricity was about to launch a new era. Over a century later, those same "clean coal" ads are still running, and the dirty coal denials are taking place. The convergence on the Capitol Power Plant in Washington, DC, marks a new era in confronting these denials. While applauding President Barack Obama's commitment renewable energy, coalfield activists and clean energy advocates are directly addressing a president still beholden to the chimera of "clean coal," it's devastating extraction counterparts and dirty coal's underlining role in the silent tsunami of climate destabilization. For those suffering the consequence of dirty coal's legacy, the time has arrived to put an end to the "clean coal" scams of the coal lobby, which not only jeopardize any efforts to pass effective climate legislation before the world climate change conference in Copenhagen in December, but continue the devastation of coal mining in Appalachia, the Midwest and the West. "What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future," Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the UN's International Panel on Climate Change, has declared. It's time for dirty coal to leave the building. Jeff Biggers is the author of The United States of Appalachia, and the forthcoming book, Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy of Coal in the Heartland (The Nation/Basic Books). [View Less]

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Fwd: Fw: Realtors Survey shows strong public support for Transit
by James Kotcon 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

Perhaps our political leaders need to get the message. JBK >>> Paula Carrell <Paula.Carrell(a)sierraclub.org> 3/2/2009 3:10 PM >>> --------------------------- cc:Mail Users----------------------------- ** Remember to DELETE the 'Sender: ...' lines above before REPLYing ** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Association of Realtors just released the results of a survey of 1,005 Americans that shows very strong support for … [View More]

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Fw: Please write DOE re: lamp standards
by Jim Sconyers 01 Mar '09

01 Mar '09

A simple but huge advance in energy savings... Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> wrote: From: Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> Subject: Please write DOE re: lamp standards To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 2:22 AM This is so heavily forwarded I can't tell where it started, but it seems appropriate, and for once we have time … [View More]to actually write the letters. - Ned In June of this year, the Department of Energy (DOE) will make a decision on efficiency standards for light bulbs, a major decision which could save 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year by 2020, and save consumers $70 billion over 30 years. In addition, it could eliminate more than 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent annual emissions of 172 coal-fired power plants. Unfortunately, the rule proposed by the previous administration falls far short and leaves significant energy and cost savings on the table. Your opportunity to reduce global warming emissions and save consumers billions of dollars is NOW. Please write a letter to the DOE asking them to demonstrate that they are serious about climate change. Urge them to adopt the more stringent standards for the fluorescent tube and incandescent reflector lamp rulemaking to gain the maximum benefits for consumers. President Obama has committed to making the US the most energy efficient country in the world and has appointed a scientist and energy efficiency advocate to lead the Department of Energy. If ever there were a time for consumers to voice their opinions and have them heard, that time is now. Please edit the attached letter to reflect your concerns and send to the Department of Energy. Thank you. ..... Charlie SAMPLE LETTER: February xx, 2009 Honorable Steven Chu Secretary U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20585-0121 Re: Fluorescent Tube and Incandescent Lamps Rulemaking Docket #: EE-2006-STD- 0131 Dear Secretary Chu, I am writing to urge you to strengthen the lighting efficiency standards proposed by the previous administration. These new standards, due to be completed in June, will cover fluorescent tube lamps, including the four foot long light bulbs found in millions of office light fixtures, and incandescent reflector lamps, the very common cone-shaped light bulbs used in “recessed can” light fixtures and track lighting. With more than 500 million fluorescent tube lamps and 265 million incandescent reflector lamps sold annually in the U.S., new standards for these products have the potential to deliver more energy and cost savings than any other ever established by the Department of Energy. Based on the Department of Energy’s analysis, strong standards for these lamps could save about 50 billion kilowatt hours per year by 2020, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of 4.4 million typical American homes. Over thirty years, strong standards could net consumers and businesses nearly $70 billion in savings and fight global warming by eliminating 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. However, the previous administration’s proposal sacrifices as much as half of these savings. Even more savings are lost because the reflector lamp proposal includes a huge loophole which leaves out about 40% of all sales. During the presidential campaign last year, President Obama promised to work to “make America the most energy efficient country in the world.” As president, he has committed to meet or beat all deadlines for new appliance and lighting standards, citing their importance for saving consumers money, spurring innovation and saving energy. By making these new lighting standards as strong as possible and closing the loophole in the reflector lamp standard, you can take a huge first step to meeting the president’s commitments. Sincerely, __,_._,___ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp [View Less]

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Stimulus Summary
by Jim Sconyers 01 Mar '09

01 Mar '09

Nice summary of the stimulus package energy provisions from Kevin Fooce. --- On Fri, 2/27/09, kevin fooce <fmoose39(a)hotmail.com> wrote: From: kevin fooce <fmoose39(a)hotmail.com> Subject: Stimulus To: "Jim Sconer" <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com> Date: Friday, February 27, 2009, 7:51 PM #yiv1060597427 #yiv454175209 .ExternalClass #EC_yiv542139351 .EC_hmmessage P {padding:0px;} #yiv1060597427 #yiv454175209 .ExternalClass #EC_yiv542139351 {font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} … [View More]How does the money make it to the people. Weatherization help is provided to people who fall below a certain income based upon the number of dependents, income, and when the home was last modernized. The home owner will have to apply to a community action agency that serves the area the home owner lives in. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant go to local governments. They need to be applied for through U.S. Dept. of Energy. Note: state is eligible but only the 10 largest counties or city are eligible. What this money is for is improving the energy efficiency of government buildings. The projects have to be ready to go very soon. One example I have for this one is Huntington has gave out 2, one for a duplex and one for a fourplex the renovated cost is about $400k. State Energy program. This is what I was talking about enacting codes to get the money to locals. R&D don't know about it. This one is a lot harder to find. Advanced Battery already gone. Energy efficient appliance is a tax credit we can all take will be mainly energy star appliances and will dependent on what is bought. Great program if used in conjunction with WV program can save residents a lot of money and some energy. Good for furnace, heat pumps, etc. RE tax credit put solar in get 30% tax credit not capped now. Also for wind, hydro, geothermal etc. We also have some RE grants available to business must have matching money. Mainly for utility scale energy projects. Available through U.S. Dept. of Energy. USDA has several programs for cities and business. Great programs but don't fall under stimulus money. Electrification is smart grid. If utilized in appropriate manner could be a good item. Smart grid technologies utilize many different products. It can be anything from a higher voltage line which can result in running 1 set of line instead of 2 or three as with Trail. If Trail was to have upgraded the present line from a 365kv to a 1.2mv they would have tripled it's capacity. "What I understand about the present line is it is a 365kv line of coarse this is just what I was told I could not confirm it in writing" Another item of interest is they have some giant batteries that can store megawatts of electricity. This is one of the items that is needed with RE. When the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine these batteries take up the slack. It is also part of a new billing idea the government has. This will show when and where the power goes and what the true loses are with it. Big field a lot to look at! Transportation big companies and government get the benefit not for WV. $500 million for retraining. Believe this would be a good time for a trade school or community college to build a RE program. Hope this helps. Kevin Fooce fooce(a)hotmail.com 304-593-2875 Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail. Sign up today. Windows Live™ Groups: Create an online spot for your favorite groups to meet. Check it out. [View Less]

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more on lamp standards
by Jim Sconyers 01 Mar '09

01 Mar '09

More info from Kevin Fooce. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Sun, 3/1/09, kevin fooce <fmoose39(a)hotmail.com> wrote: From: kevin fooce <fmoose39(a)hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Please write DOE re: lamp standards To: "Jim Sconer" <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com>, ec(a)osenergy.org, allantweddle(a)msn.com, barbara.howe(a)mail.wvu.edu, blittle(a)citynet.net, brbr_fallon(a)yahoo.com, daves(a)labyrinth.net, duane330(a)aol.com, ed.… [View More]milam(a)occ.treas.gov, edon1985(a)comcast.net, freesource(a)cheat.org, "Mike Price" <greyhawkwv(a)verizon.net>, "Jim Kotcon" <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>, marvaevon(a)aol.com, nhisbobness(a)aol.com, pamalasue922(a)verizon.net, "Paul Wilson" <pjgrunt(a)gmail.com>, regina1936(a)verizon.net, "Sally Wiltz" <sallywilts(a)yahoo.com>, "Bill DePaulo" <william.depaulo(a)gmail.com> Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 1:41 PM #yiv1673472838 .hmmessage P { margin:0px;padding:0px;} #yiv1673472838 { font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana;} Jim, I have not read the standards yet but it has been in the works for several years now. The last I have seen on this was a complete phase out of the older T-12 type fluorescent lamps and to start phasing out the T-8 type fluorescent lamps and move all new installations to the T-5 type. For some info. on the different types a standard 4' long T-12 uses 40 watts a T-8 uses 32 and a T-5 uses 25 and they will produce about the same light output. As the new types come into play they also have 2 more benefits one is each group progressively has a longer lifespan the second is a progressive decrease use of mercury. The next part of the standard is to do away with the old type incandescent bulbs. Should not have to explain this one. They also have one more part but we do not know how this is to work out yet. They are talking about LED's. The reason we do not know about this yet is we no have several types of lighting that are more efficient than the LED's. If they get industrial acceptance the LED's may not be much of a factor. The IBEW and NECA have been watching and following this and are actively watching this standard. Once I have anymore info. on how this will effect our environment I will get it to you. The electrical industry want to see this change. It is actually cheaper for us to install the most efficient products. Kevin Fooce fooce(a)hotmail.com 304-593-2875 Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 09:52:59 -0800 From: jim_scon(a)yahoo.com Subject: Fw: Please write DOE re: lamp standards To: ec(a)osenergy.org; allantweddle(a)msn.com; barbara.howe(a)mail.wvu.edu; blittle(a)citynet.net; brbr_fallon(a)yahoo.com; daves(a)labyrinth.net; duane330(a)aol.com; Ed.Milam(a)occ.treas.gov; edon1985(a)comcast.net; fmoose39(a)hotmail.com; freesource(a)cheat.org; greyhawkwv(a)Verizon.net; jkotcon(a)wvu.edu; marvaevon(a)aol.com; nhisbobness(a)aol.com; pamalasue922(a)verizon.net; pjgrunt(a)gmail.com; regina1936(a)verizon.net; sallywilts(a)yahoo.com; william.depaulo(a)gmail.com A simple but huge advance in energy savings... Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> wrote: From: Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> Subject: Please write DOE re: lamp standards To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 2:22 AM This is so heavily forwarded I can't tell where it started, but it seems appropriate, and for once we have time to actually write the letters. - Ned In June of this year, the Department of Energy (DOE) will make a decision on efficiency standards for light bulbs, a major decision which could save 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year by 2020, and save consumers $70 billion over 30 years. In addition, it could eliminate more than 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent annual emissions of 172 coal-fired power plants. Unfortunately, the rule proposed by the previous administration falls far short and leaves significant energy and cost savings on the table. Your opportunity to reduce global warming emissions and save consumers billions of dollars is NOW. Please write a letter to the DOE asking them to demonstrate that they are serious about climate change. Urge them to adopt the more stringent standards for the fluorescent tube and incandescent reflector lamp rulemaking to gain the maximum benefits for consumers. President Obama has committed to making the US the most energy efficient country in the world and has appointed a scientist and energy efficiency advocate to lead the Department of Energy. If ever there were a time for consumers to voice their opinions and have them heard, that time is now. Please edit the attached letter to reflect your concerns and send to the Department of Energy. Thank you. ..... Charlie SAMPLE LETTER: February xx, 2009 Honorable Steven Chu Secretary U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20585-0121 Re: Fluorescent Tube and Incandescent Lamps Rulemaking Docket #: EE-2006-STD- 0131 Dear Secretary Chu, I am writing to urge you to strengthen the lighting efficiency standards proposed by the previous administration. These new standards, due to be completed in June, will cover fluorescent tube lamps, including the four foot long light bulbs found in millions of office light fixtures, and incandescent reflector lamps, the very common cone-shaped light bulbs used in “recessed can” light fixtures and track lighting. With more than 500 million fluorescent tube lamps and 265 million incandescent reflector lamps sold annually in the U.S., new standards for these products have the potential to deliver more energy and cost savings than any other ever established by the Department of Energy. Based on the Department of Energy’s analysis, strong standards for these lamps could save about 50 billion kilowatt hours per year by 2020, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of 4.4 million typical American homes. Over thirty years, strong standards could net consumers and businesses nearly $70 billion in savings and fight global warming by eliminating 800 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. However, the previous administration’s proposal sacrifices as much as half of these savings. Even more savings are lost because the reflector lamp proposal includes a huge loophole which leaves out about 40% of all sales. During the presidential campaign last year, President Obama promised to work to “make America the most energy efficient country in the world.” As president, he has committed to meet or beat all deadlines for new appliance and lighting standards, citing their importance for saving consumers money, spurring innovation and saving energy. By making these new lighting standards as strong as possible and closing the loophole in the reflector lamp standard, you can take a huge first step to meeting the president’s commitments. 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CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp Windows Live™: Life without walls. Check it out. [View Less]

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Fwd: Carbon Capture and Sequestration Video Link - FYI
by James Kotcon 28 Feb '09

28 Feb '09

This is a nice visual, but it is obviously glossing over some of the risks. While much of the description is accurate, I don't think any responsible geologist would conclude that there is no risk to groundwater. The concluding sentence is "The technology is available NOW." The key word is "Available". If that is the case, industry should put their money where their mouth is, and we should insist on it as BACT. JBK >>> Carl DuPoldt <cdupoldt(a)yahoo.com> 2/28/2009 9:05 AM &… [View More]

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WV Stimulus Projects
by Jim Sconyers 27 Feb '09

27 Feb '09

Looking at the Gov's website for stimulus information: So far not a cent listed for efficiency, conservation, weatherization, public transportation, etc. One can only hope those are yet to come... Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Wed, 2/25/09, WV Democratic Party <wvparty(a)wvdemocrats.com> wrote: From: WV Democratic Party <wvparty(a)wvdemocrats.com> Subject: Obama's Speech/WV Stimulus Projects To: jim_scon(a)yahoo.… [View More]

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Fw: Ohio DP&L settlement - Summary of Case
by Jim Sconyers 27 Feb '09

27 Feb '09

Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.906.6628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Fri, 2/27/09, Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> wrote: From: Ned Ford <Ned.Ford(a)FUSE.NET> Subject: Ohio DP&L settlement - Summary of Case To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Friday, February 27, 2009, 11:19 AM On Monday, February 23rd Sierra Club settled an Electric Security Plan case with Dayton Power and Light (DP&L), along with industrial, commercial, … [View More]residential, low income and local government representatives and the Ohio Environmental Council. This case resulted from passage of Senate Bill 221 in May of 2008. The Sierra Club's primary goal was to ensure fulfillment of the energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements of SB 221. The case involved important rate reforms and other issues, some of which affect our basic strategy to improve the financial rewards for DP&L to meet and/or exceed the energy saving provisions of the new law and to maximize renewable resource use. DP&L sells about $1 billion worth of electricity each year, about 9% of Ohio's $11 billion electric spending. SB 221 requires DP&L (and the other regulated electric companies) to use energy efficiency programs to reduce their gross sales one third of one percent in 2009. The reduction goal increases each year until 2019 when new annual savings should increase 2% each year thereafter. The settlement does not change the company's requirement under SB221, but provides strong assurances that the savings will occur as stated. (About 12% of Ohio's electricity is sold by municipally owned public power companies or co-ops, which are not affected by SB 221 or State regulation). DP&L has agreed to a customer advisory group which will provide ongoing recommendations to improve program performance and cost-effectiveness. The impact will not be determined until after the year's end, but this settlement should cause DP&L to spend about $5 million on efficiency programs in 2009, which can be expected to cause about $15 million in customer cost savings, spread over some future years. Some of the savings will be retained by the company or shared with the company, depending on your perspective, to compensate for the loss of expected sales. Program costs are generally paired with avoidable costs for electricity generation, and are therefore not a direct cost to the utility, but rather replace customer costs for fuel and operation and maintenance with the cost of the efficiency programs. SB 221 also requires each Ohio regulated electric company to provide 0.25% of it's generation from renewable energy in 2009 (rising to 12.5% in 2025), but since no commercial wind exists in Ohio in 2009, the first year requirements will be met with purchases of renewable electricity from nearby states. DP&L is the smallest of the four companies directly affected by SB 221, and was the last to file a new plan. Duke settled it's ESP case last October along similar lines, although the Duke settlement includes an incentive payment for overcompliance, which we strongly support as a good economic deal for Duke customers and the environment. DP&L proposed cost recovery for efficiency programs in a different manner and was not interested in defining a plan for overcompliance, but agreed to some changes we proposed to keep that possibility open in the future. DP&L is one of the two major Ohio utilities which have some good wind resources in their service area, and apparently plans to develop some of those resources in the next few years. DP&L's plan includes provisions for net metering of customer-generated renewable power, and grid modifications to facilitate renewable energy. Terms for those elements of the plan were improved in the settlement. This case was advanced through a very effective alliance of consumer and environmental organizations which developed last year when rules to implement SB 221 were developed. This alliance has allowed sharing of analytical resources, and has probably added considerable speed to the high pressure negotiations. The alliance, led by Ohio Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander, a Sierra Club member, one time Ohio Chapter Vice Chair, and the Club's attorney for approximately 26 utility interventions in the 1990's, has substantially enhanced Ohio's move toward a sustainable and affordable energy future. Electric utility efficiency programs are well known in parts of the U.S. but are slow in coming to the lower Midwest coal producing states. In the last year Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania have embarked along similar paths. Illinois and Ohio have the strongest laws, which will take them to the level of efficiency activity that the strongest states presently have. Saving this much electricity will be enough to eliminate all new growth of greenhouse gases from electricity generation in these states, and perhaps much more, depending on the economy and how well the public and the regulators come to understand the economic benefits of these programs. For more information contact: Ned Ford Energy Advisor Sierra Club, Ohio Chapter 513/600-4200 Ned.Ford(a)fuse.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp [View Less]

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