For Immediate Release
Contact: Dea Goblirsch or Garrett Robinson (304-513-4710)
Email: news@climategroundzero.org
CHARLESTON, W.Va.- Coal River Valley residents and supporters associated with Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero delivered a letter to Governor’s Manchin’s office in the State Capitol building at 12:15 p.m. today. The statement from Coal River Valley residents calls on Manchin to use his executive powers to halt mountaintop removal mining operations on Coal River Mountain, one of the last intact mountains remaining in the Coal River Valley area.
Manchin speaks with Coal River Valley community members and supporters, credit: Chris Eischler
Governor Manchin met the letter deliverers in the antechamber of his office and spoke with Lorelei Scarbro of Rock Creek and Chuck Nelson of Glen Daniel. As of 2:30 p.m. seven young people are sitting in the antechamber, refusing to leave until Manchin moves to halt MTR on Coal River Mountain or they are forcibly removed. Security guards conveyed to them that they have permission to remain until the close of normal business hours at 5 p.m..
“We are delivering this letter to our governor with residents of the Coal River Valley,” said Miranda Miller and Angela Wiley of Morgantown, W.Va., two of the seven sitters, “We are West Virginia citizens standing in solidarity with the people who submitted comments for this letter, voicing their concerns on the dangers of blasting on Coal River Mountain.”
Sit in at the State Capitol building in Charleston, W.Va., credit: Chris Eischler
For years, local residents have expressed their concerns over the long-term health effects of their proximity to coal mining and processing operations, while scientists have stated that it devastates local ecosystems and contaminates groundwater with carcinogens and heavy metals. One of the most imminent dangers associated with the proposed Coal River Mountain operation is its proximity to the Brushy Fork sludge impoundment dam, which holds seven to nine billion gallons of toxic coal slurry.
Many Coal River Valley residents have put forth the idea of constructing of an industrial-scale wind farm on the mountain instead of MTR. The ridges on Coal River Mountain are rated as Class 7 wind sources, the highest and most productive rating. Research by the Coal River Community Wind Project has shown that a wind farm on top of the mountain could generate approximately 1.2% of West Virginia’s total energy needs and would create at least 300 jobs in the area. A wind farm will produce energy for as long as the wind blows, unlike coal – reserves of which, according to the U.S. Geologic Survey, will last only another 14 years.
“By blasting away our wind potential, we risk losing the opportunity to have jobs that would last forever,” Chuck Nelson, a retired coal miner, said, “As we face the climate crisis, we need to set an example in creating renewable energy.”
The full text of the letter can be read on the Journey Up Coal River homepage.
I’ve heard over and over about the (true) cost of coal when everything is factored in . Well let’s get down to brass tacks as I’ve been told. How about the investors buy the mountain,pay the coal company for the unmined coal,buy the turbines,pay for their installation,pay for the grid tie to the power company,and then see what the (true) cost of wind power is………..Oh and btw just who are the interested investors.
My trees in my yard seem to be getting lonely, do you think you guys could come down and fuck or hug so maybe they’d green up? Let me know if you can fit them in.
Just watched the video on Mr Ward’s site,and noticed Mr Nelson didn’t join the (long term) sit in as nicotine would not allow it.
I hope Gov. Manchin lets your fellow protesters sit there and sit there until who knows when. Get a life people you are messing with our lively hoods and taking from our children. You all disgust me you are not our fellow West Virginians you need to leave our state and don’t look back. We are tired of our air being polluted you unintelligent individuals. You might say I have a lot of anger well the answer to that would be yes I DO. My husband is laid off and I am sick to death of you folks so yes I have a lot of anger more than you would know. As bad as the economy is you would think we would be working together to keep jobs and save them rather than fight to do away with them. So yeah I am sick of it I am very sick of it and you all too.
[...] October 19, 2009 Posted by Morgan in Uncategorized. trackback Cross-posted from climategroundzero.org – way to go guys! And sign up at beyondtalk.net for more [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mountain Action, Rising Tide NA. Rising Tide NA said: Coal River Valley Residents Declare State of Emergency, Meet w/ Governor Joe Manchin; Seven Sit-In @ Governor’s Office http://bit.ly/1tvIrd [...]
[...] Climate Ground Zero For Immediate Release Contact: Dea Goblirsch or Garrett Robinson (304-513-4710) Email: news@climategroundzero.org [...]
[...] Climate Ground Zero For Immediate Release Contact: Dea Goblirsch or Garrett Robinson (304-513-4710) Email: news@climategroundzero.org [...]
[...] Cross posted from Climate Ground Zero [...]
[...] Climate Ground Zero For Immediate Release Contact: Dea Goblirsch or Garrett Robinson (304-513-4710) Email: news@climategroundzero.org [...]
[...] by Sparki in RAN General on October 21st, 2009 We have heard from coalfield residents that Massey Energy has resumed operations on Coal River Mountain in West Virginia, and that [...]
oh dude, that nicotine comment was so low and spiteful, how could you?
really? is that all y’all got?
vague threats about the IRS, stupid comments about gullibility and now the oh so devastating insult about nicotine?
come on, bring some real debate!
Alex here is a debate. At Progress a TOBACCO farmer from western NC who was a protester, said we are killing people. How many cigarrettes passed across the counter and contributed to lung problems, that may have come from his farm? Or ask Mrs. Bonds why she was not worried when the pond at Edwight was slurry from an underground mine? Maybe she has ties with UG mines? Maybe as her and Mrs. Gunnoe how much money they gave back to help your bail funds? OR really here is the BIG 1, put up or shut up. If you have something, show it. You know like info about these Wind farms, and those who are ready to invest. You people really do not have a clue. If DON was only about $$$$ and wind was a definite according to the turbines and their efficiency, he would go where the $$$ is and leave us out in the cold. That’s what you claim, and you don’t even him convinced, he doesn’t have anything to lose only gain. Right??
[...] fortunes are tied directly to King Coal. He has stated publicly that West Virginia is an extraction state. Just this week, he remarked “just cutting out coal is not feasible, it’s not going to [...]
[...] fortunes are tied directly to King Coal. He has stated publicly that West Virginia is an extraction state. Just this week, he remarked “just cutting out coal is not feasible, it’s not going to [...]