Citizens ask WV Governor Manchin for "stay of execution" for Coal River
Mountain; Mountaintop removal (MTR) coal-mining would destroy potential
source of renewable energy, green jobs; Online video at
http://www.coalriverwind.org/?page_id=117 shows what is at stake.
CHARLESTON, W.Va., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Richmond,
Va.-based Massey Energy has announced plans to begin blasting Wednesday
(September 10, 2008) on Coal River Mountain, destroying the site of a
proposed wind farm. Community members are asking Governor Joe Manchin to
halt the mountaintop removal operation and act on his commitment to
renewable energy and to the citizens of West Virginia. Extensive research
shows that Coal River Mountain has enough wind potential to provide
electricity for over 150,000 homes, forever.
The wind farm would provide approximately 50 well-paying, permanent
jobs in an area long dependent upon sparse, temporary coal mining jobs.
This opportunity depends upon the mountain being left intact. However,
Massey Energy has issued notice for blasting at the site to begin September
10. The 10-square-mile mountaintop removal coal mining site will eliminate
both the wind energy resource and the resulting jobs as the mountain ridge
will be lowered by over 500 feet.
"We're asking Governor Manchin for a stay of execution for this
mountain," said Lorelei Scarbro, community organizer with Coal River
Mountain Watch, and a resident of Rock Creek, WV. "Once the demolition
begins, it will be very difficult to stop it, and once the mountain is
removed, it won't grow back. The potential for wind energy and good jobs
will be gone forever, along with our renewable water and forest resources."
A new online video at http://www.coalriverwind.org/?page_id=117 shows
what West Virginia stands to lose if the out-of-state coal company destroys
this major wind energy resource, a potential source of continuous power
production, local jobs and taxes for the county.
"Governor Manchin has stated that he will promote renewable energy
projects to restore West Virginia's credibility. He can preserve Coal River
Mountain as the crown jewel of the Mountain State's renewable energy
future," said Vernon Haltom, Coal River resident and Co-Director of Coal
River Mountain Watch. "He can provide the courageous leadership that will
move West Virginia and the nation toward clean energy and good jobs while
preserving communities and citizens' right to a healthy quality of life."
"The mountaintop removal plans would only provide coal jobs for 14
years, while the wind farm jobs could last forever," said Rory McIlmoil,
wind project coordinator for Coal River Mountain Watch. "The wind farm
would also create more mining jobs, since much of the coal can still be
deep mined."
The Coal River Mountain Wind campaign's online petition at
http://www.coalriverwind.org has generated over 8,000 signatures asking
Gov. Manchin to rescind the permits his administration has granted.
"We met with the governor's aide on August 21 and presented the
preferable economic alternative, but now, with blasting set to begin in a
couple of days, the situation is urgent," added Scarbro. "Gov. Manchin may
feel he needs more time to decide, but he needs to stop this blasting so
his office can look deeper into these questionable permits."
Coal River Mountain Watch and a coalition of community and
environmental groups will stand beside Coal River residents at a Rally for
Green Jobs and Healthy Mountains, centered around Coal River Mountain, on
September 16th from 5-6:30pm on the steps of the State Capitol in
Charleston, WV. They invite others to join them on that day to ask Governor
Manchin to stand behind the Coal River Mountain Wind Farm. "My family has
been here for over 100 years. Now my grandkids are here. If they start
blasting our mountain, our grandkids will have nothing to look forward to.
A wind farm would preserve everything we live for," said Emmett Withrow of
Colcord. "We think Manchin can and should rescind the permits. We know he
has the power."
SOURCE Coal River Mountain Watch, WV
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Related links:
http://www.coalriverwind.org
CONTACT:
Vernon Haltom, vernoncrmw@gmail.com, Lorelei
Scarbro, lorelei@coalriverwind.org, and Rory McIlmoil,
rory@coalriverwind.org, all of Coal River Mountain Watch,
+1-304-854-2182
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