Gov. Manchin Favors Power Line … For Now
One of our observant members in Independence, WV — yes, we have them all over the place — has found disturbing evidence that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin supports Allegheny Power’s TrAIL power line.
On Oct. 3, 2006, Manchin wrote U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman to “encourage” him to “designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors that coincide with the paths of … the Trans-Allegheny (TrAIL) project.”
He noted:
“My staff and I have reviewed both of these projects and spoken at length with AEP and AP officials regarding the benefits of the lines — benefits to the citizens of West Virginia as well as millions of citizens of other states. I support both of these projects.”
He may have “spoken at length” with a bunch of hired guns from the electric companies, but he obviously never bothered to talk to any West Virginia voters! Because we would have asked him about those so-called benefits.
You can read his entire letter at the Department of Energy Web site. Click on the “View 177″ link to open the letter. (It requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open.)
Or you can read it here. (We included the link so everyone can see where we found the letter.)
MAKE MANCHIN CHANGE HIS MIND
He needs to hear from those of us who will be dramatically affected by the “benefits” of this power line. And he needs to hear from us right now.
You can find all of his contact information — phone number, email, street address — on the Take Action page. It also has tips on what to write. So get writing.
It’s time for the governor to write another letter. This time, he needs to say NO to TrAIL.
TELL ENERGY DEPARTMENT NO TO TrAIL
If you would like to send a comment to the U.S. Department of Energy opposing TrAIL, it’s not too late!
You should refer to “Opposition to PJM Allegheny National Corridor Designation” in your email subject line, letter or phone call.
Comments go to:
Ms. Poonum Agrawal
Manager, Markets and Technical Integration
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
U.S. Department of Energy
Phone: 202-586-6048
Fax: 202-586-1472
March 4th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Rather than making West Virginians servants to their neighbors for the forseable future by building an “energy corridor”, why not take steps to put us in a position of leadership by constructing an “education corridor”? A system of elementary and secondary schools, colleges and community colleges, and universities will help this and future generations of West Virginians obtain fun, well-paying, and safe high-skilled jobs. Allowing power companies to degrade the beauty of our landscape, reduce our property values, and take our land are backwards steps. These steps reduce tax revenues. They make our state a less desirable place to live and to bring the kinds of jobs that will help West Viginians change the world.