Capon Valley Coalition

Gov. Joe Manchin has put a lawyer from the law firm that represents Allegheny Power in its efforts to run TrAIL through our property and communities in charge of the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

Capon Valley Coalition has not been able to hire a lawyer to represent us before the PSC because Allegheny has already wrapped up most of the law firms in the state. Now it appears they have a lock on the misnamed Public Service Commission. How is this guy going to serve the public?

I guess that tells us where Gov. Joe Manchin stands on TrAIL. Nice job, governor. We’ll remember that.

Here is the Aug. 15 AP story from the Herald Dispatch:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former business-law attorney has been appointed chairman of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Gov. Joe Manchin announced Wednesday.

Michael A. Albert focused on public utilities and business and commercial transactions while he was a partner with the Charleston law firm of Jackson Kelly. He has been a PSC member since February, when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term. He has since been reappointed to a six-year term that expires in 2013.

Albert succeeds Jon W. McKinney, who is stepping down as chairman but will remain as a member of the commission. The third member is Jackson County resident Edward H. Staats.

“Mike was active in regulatory issues before the PSC for nearly 35 years prior to becoming commissioner,” Manchin said in a prepared statement. “His considerable experience and knowledge in this field will help ensure the commission continues to efficiently and fairly balance the needs of our citizens and businesses in utility development and regulation.”

Albert’s appointment was effective immediatley.

The PSC supervises and regulates the rates, services operations and other activities of all public utilities in the state.

Well, that explains a lot, doesn’t it?

Here’s the story, taken from Cnn.com.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Power utility Allegheny Energy Inc. spent $540,000 to lobby the federal government in the first half of 2007, according to a federal disclosure form.

The company lobbied on the topic of global climate change, Clean Air Act amendments, electric industry competition and other regulatory issues, according to the form posted online Aug. 7 by the Senate’s public records office.

In addition to Congress, Allegheny Energy lobbied the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

Allegheny Energy is based in Greensburg, Pa.