Everyone knows that West Virginia is a coal state. Or are we? As of April 2009, coal mining and other extraction industries, oil, gas, coal and timber, employ less than 3.6% of our workforce in West Virginia. Does everyone know that we have potential for wind powered energy? Is solar energy feasible for our state? Am I against miners? Not miners; but against MTR. I just see our future challenge is a responsible use of energy which must include wind, solar and natural gas.
• Regarding coal - As a source of energy, it has both helped and hurt us. In good times it provides jobs. Currently.demands for coal are low. Mine operators prefer Mountain Top Removal because it employs fewer miners and costs less money to operate. MTR hurtsWV. "It has covered 1,200 miles of streams never to be recovered. The 'overburden" from the blast of pulverized rock and dissolvable poisonous metals fills in the valleys and pollutes those streams not buried. It has destroyed 387,000 acres of forests and mountains." - Sierra Club
Although there are claims that flat mountain tops would provide economic development,there is little evidence to support the claim. In fact, poverty is growing in areas devastated by MTR. Shelley Moore Capito has supported MTR. Miners need jobs, and there is good pay when miners work, but the coal industry is closing down underground jobs in favor of MTR. Currently, we have more unemployed people in West Virginia, 7.9%, than we have employed in mining. We need to add more industry to West Virginia's economic opportunities. (http://www.workforcewv.org/lmi/)
• Regarding Wind Energy - As a source of energy, we are just cracking the surface. Wind energy could supplement coal and provide jobs. Wind energy depends on steady streams of wind found in higher elevations. MTR removes that economic prospect from West Virginia. (more coming)
• Regarding solar energy in WV -(More coming)
Independence from Foreign Oil
•Invasion and occupation led by oil interests hurt Americans. Dependence on foreign oil has caught America in financial and domestic chaos. US money pours out of our country into the pockets of repressive countries where violence is spawned. We need to cut our dependence on foreign oil now.
Paid for by the Graf for Congress Committee. Contributions to the Graf for Congress Committee are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Energy