With the House leadership joining the governor and the DEP in the ranks of the non-responsive state leadership, we are taking it to the federal level. The Obama administration, echoing the sentiment of many Americans, has shown a great interest in green jobs. The stimulus package includes money for green jobs and Obama even appointed a “green jobs czar,” Van Jones at the CEQ.

So we are now asking that Lisa Jackson, head of the EPA, take action to save Coal River Mountain. Administrator Jackson has the ability to reject valley fill permits which Massey still needs in order to go through with all but a fraction of the proposed mining.

Admin. Jackson gave us early hope that she would take action on Mountaintop Removal, saying the agency would be reviewing all the valley fill permits. We hoped that meant they would be rejected, thus allowing a green energy economy to get started in the West Virginia coalfields, however last week the EPA issued a disappointing statement that 90% of those permits would get their approval. This means she really needs to hear from us on Coal River Mountain.

Please Email EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and ask that she please act to save Coal River Mountain.

We are going to be joined today in our lobby efforts at the Capitol by residents of Kanawha County, so we’ll be meeting with their Delegates, many of which have signed on to the Resolution, and a few that haven’t.  Some of these Delegates are also members of the House Rules Committee.

So, here’s how we’re asking you to help.  Pick and choose from the following lists and make what calls you can, or call them all, every call helps.

The biggest calls to make are to House Speaker Rick Thompson and House Majority Leader Mike Caputo.  They are the leaders of the House of Delegates, the heads of the House Rules Committee, and neither have signed on to the Wind Resolution.  We NEED them to support the Resolution in order to have the best chance at getting it passed:

Speaker Rick Thompson (D-Wayne):  (304) 340-3210
House Maj. Leader Mike Caputo (D-Marion):  (304) 340-3249

To support the efforts of those lobbying with us today, call the following Delegates of Kanawha County and ask them to vote YES for Coal River Mountain Wind if and when the Resolution comes back to the Floor for a vote.  Neither of these Delegates have signed on yet, and neither are on the House Rules Cmte, except for Tim Armstead:

Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha):  (304) 340-3362
Mark Hunt (D-Kanawha):  (304) 340-3392
Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha):  (304) 340-3240

Then, call the Delegates listed below (especially if they’re you’re Delegate!!), thank them for signing on to the Resolution, and ask them to make sure that the Resolution gets read in the Rules Cmte, voted on and sent back to the Floor for a final reading and vote.  Each of these are on the Rules Cmte and have agreed to bring up the Resolution (so remind em of it!!):

Barbara Hatfield (D-Kanawha):  (304) 340-3140
Carrie Webster (D-Kanawha):  (304) 340-3252
Charlene Marshall (D-Monongalia):  (304) 340-3900
Mary Poling (D-Barbour):  (304) 340-3265
Scott Varner (D-Marshall):  (304) 340-3187

Finally, if you still have some breath, the following are members of the Rules Cmte that have signed onto the Resolution but may need some extra thanks and a reminder that they should lend their full support in the Committee and on the Floor of the House:

**Brent Boggs (D-Braxton):  (304) 340-3220
Ron Fragale (D-Harrison) (304) 340-3114
Joe Talbott (D-Webster): (304) 340-3116
Jim Morgan (D-Cabell):  (304) 340-3192
Harry White (D-Mingo):  (304) 340-3230

Thank you, and please continue to make calls, every day if you can!!!  Your representatives need to hear from you.  And remember, if you need some talking points or more information to help you make the calls, visit www.coalriverwind.org and click on the link for lobbying at the top of the home page.

Thanks for all your help!!

That’s not a majority yet, so we need your help.  If you live in West Virginia, please call your delegate.  Go here to find your delegate’s contact information.

And if you want to come lobby the legislature in person, please visit this page.  There will be a lobby push for the resolution this week.

Read the text of the Resolution and come back as the situation is changing rapidly.