Development Politics

Sooner or later instead of saying "no-way", we need to "find a way or make a way".
We need energy in this country in order to maintain our standard of living, I don't know the answer, but I know the answer is not "no, no, no" nor is it "yes,yes,yes".
If we continue to say "no" without finding common ground, before long we will have no say.
While Pocahontas Co. is somewhat isolated, we will be affected by world changes, so we need to learn how to do things the best way for all and no just our personal interests.

When you say "no" are you representing the majority or the minority of the people you represent?
This "no" "yes" quagmire/standoff is what has got this country in the shape it is in.
I believe with the technical expertise that this country has, a common ground can be found that doesn't harm the environment but gives the nation the energy it needs.
You will never see great gas production Poc.Co., the reserves or the delivery pipelines are not here. However I do see some relief well drilling to help ease extraction in adjoining counties.

Me, I think West Virginia has done more than its share in American energy production. Ask the widows at Upper big Branch or Sago or Aracoma. Ask those who live in the shadow of a mountaintop removal operation. Ask any of the thousands of miners who suffer the ravages of black lung. We’ve done our share. We’ve shipped millions of tons of coal out on freight trains to fire the generators of America. Go to the coal fields, say McDowell County, and look at what we’ve got back.

For years there has been a proposal to build wind turbines in Nantucket Sound off Cape Cod where they could be seen from the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. The Kennedy’s, normally great supporters of alternative energy, were outspoken in their opposition to this project. I can’t say that I blame them. Who would want their view spoiled by these monstrosities?

I really don’t think most residents of Cape Cod have sacrificed much to supply energy to America. Not, at least, since we quit burning whale oil in lamps. When they catch up with us, when there are some strip mines in Provincetown, or an oil derrick on Dennis Beach, I’ll be ready to consider whether we’ve fallen behind in our energy responsibilities. Till then, I’ll be confident in my opinion that NOBODY can say with any validity that West Virginians have not done enough to supply America with energy.

As West Virginians we ought to think more about being treated as a colony less. Most people don’t come to Pocahontas County to look at huge wind turbines blighting our skylines. We don’t need to do more for America. We need to do more for ourselves.

The “extreme statement” posted a few days ago has many errors, including:

Error #1: “People that demonstrate should stay at home in their place.” Mountaineers don’t like it when someone tells them to 'sit down and shut up.' It is the right, and duty, of every American to participate in our democracy. The rights to petition our government and to assemble freely are written into the U.S. Constitution.

Error #2: “We have been doing nitrogen fracs for almost 30 years and what has been the side effect? Not a thing.” Nitrogen fracking involves using the element nitrogen to break up rock. At normal temperatures, nitrogen is a gas. It makes up four-fifths of the air around us and is perfectly safe. On the other hand, hydraulic fracking involves pumping (by industry estimates) four million gallons of fluid down each well. The fluid contains chemicals to make it ‘slick’ and to pry open cracks. More than two dozen of the chemicals are believed to cause cancer. Others may cause brain damage and birth defects.

Error #3: “Important rules and regulations are in place.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The fracking industry knew it was in violation of laws against pumping poisons into the ground. So, in 2005, they paid Congress to pass a law that exempted them from most rules and gave them a free ride. They don’t need to obey the 'important rules and regulations' that apply to the rest of us. Now they are paying West Virginia representatives to do the same thing in this state.

Lots of us think that pumping tens of millions of gallons of poison into the ground below where we get our drinking water is both wrong and stupid. That’s why we’ve signed the petition to ban fracking in this county. You can see, and sign, the petition at the Eight-Rivers booth during Pioneer Days.

We can live without natural gas. We can’t live without clean water.