WV Wind Power Proponents Try to Save Valuable Wind Site

Update: Click here to see picture from the protest.

Citizens of the Coal River Valley of West Virginia, accompanied by supporters from throughout Appalachia and by national allies including NASA scientist James Hansen, are blocking access to a Coal River Mountain site that Massey Energy wants to prepare for blasting. The blasting would be dangerously near to a nine-billion-gallon toxic coal sludge dam. Massey has begun work on a mountaintop removal operation on Coal River Mountain, with plans to blast over underground mines beside the sludge dam. Residents are advocating for a wind farm on the site as a safe alternative for cleaner energy and long-term jobs.

Please help save Coal River Mountain! Call Governor Manchin at 1-888-438-2731 and / or use our simple web form to email the governor.

"The governor and county legislators have failed to act, so we’re acting for them,â€ Rory McIlmoil said. "Someone has to take a stand for common sense. They can’t allow the wind potential on Coal River Mountain to be destroyed, and the nearby communities endangered, for only 17 years of coal. There is a better way to develop the mountain and strengthen the local economy that will create lasting jobs and tax revenues for this county, and that’s with wind power.â€

"I fear for my friends and all the people living below this coal sludge dam,â€ said Gary Anderson, who lives near the site. "Blasting beside the dam, over underground mines, could decimate the valley for miles. The ‘experts’ said that the Buffalo Creek sludge dam was safe, but it failed. They said that the TVA sludge dam was safe, but it failed. Massey is setting up an even greater catastrophe here.â€

Residents have lost faith in their state government and taken their plea nationally. Climate expert James Hansen, the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said, "President Obama, please look at Coal River Mountain. Your strongest supporters are counting on you to stop this madness.â€

"We can’t sit by while Massey jeopardizes the lives and homes of thousands of people,â€ said Vernon Haltom of Naoma. "Governor Manchin and the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection have proven that they are unwilling to protect the citizens. What do they expect us to do? Will they wait until we’re in body bags to take this threat seriously?â€

A 2008 report by the federal Office of Surface Mining revealed serious deficiencies in the WVDEP’s regulation of coal waste dams (read news report here). In November, WVDEP approved a permit revision allowing Massey to begin the mountaintop removal operation. Despite citizens’ objections, DEP denied public participation in its decision process.

Anderson added, "We need to stop the madness and stop Massey from blowing up our beautiful mountain. We need to go with the better energy option, and that’s a wind farm, which is perfect for Coal River Mountain. We could have a green energy future for the country, starting right here.â€

For updates, photos and video footage, go to http://climategroundzero.org.

Update: This morning six were arrested after locking down to a bulldozer and excavator on Coal River Mountain.  They had giant banners that read "Save Coal River Mountainâ€ and "Wind Mills NOT Toxic Spills.â€ 

Update 2: Tuesday afternoon 8 more were arrested delivering a letter of protest to Massey as they crossed onto Massey’s property. Around 50 were there to witness the arrests.  All have been released with citations for trespassing.