Comments on: Blankenship blasts Obama for “regulation-cession”

By: roselle

roselle — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:30:49 +0000

“The problem with asking for clarity from EPA is that you’ll get it,but it will be clarity you can’t live with”.

Now this is a hoot! How about clarity on Approximate Original Contour or Post Mining Development Plans. Certainly that would be clarity Don would have trouble living with. The real question is why has this taken so long?

By: Red Desert

Red Desert — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:28:43 +0000

Makes me feel much better about Obama’s environmental agenda. Truly. Blankenship rattled off a list of some of our most pressing environmental issues much better than I ever could.

Obama could use more help like this getting the positive message out.

By: JAWVMM

JAWVMM — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:51:39 +0000

Coal’s contribution to West Virginia GDP peaked in 2001 as a percentage of GDP, as well as in real dollars. It is hard to see how uncertainty caused by the new administration’s reviews of permits could be blamed for the steady decline of coal in West Virginia during the previous administration (even if we didn’t know that the current layoffs are being caused by the decline in demand for electricity).

In 2007, the last year for which the Bureau of Economic Analysis has figures available, coal contributed only 4.33% to West Virginia GDP. Coal’s contribution is down more than half a billion from 2001, while the total GDP went up over 3 billion (in constant 2000 dollars). See http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/

There have been many studies over the last few years of possibilities for revamping West Virginia’s economy, most of which acknowledge coal will be around for a while, but focus on energy conservation, sustainability, and diversification. Some coal and power companies have acknowledged the reality and are moving on. It is time for the Governor and Mr. Blankenship to do the same.

By: blue canary

blue canary — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:22:08 +0000

Yes, how dare President Obama try to protect the health of American citizens and the future of our environment. If only we were more like China, where corporations are free to pollute as they please, and over 400,000 people die every year from pollution-related diseases.