Coal Conference Takes A Look at Mountaintop Removal
Carbon legislation soon up for debate in Congress could “make shambles out of this economy” by drastically increasing the price of energy, Manchin said, and all who see the need for coal should rally while economic concerns appear to trump environmental concerns in politics.
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“Now is the time to bring the facts out. If you want to win this war, the economy trumps everything right now and we’ve got a golden opportunity,” Manchin said. “As soon as this economy turns around, I guarantee you the environment will trump us and we’re dead.”
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Manchin also defended mountaintop removal, a method of strip mining that involves blasting away mountain peaks; he said the flat land it creates allows for development that his state and the region wouldn’t have otherwise.
“If I say in West Virginia that we are basically using every bit of disturbed land to enhance the quality of life … how in the world can a person look at me and say that’s not responsible, you can’t do that, you shouldn’t because you’re altering it,” Manchin said.
“I have a piece of land that produces very little taxes if any, it takes 50 years before you can harvest the timber, and I’ve got no tax base for the school system… . How can anybody tell me that’s what’s best for the people of West Virginia?”
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Just when I think Governor Manchin can’t get any more ignorant.
In my opinion, the economy should never trump the environment. The economy can turn around. Once you have destroyed a mountain in the name of economic prosperity, the mountain is gone forever.
We all know that though so I’m not going to waste my time talking about something most people ignore anyway.
I do want to send a short message to Manchin.
People live in this environment and I, for one, will not be sacrificed for any reason. It is going to be an uphill battle for you the entire way. With your attitude towards the environment, you should no way be the governor of a mountain state. As far as future land use for these moonscapes – how about we talk infrastructure?
There is one thing I have noticed about big money and dirty politicians – they are both dumber than hell.
I certainly hope the EPA disagrees with Manchin.
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Side note – I have another post coming soon called “Acts of God.” I know this, God must be pissed at the coalfields. THIS POST HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO RAIN 
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[This post has been edited from the original. It was brought to my attention that a couple of sentences could have been construed as threatening. I do not intend to sound threatening but I am pissed, as should a lot of people be.]
well, if you say that then we know you are a liar, questions of responsibility aside.
it just ain’t true.
Denny hold on buddy. This piece of garbage has admitted publicly on the record that the industry he is backing is diametrically opposed to environmental concerns of any kind. That is FANTASTIC because he will have to answer for this ignorant crotchgrabbing braggadocious grandstanding. Make damned sure of it
funny ain’t it.
Gawd ain’t pissed at homos getting married or them’ar atheist evilutionists teaching our kids the bible ain’t a science book. Nope. He’s pissed at a bunch of dirt and rocks and trees.
there is a deep fracture in the mythical narrative that is still used to support the status quo of economy and ethic in appalachia. the last election and the fearmongering of the religious right have helped to force this divide.
salt of the earth type folks now realize that the gubmint is lying to them. not just the federal gubmint, they knew that. but a fantastic healthy distaste and revulsion for all things gubmint works directly against MTR.
we need to have positive solutions ready to roll for the aftermath.
bless you my friend. i stand with you
Denny We all know you hate friends of coal but how do you feel about the “learning tool ” The Story of Stuff ” with Anne Leonard ? SOCIALISM ?
I think hate is a little strong – more like… dislike the way they operate. And it’s not even so much members of the friends of coal as it is the founders/leadership.
I haven’t googled “learning tool” yet but as far as “The Story of Stuff” I watched fourteen minutes of it and couldn’t stomach it any longer… and unless socialism showed up in the six minutes I didn’t watch then I don’t see it therefore I fail to see your point??
I think what we have here is you not understanding my fight. My fight is not with coal… it is strictly with mountaintop removal and those that promote mountaintop removal as a good thing. Mountaintop removal wrecks peoples homes/lives. I know this for a fact because those people are my friends. You don’t have to blow up mountains to get coal.
As far as you are concerned, don’t come to this blog and think you are going to toss me around in conversation. Instead why don’t you come to my home and I will take you to see some people who’s foundations are crumbling on their homes from the blasting after that we will visit some people that don’t have clean water to drink – you explain to them how mountaintop removal is a good thing. You wouldn’t last five minutes.
Now unless you actually can produce a decent argument in favor of mountaintop removal coal mining then I suggest you tread lightly because your time commenting here is nearing its end.