StopPATH WV

This report comes from WV intervenor Tim Higgins from Upshur County.  It seems that Tim showed up at our beloved Senator Manchin's "Call for Common Sense" tour this morning and laid in wait for his turn to address the Senator.  Allegheny Energy staff lobbyist Charlie Friddle tried to interrupt and take over, and our pal Joe pretended like he didn't know anything about PATH.  Really, Joe?  Do I have to post that ridiculous picture I received from you after we educated you at a hotel room in Charles Town last year, just to prove you're full of crap?  Anyhow, Tim challenges the rest of you WV citizens to pick up where he left off and attend one of Joe's tour events.  His groupie, Charlie, will be there, won't you?  Tim tells me that today's event was the first, the ones earlier this week were postponed due to snow, so there's lots more tour dates coming up.  Keep track of Joe's tour schedule here.  And now I turn it over to Tim:

Hi everyone,

Since I proposed this thought early enough today so I could get to Elkins by 10:30am, off I went! A google search directed me to the Wood tech center in Elkins, the only give away that Manchin was around
were the 2 state police cars. The one end of the building with the same address did not even know that Senator Manchin was in the other end of the building. No security but the 2 police officers. I bring this up for one reason. At least in Senator Manchin tours he will use low profile sites to do these town hall meetings. This one was in the Elkins industrial park. Total capacity for the room was less the 80 people and it was well attended. The link above will give you a starting place to find out where he will be next.

Now for the meat of the meeting:

After an intro from someone connected to the center, the senator gave a brief take on INSIDE Washington, telling us that he is renting a small apartment and plans to be in WV whenever possible to listen to what we are concerned about. Saying "Expect many more meetings like this one, I'm here to listen to what you have to say this is a common sense tour and West Virginans have common sense". He then went on to blast the FEDERAL EPA for pulling the clean water permit for spruce.

After an hour or so I finally got his attention. I asked that given the fact that HIS APPOINTED PSC commissioners had approved the Mt Storm to Doubs 500kv rebuild that would all but eliminate the need for PATH and the the WVPSC only need approved the
Pruntytown to Mt. Storm section to satisfy almost all of PJM's load forcasts would he be in favor of that?
His reply:
I thought PATH was dead.
That's when Charlie Friddle jumped from his seat saying that the rebuild was not to replace PATH but to add to reliability.  I came back with Charlie, you need to read the PSC docket for the last 10 days or so and see the Dominon is calling this rebuild Alternate 1 for a reason, Manchin broke in and started to talk about the deal he had brokered with TraIL. In the end Manchin made sure I got together with his staff members so my concerns would be "noted".  Was it worth the trip from Buckhannon to Elkins? I think so, now it up to all of us to follow anyone running for Govenor to
do the same thing.

What to do:

Do a google search on anyone running for governor, find out where they will be speaking and get there to make it clear WV citizens support Alternative 1 --- do you? keep after them till they agree it's a better solution.
Alternative 1 is the way to go. Don't take no for an answer.

Tim