The Coal Summit
June 20-22, 2002
The Charleston Civic Center

June 20-22, 2002
Photos by Vivian Stockman

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Robert Cox, pictured here, served two terms as national president of the Sierra Club. Sierra Club has promised to help in the campaign to end mountaintop removal. 

In introducing "The Politics of Coal" panel, Ellen Fister of the Citizens Coal Council said, "Coal is a black hearted outlaw with no intention of obeying the law."  Left to right: Scott Galwitzer, Dr. David Rouse, Janet Fout, and Stephen Smith.

During her "Politics of Coal" speech, OVEC co-director Janet Fout played the Feb. 2000 "60 Minutes" tape in which former Governor Cecil Underwood (also a former coal executive who appointed three different former coal executives to head the WV Department of Environmental "Protection") stuttered and stammered as Mike Wallace asked the Gov. (seen here on the TV screen) about the $500,000 the coal industry gave him for his inaugural party. "60 Minutes" used data compiled by the People's Election Reform Coalition (PERC).  OVEC is one of the co-founders of PERC. 

The final panel of the Coal Summit was "Alternatives to Coal." Rebecca Sherman of American Rivers moderated the panel. Stephen Smith, executive director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, seen here, reminded us all that, "Energy efficiency is the most effective way to reduce coal consumption, period." He urged each and everyone us to take action by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs in our homes, one of the easiest and most proactive steps we can take to reduce the demand for coal. "If you are concreted about coal, then you need to be concerned about your electricity consumption." Visit SACE's website for many more ideas on how you can make a difference. 

For his "Alternatives to Coal" speech, Peter Adels with PennFuture reminded us that dirty electricity is the problem, and conservation and energy efficiency are the easiest part of the solution. "The cleanest kilowatt hour is the one never used."

The next part of the solution is switching NOW to cleaner energy sources--and we West Virginians can do that!

"Switching to clean electricity takes minutes," Peter said. Click here then Click on "West Virginia" to find out how. Or go directly to NewWindEnergy.  Reducing consumer demand can help end mountaintop removal!

New renewable energy industries are West Virginia's future--real and sustainable economic development.

Former U.S. Congressman and Secretary of State Ken Hechler (right) invited his friend George "the Earl of Elkview" Daugherty to help wrap up the Coal Summit with the pair's usual flair. He advised us all to continue be hellraisers like our late OVEC colleague, Laura Forman. 

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