State must balance economy and environment, Manchin says of protest

Thu. June 25, 2009; Posted: 08:41 AM

Jun 25, 2009 (The Charleston Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MEE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin isn't publicly taking sides on between Massey Energy coal miners and those protesting mountaintop-removal mining.

Manchin told reporters Wednesday that West Virginia must strike "a balance between economy and environment."

"I'm as much of an environmentalist as anybody else," the governor said. "I'm just not an obstructionist."

On Tuesday, 31 protesters -- including actress Daryl Hannah, NASA climate scientist James Hansen, and former Rep. Ken Hechler -- were arrested at a demonstration outside Massey's Goals Coal preparation plant in Raleigh County.

Several hundred miners and their family members also attended the demonstration to oppose the protesters.

"This country was built on protests," Manchin said. "I like protests."

He called it "wrong" to "say you're going to stop something completely," but also wrong to "throw caution to the wind."

The governor said the state is "trying everything we can to manage our natural resources."

He touted two of his energy initiatives that passed during the special session that ended earlier this month: post-mining land use legislation and an alternative energy portfolio, which would require the state to get 25 percent of its energy from alternative sources by 2025.

Environmentalists have criticized both for giving too much leeway to the coal industry. For instance, the energy portfolio's definition of "alternative" energy includes sources such as waste coal and fuel produced by coal gasification or liquefaction.

When asked what he thought of mountaintop-removal mining, Manchin likened the process to watching sausage being made.

Any extraction of natural resources is "tough," he said: "But it's what's built this country."

Reach Alison Knezevich at alisonk@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.

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For full details on Massey Energy Company (MEE) click here. Massey Energy Company (MEE) has Short Term PowerRatings of 5. Details on Massey Energy Company (MEE) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

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