Appalachian conference studies energy help

At least Kennedy paid back West Virginia for his primary win there - not that it had not already been paid for at the time, by daddy - with an initiative to help in Appalacia. It was the right thing to do, to help the poorer areas. I am not big on coal as the solution - especially not on unsafe mines, unclean coal-burning plants, and mountaintop mining and the dumping of waste into rirs and valleys, or hilsides where it will be swept down into them. Notice how little news coverage there was of the disaster in the valley where the coal-ash or whatever it was, contaminated that huge area. That was attributable to human folly, nd not to nature, and someone did not ant to offend the culprits by reporting too much about it, perhaps. We need to know what special interest control every news outlet, and also what other special economic interests are controlled by the folks who control the news outlets. As much dislcosure for the media, as for any candidate or office-holder, would be very helpful.

P. S. the anti-Kennedy attack was on Joe, Sr., and maybe Bobby if he knew about it, and not necessarily on Jack, if they did not tell him how he was going to win. He might have thought it was due to his own charming self, and the wonderful Houston speech (I think that's where it was) on religion and politics, and separation of church and state. Something many in the Catholic clergy need to relearn! and not only Catholics.The theocrats of all relgions - even the snooty hightoned ones in England, with their Established Church,

And we need more than just charitable gestures toward poor areas, we need eal invstments in a sustainable energy future, and that is wind, solar, water, geothermal, conservation, and energy efficiency, including green buildings and white roofs and roads that reflect sunlight, instead of absorbing it, in warm sunny climates.

The mountains this region boasts are a gold mine for every ridge-dwelling landowner. It's time to stop talking about corporate level renewables and put wind/solar capability in the hands of every homeowner who can install it. Right-Now residential and commercial installations could reduce large power plant demand by 50%, would encourage a trend toward more independent local power grids, and better protect power consumers from local and/or regional power outages.

Net metering possibilities (depending on state law) could provide a source of income to small power producers, if not just greatly offset annual power bills.

Appalachia has historically been a wealth of resources, energy, and natural beauty. It's time for the region to set a new standard for the nation. It's time for Appalachia to power herself.