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"Best Practices" #2 - The "Company Policy"

3/9/2011

Since taking photos of opposition vehicles is a part of PATH's "Best Practice" #1, that leads us directly to "Best Practice #2" -- The "Company Policy" on photographs at public meetings.

It's okay for PATH to take photos of the opposition at public meetings for the express purpose of having a "trophy" and to be used as some sort of funny joke where these arrogant fools ridicule the opposition. However, what happens when the opposition turns the tables on PATH and begins collecting photos of THEM at public meetings and using the photos to give the opposition a chance to heap on the ridicule? PATH doesn't like it very much! So, what do they do about it? They develop a "Company Policy" on the spot at a public meeting that prohibits photography. Riiiiiiiiight....

At the Charlie Foxtrot "public information meeting" in Frederick last fall, they developed their "policy" during the meeting because Pinky, from Charles Ryan Assoc., didn't want his picture taken while he was goofing off playing games on his iPhone. Pinky went running to Randy Palmer and, after a group crying session that would make Dr. Phil proud, a "Company Policy" was developed. Poor ol' Puddin' drew the short straw and got tasked with notifying us of the "policy". Just because I'm not tall enough to see over the heads of others across a crowded room and I was busy talking with someone else doesn't mean I don't know how the "policy" was developed. Someone tall enough to see over the crowd was watching it transpire.

Since when is the opposition under any obligation to observe PATH-dictated "Company Policy"? We don't work for you -- your gun is loaded with blanks! And it's not like we were sneaking through your backyards and peeking through your windows taking photographs (no, PATH, that's not a suggestion for a new "best practice"). You all were appearing as representatives of PATH at public meetings/hearings/functions. We can take all the photos we wish! And we did.

While PATH's interactions with the citizens were on behalf of a corporation, the citizens' interactions with PATH were entirely personal. Not quite a level playing field, was it?

Next time, don't start a battle that you don't want to fight. Lesson learned?

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Thank you, citizens!

3/8/2011

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I've been so busy fomenting insurrection that I've gotten way behind here on the blog. Fortunately, Bill has been on fire over on TPL, so there's lots of new "fixes" for the PATH junkie in all of us. I have also just updated the "World is ruled by those who show up" post with lots more comments, so check it out.

I hope you've all read Bill's post about The PATH Collapse. There is also one very significant factor that led to PATH's collapse that Bill inadvertently left off his list that I would like to write about. YOU!

We've always been more about the human factor over here, along with a healthy dose of truth and a fixation on finances. Explaining the complex has always been Bill's strong point and we all owe him our gratitude for making things so easy for us to understand. However, we didn't need two blogs doing the same thing, so I often took a different road.

Ordinary people are the reason I started doing this, and you all are still my motivation. I'm thrilled that the ordinary people can now get on with their lives... improve their homes without worrying that they are throwing money away; sell their home without having to disclose the PATH monster in the backyard; spend their evenings and weekends doing something enjoyable; and start building their vacation time again instead of wasting it all attending meetings and hearings. However, there is still much work for us to do to ensure that we can continue to live in freedom for a long while.

I hate bullies, always have. PATH was the ultimate bully and was using our own money to harass, intimidate, falsify, and trespass on us. PATH was not the bully that would be cured with a great, big hug. PATH was the bully who would only be cured by being bullied in return. Sometimes bullying itself is the only thing a bully understands and you just have to be a bigger bully to get them to leave you alone. However, they always willingly stepped right into the evil clown role we wrote for them, so I have absolutely no regrets and it never was a personal vendetta. If the PATH guys got their "fee-fees" hurt, they probably deserved it. I'd like nothing better than for them to go away and have a nice life somewhere else where they're not tormenting people.

I'm also a huge fan of the truth. It usually comes unvarnished though, because it wouldn't be the absolute truth if it was manipulated to be "nice". I'll always give it to you straight up. If you're a liar, it hurts.

But, back to the people... it is because of all of you that PATH collapsed, no matter what the lil' Coal Fella told the press. That you all stood up, resisted, pitched in when needed and hung together is the reason why PATH failed and the Opposition was victorious. Their tactics are to divide and conquer, fearmonger and ridicule the citizens. You all made those tactics fail miserably. So, for that, I thank each and every one of you!

While I have no plans to go anywhere right now, I'd like to say that I hope you readers kept coming back because you were entertained; enjoyed finding out the truth; and that we were able to keep you engaged when it seemed easier to just give up. I also hope that a few of you found a laugh here when you really felt like crying. And if there was a voyeuristic thrill or two watching PATH get exactly what they deserved over and over again, we'll call that a bonus!

Goodbye, PATH bully, it's time you left the building for good!

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There, but for the grace of God, go I

3/6/2011

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Now that we have beaten the PATH creature back down into its PJM dungeon for the time-being, we're all reflecting on our experiences over the past 2 1/2 years. We imagine what might have happened if circumstances or timing had been different. No need to use your imagination, there are hundreds of landowners in West Virginia who are living your worst nightmare. These are the folks who fought TrAIL and lost their battle at the PSC, however their battle is not yet over. These folks have been robbed of their land, robbed of the sanctity of their home and environment, and robbed of their sanity during construction of the TrAIL project, but yet they refuse to be intimidated. On March 28 and 29, a group of affected landowners will have their complaints heard before the WV-PSC in Charleston and we should all be paying attention and giving them our support. To read about the case, go to the WV-PSC website and search for case 09-1758-E-C. To read the original TrAIL case docket, search case 07-0508-E-CN. To see pictures of the TrAIL of destruction, go here.

What happened differently in the TrAIL case? It can be explained in a simple photograph which I found last night while doing a google search. If you don't recognize the characters in this photo, they are former Allegheny Energy CEO Paul Evanson, then-Governor-now-Senator Joe Manchin and FirstEnergy CEO Anthony Alexander.

I just can't help mentioning it... Evanson looks even more like Charles Montgomery Burns than ever in this photo. And what's up with his hair? Is that called the "newborn baby before they clean the crap out of his hair" look?

Here's what happened in the TrAIL case:

"The transmission headquarters was part of Allegheny Energy’s settlement with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, one of a number of concessions the utility provided in return for PSC staff dropping its contention that the need for the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line had not been demonstrated."

How did that happen?

“I got a call one day from Gov. Joe Manchin. He suggested that maybe we locate the building in West Virginia,” said Allegheny CEO Paul Evanson at Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the transmission center.
Evanson said Manchin was very persuasive as he laid out the pros of locating such a facility in the state. After carefully considering the matter, Evanson said he told Manchin that the company would locate the new facility in North Central West Virginia.
A short time later, Evanson got “another call” from Manchin. The governor suggested Fairmont as the best location.
Evanson said there were several locations, including Morgantown, under consideration, but the company hadn’t made a decision. About a week later, Manchin called him again and asked if there had been any decision about Fairmont.
Evanson said he soon realized that Fairmont’s proximity to major power lines crisscrossing North Central West Virginia made it the best choice for the transmission center.
“Three phone calls and here we are,” Evanson said.
When Manchin stepped to the podium, he joked “that it really took four phone calls, not three.”

Four phone calls. That's all it took for Joe Manchin to sell out the people of his state.

"A crowd of dignitaries laughed as they listened to Manchin’s remarks while assembled on the front porch of Allegheny Energy’s $52 million transmission facility."

While these guys were yukking it up at the grand opening, what was happening to the affected citizens that Joe sold down river? John and Janie Ives, two of the most wonderful, down-to-earth people I've ever met, were writing letter after letter to Governor Manchin, pleading for help. Manchin ignored them, afterall, he had a Transmission Headquarters Grand Opening to attend.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

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PATH Answers their own Answer (and your comments) at FERC

3/5/2011

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PATH seems to have been having a real frowny face day on Friday, which caused them to act out on their sadness and frustration.

Check the Maryland PSC docket (Case 9223) for their answer to motions requesting that dismissal be subject to conditions on refiling.

Also check out PATH's answer to the many letters from ratepayers to FERC regarding the Formal Challenge to PATH's Formula Rate Annual Update that was filed on January 21. Some letter writers were individually singled out for letter writing excellence!

The next time PATH is feeling down they should just watch this instead of acting out. Turn that frown upside down and you'll feel better without consequences or lingering regrets!

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"Best Practices" #1 - The Trophy Case

3/3/2011

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Let's take a look at some of the power company "Best Practices" that PATH has used on their opposition over the past 2 1/2 years. "Best practices" is a business buzzword used to designate a technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward which is regarded as more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. when applied to a particular condition or circumstance. The idea is that with proper processes, checks, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems and unforeseen complications. Best practices can also be defined as the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results) way of accomplishing a task, based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people.

The first "best practice" we're going to examine in this series is The Trophy Case. This particular "best practice" belongs to Allegheny Energy, although for all I know AEP does it too, they're just better at not getting caught. It became quite evident to me over time that Allegheny was the PATH partner that got dropped on its collective head a time or two too many, resulting in a distinctively diminished mental capacity (okay, these guys are just DUMB!)

The existence of a "trophy case" was revealed by PATH/
Allegheny Energy Assistant General Counsel Randy Palmer at the Harpers Ferry federal EIS meeting in July of 2010. After he made some snide remark about one opponent's StopPATH t-shirt, we decided he must be jealous because he didn't have a great group of friends with their own special t-shirts like we have. We decided to heal his bruised "fee-fees" by giving him a t-shirt of his own so he could pretend to be a part of our cool club. He told the people who presented it to him that he "collects this stuff" and had a trophy case for it. Whether it's a personal trophy case or a corporate trophy case, I don't know, but that's just sick, dude! Trophies are things that serial killers collect! The serial killer often takes something known as a trophy or souvenir, of no obvious value except to him in his fantasy world. The item is known as a trophy if it is seen as a symbol of achievement and a souvenir if it is to remind the killer of the crime. Randy also made off with one of our StopPATH hand fans at the meeting and although I told him he could have one of our "Oh no, we won't glow!" bracelets, I don't think he had the nerve to go ask the people minding the information table for one.

So, it's an Allegheny Energy "best practice" to collect trophies from the citizens they victimize so they can gloat, laugh, feel good about themselves, pave the road to hell, or whatever it is they do with their booty after they get their project built. Wow! That's one of the dumbest "best practices" I've ever encountered!

The next instance of trophy collection by an Allegheny Energy employee occurred two nights later at the Frederick EIS meeting crime scene. Senior Attorney Jeff Trout collected a photograph of a protest sign taped in the back window of an opponent's vehicle. Trout needs to work on his technique -- he walked right past me and did his collecting in plain sight and in broad daylight. Duh, Jeff, sloppiness is how serial killers get caught! Although he didn't mention that the photograph was for a trophy case (I think he was probably concentrating on not wetting his pants instead, after being confronted about his actions), I can't imagine what else he could have been planning to do with it.

"Best Practices", Allegheny Energy style! These guys have so much to teach their new co-workers at FirstEnergy!

Jeff's little photography spree kicked off a bit of "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" that resulted in "Best Practice" #2 - The Company Policy on photographs at meetings. Up next -- stay tuned!

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The world is ruled by those who show up - UPDATED!

3/3/2011

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Citizen action is what temporarily shut down the PATH project. PATH's talking heads have been trying to claim opposition had nothing to do with it, however they're only lying to themselves. We all know that if citizens had not stood up and fought this project, it would be approved and being constructed right now.

The citizens know this, and their validations have been pouring in. Here are some of the comments we have received. I have omitted the author's name for the sake of efficiency, because I just don't have time to seek permission from each person... I've got other fish to fry. If you'd like to contribute some of the comments you've received to this effort, please send them to me and I will continue to post them.

Spirit of Jefferson article where PATH denies that citizen action had anything to do with the shelving of PATH.

Hey, PATH, can you hear us now?

"Congrats and Thank You for all of your passion, energy and leadership. I wasn't sure about the peoples' chance of success in the face of major corporate forces. I am glad to have been proven misguided. "

"I would like to personally thank you both for all of the hard work you have given our community to STOP Path. You were instrumental in getting this dismissed. We could not have done it without you!!! Again my thanks for everything!!!"

"I told you time was on your side with the PATH!! I think that's great news. I don't think the further study is going to indicate a need for the project."

"OMG - I can't believe it. This is amazing!!!!!!! Congratualtions to everyone who worked so hard!!!!"

"Congrats i just heard karyn on npr thanks to all your efforts!"

"Yippee!!! You folks have done amazing work!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Thanks and congratulations to the many citizens who fought against PATH."

"Congratulations!!! You guys are a great example to all citizen action groups."

"CONGRATULATIONS!!! Everyone benefits from YOUR hard work!!"

"Every victory is worth celebrating. Catch a breath and get ready for the next round.
Best wishes!"

"This is such great news!! Let's hope that this will lead to its complete and total demise!"

"Amazing! A big thank you from Terrapin Neck."

"Thanks Patience and Keryn and Robin et al- The great rule of politics: informed pressure pressure pressure and the odds and equation will change."

"I'd like to send a BIG THANK YOU to my buddy Steve and all the folks at stoppathwv. These folks worked dilligently to stop a huge corporate boondogle from destroying the state I love so much. As a resident of romney WV I wasn't as involved directly in their battle but I sure appriciate all they have done for me and my state. HOORAY FOLKS, THE CITIZENS WIN!"

"Continue the hard work. It has paid off to this point. Thank you for sharing the information with me. I will check out the website. All states are experiencing misappropriation of funds and authorities at some level. We can learn from each other."

"I would have never bet in a million years you all could have done what you have. You have stood up to a huge corporation and won. I have restored faith in the world. Never doubt the power of the people."

"Awesome job, and to you and Patience, a big Thank you for all you do for your community and state, for the people!"

This one comes from our friends in Canada -- See March 2nd post on their blog.

"CONGRATULATIONS! This is an important battle, and we hope it will be followed by other victories. My wife and I would like to express our gratitude to you for your leadership, infatigable drive and seriousness in
fighting past and present battles against the "monster". We believe that without you we would not have achieved the present status. A big thank you goes also to all the colleagues who have fought beside you. You form a
fantastic group that must be the envy of all our neighbouring co-fighters in the surrounding states and counties. A big BRAVO and thank you again."

"You and Keryn should really feel good about your battle with PATH! I know you had many people helping you, but its takes good leadership and stamina to get a job done like this. I just was to say to you and Keryn you were outstanding! ! I am there many feel the same way. Many thanks."

"The efforts that you and your group put into STOPPATH has been laudable and the results astonishing."

"Congratulations! - Just wondering whether it's worth filing a class action suit to recoup the $$$ they've charged WV ratepayers. GREAT that StopPATH got the law in place so the Utilities can't sneak in and try to ramrod this again."

"Thank you very much for all your efforts. It is a great thing but I will continue to monitor because the ugly head may rise again."

"We, the citizens of Jefferson Co., are so proud of you and the work you have done! Keep it up!!!"

"Thanks, your input to the cause is impressive."

"I would like to thank you and appreciate all the hard work you have done for all of us. Well done !!!!!!!!"

"Congratulations! Your efforts, and the efforts of other Stop PATH leaders on the behalf of all of us are greatly appreciated! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Great job to you and Karen for spearheading the battle! Thank you for all your hard work!"

"YAAAAY!! Its the most awesomest news.... I don't have to be physically sick every time I see pictures of my little plot in Tucker County. Thanks for all your hard work, Keryn! And just like those slasher movies, we have to make sure its head is TOTALLY detached so it doesn't come back 3 times in the last five minutes."

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The big, hairy, ugly spider that is PATH

3/2/2011

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I've had a bad feeling since about 30 minutes after hearing the big news on Monday. Last week I referred to it as finding a dead mouse in your box of Cracker Jacks. Now I feel like I just swatted a big, hairy, ugly spider with a rolled up newspaper, but it managed to scurry off to a crack in the baseboard after leaving a putrid smear and several legs behind on the wall. That spider is the PATH project. Buy RAID.

A very astute StopPATH board member just sent me a link to the following article which was recently updated to add the following statement from our lil' coal fella:

"FirstEnergy spokesman Doug Colafella said it looks like completion of the project has been delayed until at least 2020, based on PJM's latest forecasts."

Oh well, I hope everyone has enjoyed the past two days. I enjoyed my 30 minutes. Back to work.

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Jefferson County celebrates!

3/1/2011

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The Jefferson County Intervenors Group (JCIG) ceased to formally exist around 5:00 this evening when the WV-PSC (who originally forced 140 individuals into this "group") issued an order dismissing the WV PATH case (without prejudice, but that's fodder for another post).

At 7:00 some of us gathered at one of our regularly scheduled Intervenors' Meetings -- this one in Summit Point. We determined that while JCIG had been dispensed with, StopPATH WV, Inc. will live on to finish the job we started.

We also came up with preliminary plans for a big, public celebration to be held in the near future when the weather warms up sufficiently for an outdoor event, to allow for the huge crowd we're expecting.

And then... it was party time! Yes, that's non-alcoholic champagne (we meet in a church basement, for goodness sake!) and I have no idea what the name of it was!

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Press

3/1/2011

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It's been a wild ride! Here are some of the newslinks from yesterday. If there are some I have missed that are different from those posted (we don't need 1,000 copies of the same AP story), please let me know.

Also, tomorrow morning, March 2, Patience and I will be on WEPM radio at 9:30 a.m. You can listen live here.

The Journal (long version of AP story) Look for more in the Journal tomorrow -- our regular reporter wasn't working yesterday.

The Hur Herald - once again, this independent, online news source comes out with the best coverage.

WV Metro News - again, not quite accurate (how do they DO this when they have a recording of what I said?) Lest any middle-aged, nerdy-looking, white guys get a false sense of security after reading that last sentence... I'm not waiting for you to attempt a comeback. Game. On. Now.

Second Journal article - Don't even get me started on some of these politicians! We all know which ones were our allies during the war.

Pittsburgh Business Times - this blog is pretty funny! Be sure to click through on the link to last year's post. Shareholders were expecting a 50-cent-per-share price bump associated with the project. Greed, not need.

Clarke Daily News - It's a very good day!

Business Week - Short AP version

WAMU/NPR Radio - This story is an absolute mess. How the reporter managed to get this screwed up in a brief, 5 minute interview I'll never know.... but he seemed to pick the right sound bite :-) However... all this wasted money was recovered from ratepayers to finance the project, money out of the pockets of landowners defending themselves, and money out of the pockets of taxpayers while the three state commissions were forced to pour more time & money down the PATH rathole for nearly 2 years while these cases dragged on.

NBC25 - CAKES uncorks the champagne!

TV3Winchester - "Worth the effort"

NJ Spotlight - Susquehanna-Roseland victims take heart because of our victory.

Loudoun Times Mirror - the last sentence is a scream!

Leesburg Today - Virginia opponents ecstatic!

Renew Grid - Someone just sent me this one with the note "This is an interesting take on it." I'd give you credit... but the only ID it gave me was your IP number.
The Weston Democrat - Good article, but the last part claims that ratepayers "would have been assessed..." We're already paying for it and will continue to do so indefinitely under PATH's "suspension" scheme! If we let them.

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Your vote needed!

3/1/2011

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Hagerstown's local NBC affiliate is running a poll today asking your feelings about suspension of the PATH project.

Cast your vote here. Page down and look on the left hand side of the page for the poll, entitled "Your Opinion".

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Forward>>

"Best Practices" #2 - The "Company Policy"

Thank you, citizens!

There, but for the grace of God, go I

PATH Answers their own Answer (and your comments) at FERC

"Best Practices" #1 - The Trophy Case

The world is ruled by those who show up - UPDATED!

The big, hairy, ugly spider that is PATH

Jefferson County celebrates!

Press

Your vote needed!

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