June 14, 2012

In Unprecedented Energy Tour, Manchin Hosting Senate Committee Leaders in West Virginia

Manchin to show incoming Senate committee leaders how West Virginia uses ‘all-of-the-above’ energy approach

Senators Wyden and Murkowski to visit important energy production sites throughout the state to learn more about West Virginia’s contributions to energy

Governor Tomblin will join delegation at briefing and press conference Saturday

Charleston, W.Va. – In an unprecedented effort to bring lawmakers together around a commonsense energy policy, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is inviting the incoming Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to West Virginia to tour energy production sites that demonstrate the state’s “all-of-the-above” approach to energy. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will also join the delegation for a briefing. 

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore) will hold a press conference with Senator Manchin and Governor Tomblin on Saturday after the tour to discuss what they’ve seen and the implications for national energy policy going forward. Senator Murkowski is the leading Republican member of the committee and Senator Wyden will be the highest-ranking Democrat after the retirement of Chairman Jeff Bingaman. Senator Manchin is also a member of the committee.  

“In West Virginia, we truly have an all-of-the-above approach to energy and, for the first time, I am bringing leaders in both parties together to see how our state is an example of how to develop a comprehensive energy policy using all our domestic resources,” Senator Manchin said. “I invited the incoming leaders of the powerful Senate Energy Committee to our state to see how we can do it all, and to explain how the country can follow this model.” 

The Senators will tour a variety of energy production sites around the state, including a Marcellus Shale drilling pad, coal mines, a coal-fired power plant, a wind farm and reclaimed surface mining locations. 

The Senators will hold brief media availabilities on Friday at both the Mt. Storm power plant and Mountain Laurel Complex. 

WHAT: Mt. Storm media availability to discuss the site’s wind and coal generation 
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 15 
WHERE: Guard shack at the plant entrance, 436 Dominion Boulevard, Mt. Storm, West Virginia 

WHAT: Mountain Laurel Complex media availability to discuss the site’s coal mining operations
WHEN: 12 p.m. Friday, June 15  
WHERE: Mountain Laurel Complex, Sharples, West Virginia 

***Press interested in attending the Mountain Laurel Complex event must RSVP to press@manchin.senate.gov by 10 a.m. Friday and be on site by 12 p.m. for safety training. Directions will be provided upon request. The media availability will begin at 1 p.m.***

WHAT: Press conference about West Virginia energy tour with Senators Manchin, Murkowski and Wyden, as well as Governor Earl Ray Tomblin
WHEN: 12:15 p.m. Saturday, June 16  
WHERE: West Virginia State Hanger, Conference Room, 502 Eagle Mountain Road, Charleston.  

West Virginia media outlets that are unable to attend the Saturday press conference in person can join a conference call. Please RSVP to press@manchin.senate.gov for call-in information. 

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