Mine Sites; Support Reforestation Proposal

Speaking of stimulus funds and green jobs. This sounds like a great idea(along with putting an end to mountaintop removal mining);














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Support Reforestation Proposal
Greening the coalfields makes economic, environmental sense

"..This vision of reforesting a region and replenishing watersheds, while reviving local economies and creating sources of renewable energy, is not pie in the sky.

It's a near "shovel ready" plan developed by scientists at the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech and by government reclamation experts who have mud on their boots from 30 years of inspecting strip mines.

All that stands between their vision and reality: $422 million.

This is a worthy mission that deserves support from Congress, the Obama administration, state governments and the coal industry.

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative is also a perfect fit for President Barack Obama's vision of retooling the economy by developing renewable energy to achieve energy independence and reverse global warming.

In the process, green jobs would be created in a region that desperately needs any kind of jobs.

ARRI (say aerie) is not just proposing to reforest 125,000 acres of parched grassland over five years by planting 125 million trees.

People would also be put to work preparing and maintaining sites for solar, wind and biomass farms; measuring carbon dioxide sequestered by the new forest; working with landowners, and developing trails and tourism..."

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