From Daily Grist, Nov 1, 2000

States with strong records on protecting the environment also offer good job opportunities and climates for economic development, according to a new study by the Institute for Southern Studies. States getting high marks for both economic and environmental health include Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, Maine, and Wisconsin. Many states in the South were ranked low by both measures, including Louisiana, which is 48th in economic performance and 50th on the environment, and Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee. The study suggests that environmental regulation, rather than stifling economic growth, may actually promote it. Chris Kromm, director of the institute and co-author of the report, said that "states seeking quick-fix, unsustainable development end up sacrificing both workers and the environment." [bold and italics added by editor].

[This is not to state or imply that there is a causative factor – that a state cleaning up its environment is assuredly on the path to riches. However the correlation is so strong that intelligent leaders, governor, etc. who were less beholden to special interests than the people of this state would surely give sustainable development a huge priority. Ed.]

The latest news is that the new Governor, Bob Wise, is continuing to build his case for being one out of sympathy with the West Virginia environment. This time he has registered an intransigence in opposing efforts to save Greenland Gap from the ravages of Corridor H. In a recent meeting with Jon Hunter, senator from the district where Greenland Gap is located, he stated in his usual "take-the-least-controversial" stance that he would not risk being accused of slowing down construction of Corridor H. (He sees the rerouting of Corridor H to save one of West Virginia’s treasured places as creating a slow-down.) Without doing his homework on the facts of the case, he questioned why this problem wasn’t raised during the official public hearing and comment periods, unaware apparently, of two facts – one, that the original material for public input was faulty, and two, that for over a year requests for re-planning the highway were ignored by the bureaucrats of the Underwood Administration.

Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up someday and not find a "business as usual," but rather a courageous and creative guy or gal in the gov’s mansion!

More on Greenland Gap in the next issue.