Just as recently as June of 2007 Senator Alexander’s opinion on strip mining was quite different and he even appeared to significantly prefer it to wind power. In opposing a renewable portfolio he said before congress:
“It is quite a sight to see when you put wind turbines on top of those mountains. It is a sight that I would rather not see. Here is West Virginia, which is north of the southeastern part of the United States. Basically it cuts off the whole tops of those mountains. In my opinion, it makes strip mining look like a decorative art.”

Students at the University of Tennessee launched a campaign to educate Lamar about the insanity of such a statement and its nice to see he’s finally come around to regard MTR as bigger threat than wind farms.