(Cross-posted at the Appalachian Voices Front Porch Blog)

Beth Vorhees interviewed Senator Hillary Clinton on West Virginia Public Broadcast (audio), this morning and asked her a direct question about her position on mountaintop removal coal-mining.

Hillary's answer below the fold.

Keep in mind, mountaintop removal:
1)  Has destroyed 1 million acres of the most biodiverse temperate forest in the world

2) Has led to a 90% reduction in mining jobs in WV because of the automation of labor

3) Has leveled 470+ of the oldest mountains on the continent.

Hillary on MTR: (unofficial transcript)

I am concerned about it for all the reasons people state, but I think its a difficult question because of the conflict between the economic and environmental trade-off that you have here.

I'm not an expert. I don't know enough to have an independent opinion, but I sure would like people who could be objective, understanding both the economic necessities and environmental damage to come up with some approach that would enable us to retrieve the coal but would enable us to do it in a way that wouldn't damage the living standards and the other important qualities associated with people living both under the mountaintop and people who are along the streams.

You know, maybe there is a way to recover those mountaintops once they have been stripped of the coal. You know, I think we've got to look at this from a practical perspective.

First, I am glad to see any Presidential candidate speaking about mountaintop removal. Her answer could have been much better, for sure, but it also could have been much worse.

Secondly, I am disappointed that she is setting up this false dichotomy of "economic necessities" vs "environmental damage." Mountaintop removal does the same thing to our economy as it does to our mountains. The destruction of one and the destruction of the other go hand in hand.

Thirdly, Hillary Clinton has sat in on Senate Committee hearings on mountaintop removal since 2002, so she should have a pretty good idea of what is going on. She promised to take a flyover of the region, but has failed to follow-through on that commitment.

Listen to the whole thing here.

Update: An important note from DevilsTower:

When I was getting feedback from campaigns I could never get the Clinton campaign to give me a statement on MTR.  Now I suppose we know why.

This is extremely disappointing, since most of her energy plan is quite good.

I should also note that the consensus seems to be that her answer is MUCH worse than I gave her credit for. Seems right to me.