Grant Town Power Plant blockaded in W Va for burning Manchin's coal

Video: protesters hold their ground even after the lockdown is arrested 1 min 24 sec-w Extra video clips of the arrests of the hard lockdown by (C)hicago (F)ree (M)edia via Twitter

On the 9th of April, hundreds of climate and democracy advocates descended on West Virginia's Grant Town Power Plant and blocked the main gate. Over 50 people were arrested, some of them were in lockboxes. After the arrestees where cleared, the gate remained closed, other protesters remained in front of it and the driveway remained blocked. This power plant is the sole customer of Sen Manchin's coal company.

Burning Manchin's "Gob" coal is so inefficient the plant has been blamed for raising local electric rates. The plant management and Senator Manchin have some kind of sweetheart deal however.

There were a few ugly moments during and shortly after the hard blockade. Cops threatened and may have attempted to charge "felony tresspass" for those who crossed an unmarked and invisible line across the power plant's driveway. Someone under 18 was arrested for entering the creek on the side of the road opposite the power plant but reportedlty released when cops found out he was underage. It was said the cops were using an absolute "zero-tolerance" approach to anything technically illegal. On top of all else, cash bail was at least iniitally asked for to release arrestees. Unknown at this writing whether it was paid or arrestees were released without it, but all were out by mid-morning the following day.

Despite the cops, protesters returned to the power plant at 10AM for a religious service the following day. Word was an ongoing occupation of the area is intended.