Delegates at the Democratic State Convention narrowly voted down a resolution Saturday that supported a freeze on new permits for mountaintop removal sites.

The final vote on the Healthy Jobs, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Mountains Resolution was 215-190.

Daniel Chiotos, environmental caucus delegate for West Virginia Young Democrats, said the close vote is encouraging.

"This is obviously an issue that is gaining momentum," Chiotos said. "We're going to continue to work to push this through."

Nick Busch, a Wirt County delegate, said the vote doesn't reflect delegates' true feelings about the issue.

"You won't find a person here that supports mountaintop removal," said Busch, who voted against the resolution.

More than 56 percent of West Virginians are opposed to mountaintop removal, compared to just 29 percent who support it, according to a 2004 survey conducted by the polling firm Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates for the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment.

Busch said it failed because delegates were concerned it would cost the party the presidential election. He said the Republican Party would say Democrats were trying to take jobs out of the state.

State Chairman Nick Casey said the issues brought up by the resolution are better addressed by the courts than by the party.

While the resolution would not become part of the party's official platform, it would have sent a clear signal to politicians in the state, Chiotos said.

The resolution supported deep mining other methods of strip mining, enforcement of current environmental regulations, increased investment in sources of renewable energy, and called for all Democratic legislators to work to protect safety standards and "bring good-paying green jobs" to West Virginia.

In April, the West Virginia Young Democrats passed the same resolution. That group represents party members age 35 and under.

Delegates at the Democratic State Convention narrowly voted down a resolution Saturday that supported a freeze on new permits for mountaintop removal sites.

The final vote on the Healthy Jobs, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Mountains Resolution was 215-190.

Daniel Chiotos, environmental caucus delegate for West Virginia Young Democrats, said the close vote is encouraging.

"This is obviously an issue that is gaining momentum," Chiotos said. "We're going to continue to work to push this through."

Nick Busch, a Wirt County delegate, said the vote doesn't reflect delegates' true feelings about the issue.

"You won't find a person here that supports mountaintop removal," said Busch, who voted against the resolution.

More than 56 percent of West Virginians are opposed to mountaintop removal, compared to just 29 percent who support it, according to a 2004 survey conducted by the polling firm Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates for the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment.

Busch said it failed because delegates were concerned it would cost the party the presidential election. He said the Republican Party would say Democrats were trying to take jobs out of the state.

State Chairman Nick Casey said the issues brought up by the resolution are better addressed by the courts than by the party.

While the resolution would not become part of the party's official platform, it would have sent a clear signal to politicians in the state, Chiotos said.

The resolution supported deep mining other methods of strip mining, enforcement of current environmental regulations, increased investment in sources of renewable energy, and called for all Democratic legislators to work to protect safety standards and "bring good-paying green jobs" to West Virginia.

In April, the West Virginia Young Democrats passed the same resolution. That group represents party members age 35 and under.

On Saturday, delegates also approved the party's platform, which addressed education, the economy, law and order, good government, health care and social issues, veterans and the environment.

According to the platform approved on Saturday, the West Virginia Democratic Party supports energy independence that uses clean-coal technology, reclaiming mined areas, enforcement of the Clean Water Act, and a "return to" the Kyoto Protocol.

Despite persistent rumors saying the abortion issue may come up, Democrats did not remove the platform plank supporting abortion rights.

In addition, the party Executive Committee selected 18 delegates on Friday to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Casey said the delegates would vote at the national convention based on the popular vote from West Virginia's May 13 primary election, with 70 percent for Hillary Clinton and 30 percent for Barack Obama.

On Saturday, the Executive Committee also selected 12 additional delegates to the national convention. They are also bound by the popular vote, and they are selected to make sure all parts of the party are represented.

But it's possible they all will be voting for Obama. Casey expects that Clinton will advise them to vote for her formal rival.

Gov. Joe Manchin announced earlier this month he plans to cast his presidential-nominee vote for Obama. Manchin was one of three state superdelegates who remained neutral throughout the primary campaign.

He told WSAZ-TV that he had a conversation with Clinton wherein she told him to support Obama in the interest of party unity.

Superdelegates are Democratic members of Congress, governors and state and national party officials. All four of West Virginia's Democratic members of Congress committed to Obama, while three state party officials went for Clinton. But at least one of them has indicated that she may switch to Obama if Clinton requests it.

To contact staff writer Veronica Nett, use e-mail or call 348-5113.