Bristol Herald: "Don't allow this plant to be built"

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/3/2008 9:42:10 AM

The Bristol Herald is quickly becoming one of my favorite newspapers!

Dominion Power Co. appears to have successfully jumped one hurdle in its bid to build a new coal-burning power plant in Wise County.

[...]

Dominion argues that its plant will use the newest technology and be much cleaner than the older plants. This is true. If the Dominion plant replaced the older plants, that might be a decent trade.

But such a swap isn't in the cards. This is addition, not subtraction. Dominion, which doesn't even provide power to this region, wants to construct the Wise County plant to meet energy demands in fast-growing Northern Virginia. The plant won't replace the older facilities and it won't provide electricity to Southwest Virginia or Northeast Tennessee.

The region will live with the consequences but reap few rewards. The plant will provide a bit of an economic boost, but many of the jobs created will be temporary construction work. And Dominion almost certainly received state and local incentives to build the plant in Wise County. Such governmental gift-giving further reduces any economic benefits.

[...]

The SCC should not look favorably on this shell game. Protect the health of Southwest Virginia residents, not just the health of a North Carolina forest. Don't allow this plant to be built.

Key line: "The region will live with the consequences but reap few rewards."  That's exactly correct, except I'd expand it to say that we will ALL live with the environmental consequences of building a dirty coal-fired power plant at a time when we know we have to slash carbon dioxide emissions to combat climate change. By the way, for people who can't seem to comprehend why Northern Virginia should care about a coal-fired plant in Wise County, I strongly suggest that they start reading a serious newspaper like the Bristol Herald.  

P.S.  If you want to let everyone know how you feel about Dirty Dominion, check this out!  


Comments



Trucker hat (Lowell - 1/3/2008 9:45:44 AM)


1/8/08 Public Hearing: Opportunity to Speak (hereinva - 1/3/2008 10:03:47 AM)
A reminder that citizens have the opportunity to speak out at the SCC public hearing scheduled in Richmond on January 8, 2008.

from Wise Energy for Virginia:
WHEN: January 8, 2008, at 10 :00 a.m. (speakers must arrive before 9:45 am)
WHERE: SCC Courtroom, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, VA
WHAT: Speak for up to 3 minutes to share your concerns about why this coal plant would be a bad deal for Virginia's ratepayers.

More info is posted on the Wise Energy For Virginia website: here



We should... (elevandoski - 1/3/2008 10:09:17 AM)
each buy up those coffee mugs and give them to our legislators on Lobby Day, Jan. 21st.  


Great idea, please spread the word (Lowell - 1/3/2008 11:02:22 AM)
Thanks.


Ya, I'd love to see... (elevandoski - 1/3/2008 11:07:42 AM)
one of these mugs on my Senator Ken Stolle's desk. Cough...


It would only cost $1,500 to give one of these (Lowell - 1/3/2008 11:14:56 AM)
coffee mugs to all 140 members of the General Assembly.  Anyone out there with $1,500 to spare?  If so, please give it to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network or just buy the mugs yourself and send them to the General Assembly members.  Thanks.


I just emailed CCAN (elevandoski - 1/3/2008 11:17:27 AM)
to suggest this. Maybe they can bulk buy them at a cheaper rate.