Boy, isn't this clever?
Dominion Virginia Power is offering to cut pollution from its Bremo Power Station in Fluvanna County if the state gives it permission to build a proposed $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in Wise County.The Wise plant, under attack from environmentalists and many Wise residents, would be one of the biggest polluters in the state if built. But the power company says it can offset emissions from the Wise plant by switching its Bremo station from coal to natural gas
A few points. First, Bremo is a relatively small power plant, just 240 megawatts compared to the proposed 585-megawatt Wise County coal-fired plant. Not exactly a fair trade here.
Second, the Bremo plant is very old, with its first two units going online in 1931 -- 77 years ago. In other words, the plant's long past due for retirement anyway. So what's Dominion really offering here?
Third, until I hear a serious plan by Dominion to push energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable power, I won't take them in the least bit seriously. Nor should you. Just laugh at them, or better yet, fight them!
The bottom line is that Dominion Power shouldn't be trusted as far as you can throw one of their coal plants. As many ads as they put out claiming they are busy protecting the environment (have you seen the one where they're cleaning up a stream -- maybe one that they later filled in after blowing the top off a mountain? what a joke!), don't believe them for a minute. The fact is, Dominion is one of the dirtiest companies in America, no matter how much "greenwashing" they do.
But here's the real question -- what is Dominion so afraid of? Why would they suddenly start trying to publicly negotiate on this?
Because Dominion knows the climate in Richmond is shifting. They know the General Assembly is starting to feel the heat from all of us. That's why they're desperate to ram this Wise County coal-fired power plant through and they'll do anything to make it happen.
On a slightly related matter... Miles, what do you think was the rationale for the Senate Ag committee approving uranium study yesterday?
They are intentionally holding back an improvement just to use it as a bargaining chip in negotiations to build the Wise Co. plant. So much for protecting the environment.