The Roanoke Times has an excellent editorial today entitled "Choking on the politics of coal." The subtitle pretty much says it all: "Richmond has greased the wheels for a new coal-fired power plant in Southwest Virginia. The state needs a more forward-looking energy plan." Specifically, we need to move away from projects like the Wise County coal-fired power plant. As the Roanoke Times points out, the region is already "choked with poisons spewing from two old coal-fired plants that rival American Electric Power continues to operate in the Southern Appalachians." Why add another one, even if Dominion tries to claim it's "clean coal?"
The fact is, there's no such thing as "clean coal" under current economics and technology. The problem is that carbon, which contributes to global warming, is not captured or sequestered -- and coal is the most carbon intensive fossil fuel. Also, producing coal often is done by blowing the entire tops off of mountains and dumping the waste onto streams and valleys below. That's "clean?" As the Roanoke Times notes, "'Less dirty coal' would be more apt" as a true description of what Dominion tries to sell as "clean coal."
It's time for Virginia to move away from this energy model and towards a sustainable energy future for the 21st century. As the Times editorial concludes, "If not now, when?"
Thanks to Roanoke County Sheriff Gerald Holt and Western Virginia Regional Jail Director Charlie Poff, also a good Democrat, the new jail will be a true "green" building when completed in 2009.
Please go to these links to read more about it: http://www.roanoke.com/news/ro...
http://www.hsmm.aecom.com/Mark... , http://www.wset.com/news/stori... , http://ourvalley.org/news.php?... , http://www.roanoke.com/news/ro... ,
http://www.montva.com/departme...
Doing our best to combat the ravages of pollution and global warming here in southwest Virginia...
Thanks again!
Steve
Hope youre well.
peace,
jw
FERC has finally allowed the shutdown of two D.C. power plants just this year: Buzzard Point and Benning Road. They are also ordering the importation of appx 3000 MW of power out of our state to the north to be implemented by 2012.
Within the next few years, but more likely when Wise Co comes online, the Potomac River facility in the city of Alexandria will be taken offline. If true, this will come as a major relief to Potomac River environmentalists and to the citizens of Alexandria and public officials.
Considering the lack of land owned by the utility companies and the state, and considering the necessary amount of MW's as a baseline requirement enforced by FERC, and considering X amount of MW's above peak demand as required by federal law, what alternative source of generation is available to the state of Virginia w/i the required timeframe?
I pose this as an honest question?
We all have read about these wonderful new ideas and some of us have even invested in them. But will they really here soon to be implemented in mass, and affordable without sending the state's economy into trouble? Is there enough land for them? Is that source of power reliable and full time? If the source is intermittent, what other generation source would compliment the renewable during down times?
I wish we in Virginia truly had some viable renewable options and I wish future technology was here yesterday. But something tells me, we here in Viriginia, we can't power our state the way we wish with renewables, and we may have to look towards other methods which still help fight GW, but nonetheless aren't everyone's 1st choice.
Dominion may become just the 2nd applicant to file with the feds for a nuke plant in some 20+ years. Will you protest that filing? Considering what is available in VA, is objecting to a new permit reasonable? Is it wise to just object to all things Dominion has its hands on?
Energy efficiency if widely implemented could reduce new energy demand here in VA (and in the U.S.) by as much as 50% by 2025. Do you know if your county has implemented energy efficiency measures on the facilities it owns, operates and/or rents?
* The Department of Energy says, "Virginia has wind resources consistent with utility-scale production." Where's your evidence that renewables aren't "viable"?
* Why do you presume efficiency and renewables are risky while coal and nuclear are the safe bet? When Congress passes carbon cap-and-trade legislation making it much more expensive to burn fossil fuels, we're going to be locked into coal. And while I like that it's low-carbon, if nuclear was so risk-free, they wouldn't need to beg taxpayers for billions in loan guarantees.
* Virginia ranks dead last among states in utility investments in energy efficiency. This means we have affordable energy-efficiency resources right now in our existing infrastructure. With these energy resources, it is likely that this coal plant would never be needed.
* Virginia has vast wind energy potential as well as tidal power potential. We've chosen not to tap into it, instead blowing up mountains to get at the coal underneath.
Yes, that means there may be shortages or, gasp, people will have to conserve. That may mean higher prices or spotty service. That may shake up the economy or force changes in business practices. A whole host of consumer discomforts could happen and at least a few are almost certainties.
If anyone is hoping for an airtight alternative/renewable solution I've got bad news - it ain't going to happen. It is fairly easy to come up with situations that won't make people happy or reasons why we should not forge ahead. There is no bill that will both simultaneously keep the status quo and make the necessary quick switch to renewables.
But I've got worse news for those hoping to continue with the status quo, or those who wish to move slowly in such a way that nothing is disrupted: the planet as we know it is in serious trouble and we needed to address these problems a generation ago.
It has to start somewhere. Now is not the time to discuss whether we should be moving forward, now is the time to prepare people for the discomfort they are bound to feel because of change. Now is not the time to be desperately trying stall change so our generation is not the last one holding the bag. Now is the time to do something about it.
If you could get a lot, and I mean a lot, of signatures from Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia, I think that would be enough to stop Dominion. CCAN plans to present their petition to Dominion at their annual shareholder's meeting. That's somewhat dramatic, but if a large group of people from the most populous portions of their service territory were raising objections, Dominion would respond.
Alternatively, you could start a letter writing campaign to the Division of Energy Regulation at the SCC as well as to Governor Kaine, state delegates, and state senators. Again if you can get a lot of people from VB and NoVA to participate, then something would have to give. Or even bigger idea, how about a one day electric boycott? That would be awesome! One night in NoVA with no lights on anywhere would be stunning!
This coal plant is bad news, but the ultimate question is: can you, I or we stop Dominion?