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

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

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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.

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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)