Bristol Herald Courier: "Hear the people's anguished cries"

We urge the SCC to give weight to the testimony of the average Southwest Virginia residents who traveled hundreds of miles to oppose the plant. They have legitimate concerns that have not been adequately addressed.

The future plant's neighbors fear it will spew smog, soot and mercury that will harm their children. They fear continued degradation of the environment as a result of strip mining. And they are, at a minimum, deeply skeptical of claims that the plant will be Wise County's golden-egg-laying goose.

SCC commissioners heard from around 150 plant opponents and supporters Tuesday at a lengthy public hearing in Richmond. The two groups offered very different assessments of the plant that Dominion Power Co. wants to build along the Clinch River near the town of St. Paul.

Average residents who will live near the plant spoke against it. Some of their testimony was anguished and angry. The region's political class and coal industry insiders spoke for it - basing their arguments on the plant's projected job creation and overall economic impact.

I couldn't agree more with the average citizens of southwest Virginia.  I couldn't agree LESS with the "region's political class and coal industry insiders." See the "flip" for a press release from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network on this issue.

--CHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK--

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Contact: Josh Tulkin, 650.722.3171

January 8, 2008

Fairfax Co. Chairman Connolly Joins Hundreds in Opposing Proposed Wise Co. Coal Plant

Polluting Coal Plant would Negate County and City Efforts to Curb Global Warming Pollution

RICHMOND, VA, January 8, 2008-The Chairman of the Fairfax County Board Gerry Connolly today joined hundreds in voicing his opposition to a proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise County, Va. Dominion Virginia Power, the largest utility in the commonwealth, is planning to build a new 585 megawatt coal-fired power plant designed primarily to supply the energy demand in Northern Virginia.  

"Unfortunately, with 5.4 million tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions, this proposed coal power plant would more than negate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said the Chairman.  "For example, we have replaced 100 of our county vehicles with hybrids, reducing emissions by 185 tons annually, a minute fraction of the emissions that the coal plant would produce," said the Chairman.

The testimony of the Fairfax Chairman joins that of the nearly 200 citizens who are testifying in person at the State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing today in Richmond and the 815 pieces of written testimony. Additionally, Arlington, Harrisonburg and Charlottesville have passed official Resolutions opposing Dominion's Wise County plans.  

"State and local governments across the country have taken leadership roles in combating global warming" said the Chairman in his written testimony. "I would like to thank Albermarle, Arlington, James City, and New Kent Counties for adopting the Cool Counties initiative" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

There are numerous other cities from Charlottesville to Alexandria to Richmond that have also adopted measures to reduce emissions in an effort to reduce global warming pollution.

But a proposed coal-fired power plant threatens much of the progress that is being made on the municipal level in Virginia.  

"Everyone knows that new investment in coal technology is a step backwards," said Paul Burman, Northern Virginia Organizer for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. "With fossil fuel prices rising to record highs and global warming pushing January temperatures into the 70s, it is clear that Virginia should pursue renewable energy and conservation first."

Dominion power wants to charge the entire $1.6 billion cost of plant construction to Virginia ratepayers.

"This plant would harm our air, our water, our mountains, our pocketbooks, and serve as a serious setback in Virginia's attempts to become a 21st century energy provider," says Troy Holland, a Warrenton resident who testified at today's hearing.  

Instead of another polluting coal plant, Virginians are rallying behind the "Virginia Clean Energy Future Act," a bill that would have the state getting 20 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2020. It would also mandate that the state reduce its energy usage by 10 percent by 2020. The bill provides tax credits as incentives for clean energy development, and calls for a "sustainable energy fund" to pay for research and development into better ways of creating clean energy. Senator Chap Petersen will introduce the bill to the General Assembly on the first day of session tomorrow.

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