The Metro Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to submit comments critical of Dominion's plans to build a new coal plant in Wise County, Virginia to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The resolution and letter that MWCOG is sending to the DEQ cites concerns over the potential adverse impacts on the air quality of the Washington region as well as global warming concerns. It requests that potential alternatives to new coal development be officially explored before issuing permits for the proposed Wise County plant.
The action taken by MWCOG was driven by Fairfax Chairman Gerry Connolly, who requested that the body take on this issue after his Board was unable to vote on a similar statement on February 25.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Alexandria City Council have since endorsed MWCOGs letter to the DEQ (and the City of Falls Church may have as well, but I have yet to confirm that story).
Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria have taken a position on Dominion's proposed coal plant. With MWCOG's statement against the plant, it is safe to say that Northern Virginia doesn't want what Dominion is selling them. We want clear air, and we believe that alternatives to coal exist that Dominion power is choosing not to pursue.
Nancy Floreen, Council member from Montgomery County and Chair of the COG Climate Change Steering Committee summed it up well when she said, "This is a matter of considerable concern for the Northern Virginia community."
Indeed.
Click here to contact Governor Kaine today (who still, inexplicably supports Dominion's plan) to tell him that Northern Virginians want clean energy solutions, not more coal
(12:35) Anthony Griffin, county executive, withdraws the motion without debate... something is going on here...(3:00) So I have had some time to think about what happened at the Board meeting today (and a little time to cool down), and I will give it to you straight here - something is going on here. The Board has been in some way contacted by Dominion power or one of their henchmen (that includes our General Assembly Members) and convinced the Fairfax County Board that commenting for the DEQ on this power plant would not be a good idea. This stinks of insider politics.
That's apparently why they were "unable" to vote. Fascinating, eh?
"The action taken by MWCOG was driven by Fairfax Chairman Gerry Connolly, who requested that the body take on this issue after his Board was unable to vote on a similar statement on February 25."
Is Connolly in control of that board or not? Is he in the pocket of Dominion or not? As I said, I'm confused.
Connelly really came through, but I would be a serious issue if anyone in the G.A. was trying to stop Fairfax from protecting the health of its own citizens.