New Coal-Fired Power Plant is All Up to Gov. Kaine

By: Lowell
Published On: 3/26/2008 6:31:13 AM

And so, in the end, a decision on the proposed Wise County coal-fired power plant all comes down to Governor Kaine:

A compromise bill approved earlier this year would allow two additional Air Pollution Control Board members appointed by the governor to cast votes on a controversial coal-fired power plant proposed for Wise County, Va.

The additional members, who will be appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine, could have an immediate impact since the current air board decided in a 3-2 vote earlier this month to take the permitting responsibility for Dominion Virginia Power's proposed $1.8 billion power plant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

[...]

"The issue is squarely in the governor's hands," Jaffe said. "If he appoints members who will rubberstamp the permit without a thorough review, it will be read as his decision to push that plant through without full consideration."

Appointing moderate and reasonable people with the proper experience would show that the governor has made sure Dominion does not get a free pass, [Cale Jaffe, a lawyer with the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is opposed to the plant] said.

By the way, for those who claim that this plant will create a lot of jobs for SWVA, the Bristol Herald Courier points out that most plant-related jobs would be "only during the construction phase."  Aside from that, we're not talking about a lot of jobs.

The bottom line is that a decision on this plant should be made on its costs and benefits in all areas - economic, environmental, etc. -- by qualified people who do not take politics (or pressure by Dominion) into account.  Needless to say, we are counting on Governor Kaine to appoint those types of people to the Air Pollution Control Board.  

Comments



yesterday (S. Becker - 3/26/2008 8:58:57 AM)
At Governor Kaine's town hall meeting in Wytheville yesterday, he made it clear that he wasn't backing off his support for this coal plant.  We did however make our "anti-coal" presence known, and about nearly half of the questions that came from the audience were in reference to the proposed coal plant. (most in opposition, and I believe two in support of from coal lobbyists)    


Did Gov. Kaine explain why (Lowell - 3/26/2008 9:08:55 AM)
he's not "backing off his support for this coal plant?"  


Kaine's support for Wise County is linked to Boucher (floodguy - 3/26/2008 10:43:09 AM)
I have made mentioned in the past of Boucher's stance on the Wise County and his influence on energy matters among state Democrats, because of the leadership he holds in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Wise County has been Boucher's district for 13 terms now, and last week he reiterated his position at the Platts Energy Podium

"it is important utilities are not forced to abandoned coal prior to CCS, which expected by 2025"....Abandoning coal will cause an immediate deep dependancy on natural gas which would wreck havoc on our economy, especial since 70% of Americans use natural gas to heat their homes."
I guess what I have been saying is that fighting Dominion in this narrowed stance, is very risky.  

With weight of demand building because of growing base-line capacity, amplified tremendously by the exporting of electricity by Dominion, then with the uncontrolled management of peak loads, and lax state policy for new generation, the market has created an opening in the state for the most dependable and inexpensive sources of generation, fossil-fuel & nuclear.  

If opposition can snuf out the flawed federal transmission policy and its two transmission lines, new power-grid load models certainly would illustrate much less capacity needs in our state, with whatever "plan B" alternative solution arrive for D.C. & NJ.  

Learn about Arizona's similar dilemma as Virginia's, as they are slightly ahead in the process then us.  

The opponents against the transmission corridor and the local power line are similiarly waging a battle with odds stacked high against them.  But all 3 issues are linked.  Why keep separate?  Why not join together and wage a greater war with an increased support extending across the political spectrum?



yesterday (S. Becker - 3/26/2008 9:39:05 AM)
The Governor repeated a number of times that alternative energy needs to be explored and developed, but in the meantime, Virginia cannot meet its energy needs without coal playing a major role. He also said that the new plant in Wise would be less polluting that the other two, carbon capture compatible for when the technology exists (whenever the hell that will be), and that once the plant went into operation, one of the older plants would be converted to natural gas.  

Many folks from Wise did make the trip up to Wytheville yesterday, and I was happy that the Governor gave them a chance to talk.  One guy in particular was very angry that the mountain across from his home would be gone in a matter of months through mountaintop removal.  Another stressed the importance of the Governor's decision on the appointment of the Air Pollution Control board members, and another, from my friend Donna Muely, questioned how the Governor could oppose smoking in restuarants, but not adding more pollution to the air of Southwest Virginia.

All in all, some good points were made, and I believe Governor Kaine knows that those who oppose this power plant are not going to back off.  Its very important that we continue to make a presence at every appearance by the Governor.