We win.
I'd like to re-iterate some of the same things which were said in the comments of Erics post.
Eric has a FP post here in which he argues that we could let Dominion build their coal plant in Wise County, as long as they promise to invest money in a new biofuels plant. He calls it a win win win win win scenario.
I want to re-iterate a point that was made by several people (myself included) in the comments.
There is no "WIN" scenario for the people of Virginia if this deadly, job-sucking, mountaintop removal coal using power plant is built in Wise County.
If this new coal plant is built, the rate-payers of Virginia, and especially the citizens of SWVA lose, no matter how you spin it.
How about a real compromise with Governor Kaine. On the citizen air board, those that oppose the new plant are currently up by one vote. Governor Kaine will make two new appointments by June. Here's a compromise we can live with...
Governor Kaine, give one of the appointments to Dominion, and one appointment to those that oppose the plant.
There.
We win.I'd like to re-iterate some of the same things which were said in the comments of Erics post.
Eric has a GREAT idea, which is that we encourage Dominion to invest in eco R&D and bring renewable energy to SWVA and green jobs to an impoverished part of the country. We can start by doing something that will protect our environment and help provide for energy by simply investing in conservation and efficiency.
Virginia utilities are dead last in the nation in spending on conservation and efficiency (Hint: $0)
By investing in conservation and efficiency, we can produce as much energy as one dirty coal plant could produce without the tremendous negative impact on the land, people, and economy of SWVA.
We all know that another coal plant means more mountaintop removal, more emissions of greenhouse gasses, fewer jobs, and more local toxic fallout for those in Appalachian Virginia. And we all know that Dominion is an overbearingly powerful company that will do nothing to stop at squeezing every last dollar out of SWVA, even while destroying its mountains, its streams, and its air quality.
I think we can, and will, beat this plant.
Of the 59 coal plants that have been defeated in the last year, 40-something were pulled by the utilities themselves becaues of cost. If the citizen air board does a fair job at looking at the total cost to Domnion, the delay will continue to increase the cost of this plant. Not to mention that it gives more time and power to the absolute torrent of grassroots opposition to this plant that has been unleashed in SWVA and everywhere else in VA. I mean, a MILE LONG petition opposing this plant is being delivered to the Dominion shareholders meeting next month.
Dominion knows there are other ways to provide energy than building a dirty, MTR-reliant power plant. They know that it will actually cost jobs in SWVA and hurt the economy and the people there. Its their responsibility to look for reasonable ways to provide power other than poisoning our air, water, and blowing up our mountains, and they are not doing that.
Dominion has gotten everything they want in Virginia for the last 20 years. Regulation, de-regulation, re-regulation. they have been allowed to pass their financial irresponsibilty onto VA rate payers. Power plants have been grandfathered in and pollution control technology has been litigated out rather than implemented. They have paid NOTHING for energy and conservation. They have done NOTHING to protect our mountains and our headwater streams. They have done NOTHING to benefit the people, land, or economy of SWVA.
I totally agree that we should invest in renewable energy throughout Appalachia. I don't disagre with Eric there, and will work to champion that cause as long and as hard as I can. But we don't need to ALSO build a coal plant.
So, a few points to start on...
We can NOT compromise mountains
We can NOT compromise human health
We can NOT compromise our economy
...all because Dominion is being a whiny bitch.
Dominion SHOULD NOT GET TO BUILD THIS PLANT for any cost.
Its wrong, and they know it, and every citizen and elected official in Virginia should be telling them so. Their backs are against the wall if the citizen air board does its job, and I think thats where we need to continue to focus rather than just caving.
Not only that, but this plant has been a rallying point for grassroots opposition to Dominion Power and their complete dominance of our state. Dominion has never had to deal with opposition before, in Richmond or anywhere else.
I was up there lobbying on the re-regulation bill last year and we got our CLOCK CLEANED because there was no power coming from the grassroots around the state.
Dominion has never had a check on their power before, and the longer that we are allowed to organized, the better chance we have of not only stopping the plant, but of getting REAL efficiency and conservation measures put in, and bringing green jobs, and a sustainable clean energy economy to Appalachia.
We are one vote up on the citizen air board. Kaine will make 2 new appointments before this summer.
How about a real compromise with Governor Kaine. On the citizen air board, those that oppose the new plant are currently up by one vote. Governor Kaine will make two new appointments by June. Here's a compromise we can live with...
Governor Kaine, give one of the appointments to Dominion, and one appointment to those that oppose the plant.
Faithfull... (lose that second "L", why don't ya?) What can a middle-aged broad do to help?
A year after an uproar over pollution forced a turnaround in plans for 19 new coal-fired power plants around the state, the battle has been recounted in a documentary, "Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars," commissioned by Mr. Redford's Sundance Preserve. It spotlights the unlikely coalition of ranchers, big-city mayors and environmentalists that stymied Gov. Rick Perry and spurred the record $45 billion takeover of Texas's biggest electric company, TXU.
If they can do it in Texas, we can do it in Virginia as well.
Tom Smith, director of Public Citizen and a participant in the film, said at the screening that Texas still had the three of the proposed TXU plants pending, plus four more awaiting permits and at least four others proposed. Around the country, Mr. Smith said, plans for 69 were dropped after the furor in Texas, leaving 80 others."We hope," he said, "that the fight we had here in Texas represented in this grouping inspires people in other states and other countries to stand up and say, 'Not in our backyard, not in our community, not in our state, not in our time.' "
If we succeed and then Dominion and their political stooges want to suggest a compromise, surely we can talk.