Following a series of close votes by the Dendron Town Council last night approving zoning changes for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposed coal-fired power plant, the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition vowed to continue fighting plans for what would be the largest coal-fired power plant in Virginia, and one of the top polluters in the state.

PRESS RELEASE from the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition

February 2, 2010

******************************************************
COAL PLANT FOES UNDETERRED BY DENDRON TOWN VOTE APPROVING ODEC PLANS
******************************************************

Dendron, VA–Following a series of close votes by the Dendron Town Council last night approving zoning changes for Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposed coal-fired power plant, the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition vowed to continue fighting plans for what would be the largest coal-fired power plant in Virginia, and one of the top polluters in the state.

About 150 people turned out at the meeting in the town’s fire hall. Many local residents – combating claims that all opponents are outsiders – wore stickers saying “Surry County local – NO COAL.” Most of the speakers were against the plant. The council, despite having said at its January meeting that it would take action last night, nonetheless, voted to approve the plant. The three council members opposed to the plant voted repeatedly to table the issue until March.

“Our fight over the last year has helped inform a lot of citizens in Surry County and elsewhere about the dangers of this plant – 50-plus years of dirty air, poisoned waters and blown up mountains to dig out the coal – not to mention fueling climate change that will have dire impacts on Virginia. People are getting fed up with the old way of doing business,” said Kayti Wingfield, campaign coordinator for the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition.

“The votes fly in the face of residents’ requests that the council take sufficient time to consider all the information. A new economic report shows that local residents would get very few jobs from the plant–for example, three construction jobs for Dendron residents. The majority voted without taking the time to review the new jobs report,” said Tom Cormons, Virginia Director of Appalachian Voices.

“In his State of the Commonwealth address, Governor McDonnell challenged Virginians to make the entire state a ‘green jobs zone,’ declaring that Virginia is for lovers of renewable energy. ODEC should step up to that challenge, abandon this old-style, coal plant proposal, and give Surry County a 21st century, green energy opportunity,” said Cale Jaffe, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

“At $6 billion, this is the most expensive coal plant in the country, and ODEC is proposing to build it at a time when utilities all across the country are abandoning new coal plant projects. This would not be a prudent investment,” said Glen Besa, director of the Sierra Club in Virginia.

“It is time for Virginia to join the rest of the nation and move away from dirty, dangerous and outdated sources of energy, especially coal. The opposition to this proposed coal plant is already strong and will only grow as more Virginians learn about the economic and environmental damage it will cause,” said Chelsea Harnish with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

At 1,500 megawatts, the plant would be the single largest coal-fired power plant in Virginia. It would emit more than 20,000 tons of air pollutants combined each year, as well as 116 pounds of mercury, a highly toxic metal in rivers and wetlands that even in small doses threatens human health, and already contaminates waters in the region. It would also emit some 14.6 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide.

The State Corporation Commission will have to issue a certificate of need for the plant, which would allow ODEC to raise rates to pay for the plant. In addition, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the State Air Pollution Control Board have authority over two required air pollution permits. Lastly, the Army Corps of Engineers has authority over a federal wetland permit, and will be doing a environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act to determine the stated need for the plant and alternatives. Each agency will hold separate public comment periods and public hearings.

***************
The mission of the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition is to halt new coal-burning power plants from being built, end the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining in Virginia, and re-power the Commonwealth with cleaner, less expensive, sustainable energy sources. The coalition includes Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club and Southern Environmental Law Center, and a growing number of affiliate groups.