Environmental and faith organizations that came together to oppose Dominion Virginia Power’s Wise County coal-fired power plant in southwest Virginia announced their extreme concern today over a new coal-fired plant proposed by the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative in Surry County.

NEWS RELEASE December 4, 2008

Groups opposing Wise County Coal Plant Call Proposed $6 billion Surry Coal Plant “Extremely Concerning and Out of Touch”

RICHMOND-Environmental and faith organizations that came together to oppose Dominion Virginia Power’s Wise County coal-fired power plant in southwest Virginia announced their extreme concern today over a new coal-fired plant proposed by the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative in Surry County.

“At a time when a majority of Virginians believe that action is required on climate change we have Old Dominion Electric Cooperative ignoring both public opinion and climate science to propose a massive new coal plant,” said Kathy Selvage with Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards. “It’s not just about climate change; as a resident of Wise County I see the devastation of mountaintop removal coal mining every day. We’ve lost 29 mountains already,” noted Selvage.

In October, the Miller Center of Public Affairs with the University of Virginia released a poll of Virginians that found that 72% believed that immediate action is needed to address global warming.

“It is ironic and sad that ODEC would make this announcement just days before Governor Kaine’s Climate Commission is to issue its final report,” said Glen Besa of Sierra Club-Virginia. “Utilities in Virginia seem to be in denial about global warming.”

The Climate Commission’s report calls on the state to reduce its total carbon emissions 80% by 2050. Despite this goal, based on the findings of climate scientists around the world, the Wise and Surry County plants would result in millions of tons of additional greenhouse gas pollution undermining efforts to actually reduce emissions.

“In the face of an economic recession and mounting threats from climate change, the prospect of introducing an unnecessary $6 billion coal plant is outrageous,” said Tom Cormons, Campaign Coordinator with Appalachian Voices. “ODEC’s proposal is extremely concerning and out of touch.”

The organizations that teamed up two years ago to oppose the Wise County power plant and who today expressed concern over the proposed Surry County plant include Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Sierra Club.

###