Residents around Wise County, Va., are being bombarded with ads about proposed power plant

WISE, Va. – It’s getting harder for Southwest Virginia residents to get through a day without being bombarded by messages from both sides of the controversial $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant proposed for Wise County.

These days, newspaper readers often find full-page advertisements from Dominion Virginia touting the plant’s positives, including jobs and tax revenue.

And local radio waves are filled with commercials also singing the praises of the controversial project.

But those who travel along U.S. Highway 58 between St. Paul and Coeburn can’t help but see a large anti-plant billboard across from the planned site for the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, known locally simply as the power plant.

Those who oppose it are worried about the plant’s possible environmental effects, particularly emissions that could harm air quality.

Web surfers, especially those who enjoy YouTube, have a choice between dozens of homemade videos posted by opponents of the proposed 585-megawatt power plant.

In one clip, St. Paul resident LuAnn Wallace asks how the town would cope with the increased coal-truck traffic.

Other videos show clips of previous public hearings on the issue held locally and in Richmond.

Visitors to Dominion’s Web site can click to hear the company’s radio ads or watch videos of local officials and coal industry boosters talking about the plant’s benefits.

"We chose Dominion," Wise County Administrator Glenn "Skip" Skinner says in a video on the company’s Web site, explaining how all the counties in the coalfield region wanted the coal-fired plant for the expected economic boom.

Barbara Altizer, executive director of the Richlands-based Eastern Coal Council, explains in her Dominion video that the coal industry is developing clean-coal technology.

"This power plant is going to have the capability of capturing the carbon," she says of emissions from the burning process. "I think this is a win-win."

Those who visit several environmental Web sites can add their name to a petition drafted in opposition to the project.

Bloggers on both sides of the issue weigh in with comments as well.

Southwest Virginians are not the only ones that ads are geared toward. Dominion has some ads that address how the plant and the necessary transmission lines would help keep Virginia electricity rates low while also meeting the state’s energy needs.

The onslaught from each side has been growing for months but seems to be intensifying in a lead-up to Monday’s Department of Environmental Quality public hearing on the power plant.

"We are hoping for a good turnout from our supporters as well as critics," said Dan Genest, spokesman for Dominion. "Obviously, we are talking to as many people as we can out there."

Claire Jones, a Wise County resident, spoke about the Dominion radio ads at Thursday’s Wise County Board of Supervisors meeting. A native of Great Britain, Jones said the tone of the company’s radio messages seem "as if Dominion is doing the people a grand favor."

Jones said the technology touted by the company to burn coal cleanly is not yet available and likely won’t be for another decade.

"What do we do in the meantime?" she asked. "Hold our breath?"

Cat McCue, a spokeswoman with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said groups such as the Wise Energy for Virginia coalition continue to work to get their message out.

"Of course, we’re a total David to Dominion’s Goliath in terms of resources, but we appear to be ahead in the public support arena," McCue said, pointing to a large turnout in Richmond last month at a State Corporation Commission hearing on the power plant.

McCue said the Wise Energy coalition also is working across the state to hand out leaflets and hold town meetings in hopes of getting the message out.

The DEQ public hearing is slated for 7 p.m. Monday at St. Paul High School. Those who wish to speak are asked to sign up at least 15 minutes before the hearing.

The DEQ will continue the hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

kstill@bristolnews.com | (276) 679-1338