Environment board hears pro-coal plant testimony

Supporters of a proposed coal-fired power plant urged the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on Monday night to give Dominion Virginia Power an air-quality permit needed to build the facility in Wise County.

The DEQ should listen to local residents instead of “wealthy” environmentalists who are outsiders and want to delay the $1.8 billion project, supporters said during a public hearing that drew about 600 people.

Opponents of the controversial project could only listen and wait their turns since plant supporters beat them to the sign-up sheets required for speakers. Only those in favor of the plant got to speak during the first hours of the hearing, which recessed at 11 p.m.

None of those who oppose the plant had spoken as of deadline Monday night.

But opponents have said they fear the environmental impact of the plant, which would be Virginia’s biggest polluter because of pollutants that would be emitted from the burning of coal. If approved, the plant would began operating in 2012.

Dozens of coal miners and a few loggers applauded loudly when coal company leaders, elected officials and chamber of commerce officers touted the plant and its potential for creating jobs and pumping revenue into county coffers. According to projections, the plant would give Wise County as much as $6 million in new revenue each year and create 1,200 jobs.

Those opposed have said the 75 full-time jobs the plant would need is not worth the damage to residents’ health.

Some supporters said Dominion’s project would let Wise County crawl out of poverty and allow local officials to build or repair the county’s aging high schools. Others said the plant would improve the quality of life for local residents.

Some, including Wise County Supervisor Dana Kilgore and Teresa Adkins, a member of Wise Town Council, said the real pollution problem in Wise County comes from residents who use a straight pipe to deposit sewage directly from their homes into local streams.

“Environmentalists are concerned about the power plant,” Kilgore said. “I have concerns about the straight pipes.”

Kilgore said the plant would allow Wise County to diversify its economy and stimulate growth.

Those at the DEQ are the experts when it comes to granting permits for power plants, not the state’s air-quality control board, elementary school teachers, actors and others who oppose the plant, she said.

The air-quality panel recently asked Dominion to come up with new technology that would result in less pollution. Dominion officials say their clean-coal technology, which will one day be able to capture and store carbon emissions, will be the best available in the future.

Kilgore also said environmentalists are using the pollution factor to frighten local residents. Others claimed the environmentalists opposed to the plant are mostly outsiders who are using big money to try to derail or delay the project.

“I have not met anyone against construction,” said Andy Anunson, a Wise County resident.

The outside organizations have money and plenty of time to travel across Virginia to speak out against the plant, he said. The effort is part of a national movement to delay all coal-fired plants, he said.

“Their crosshairs are now set on us,” he said.

Ron Flanary, head of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, said he lives within 20 air miles of the proposed plant and most elected officials who support the plant live within 50 air miles or closer. He urged the DEQ to give more weight to comments of those who would live near the proposed plant rather than people from other areas.

Mike Quillen, head of Alpha Natural Resources, one of the region’s largest coal producers, said coal miners are smart people. They want to stay in the area, mine coal and they want a clean environment, he said.

“We, as coal miners, recognize we have to take one step at a time,” Quillen said.

Today’s power plants are better than those built decades ago, he said. And surface mining today is not like strip mining in the past, he added.

The public hearing resumes at 5 tonight in the St. Paul High auditorium. Those who signed up Monday night and did not get to speak will address the board first. Those who arrive tonight will speak next. The hearing will also be continued at 5 p.m. on Feb. 19 in Richmond for others who have not had a chance to address the DEQ on the permit issue.

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