Some who oppose the proposed Wise County power plant think Monday's hearing was stacked

WISE, Va. – Foes of a coal-fired power plant proposed for St. Paul are wondering if it was their poor planning or a stacked deck that enabled supporters of the $1.8 billion project to dominate Monday’s air quality permit hearing.

Supporters of Dominion Virginia Power’s proposed Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center – including local elected officials, representatives of neighboring counties, coal company leaders and miners – turned out in large numbers to ask the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to approve a permit for the plant.

Most of the supporters did not address air quality issues, but touted the 1,200 jobs the project could create and the $6 million annual bump it could give Wise County’s coffers.

The hearing started at 7 p.m. and it was nearly 10 p.m. before the first project opponent was called to speak.

Opponents and local environmental activists, who claim the coal-fired plant would pollute the area as well as other parts of Virginia, cried foul and began wondering if proponents of the plant, which could be in operation in 2012 if approved, somehow managed to get their names on the sign-up list early or in a block.

Some also claim a hospitality room with sandwiches, chips and soda that Dominion set up in the St. Paul High School library lured in supporters early and ensured a pro-power plant speaking block.

A DEQ official said sign-up was conducted fairly. Those who signed up first were called to speak first, said Mike Gregory, an environmental engineer with DEQ’s Abingdon office.

A second session on Tuesday night was added to ensure that all who wanted to participate had a chance, department representatives said.

"We [DEQ officials] showed up, and anybody could have signed up," Gregory said.

Gregory, who attended the hearing on both days, said Dominion officials called a few weeks ago and asked when sign-up would begin. He said a DEQ official informed the caller that department staff would probably arrive at the hearing around 5:30 p.m. and begin the sign-up process. "They started asking could they sign up a group ahead of time," Gregory said Thursday.

The company was told early sign-up would not be allowed, and each speaker had to individually put his or her name on the list, Gregory said.

"We had some inkling of what they were planning to do," Gregory said.

When the DEQ staff arrived at St. Paul High, they found what Gregory termed as a "meeting" ongoing.

"I had no idea they had a group meeting there as we walked in the door," Gregory said. "There is some of this stuff you just can’t anticipate."

Gregory said DEQ staff ensured that a body was attached to each name penned on the list when the sign-up process started.

"It was open to anyone," he said.

The result was that 71 speakers addressed the DEQ the first night, Gregory said. Forty-three people on the first night’s list had to wait until the following day to comment, he added.

Gregory said several who attended the first night and planned to speak could not return the following night.

"It was discouraging that those who couldn’t return Tuesday never had a chance to speak," said Wise County resident Kathy Selvage, a member of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards. "They were not heard. The first night was terribly discouraging to me."

Selvage admits that plant opponents should have arrived early. She said most didn’t because a DEQ notice indicated sign-up would not take place until 15 minutes prior to the hearing.

Skip Skinner, Wise County’s administrator and a staunch plant supporter, said Thursday all sides had the opportunity to arrive early and put their names on the list. He said he signed up early because he has learned over the years how difficult and frustrating it is to wait for hours to have a say at various public hearings.

"If you don’t want to be sitting there all night long, you find out when you can sign up," Skinner said.

Dominion’s hospitality room appeared to be open to all, foes and supporters alike, Skinner said.

He said the county did not send memos or other information requesting folks to arrive early. However, he said Dominion sent a memo to county officials stating the hospitality room would be available in case anyone arrived early, Skinner said.

Dominion spokesman Dan Genest said Thursday the hospitality room was open to all.

"We did not turn anyone away," Genest said. "I personally invited some Virginia Tech students who were opposed to the plant to come in and write their comments."

The students arrived too late to speak at the hearing and chose to instead submit their comments in writing, Genest said.

Genest said Dominion officials have no comment on the flap about the sign-up procedures.

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