We understand the angst created by the coal plant under construction by Dominion Virginia Power in Wise County. More than 45,000 Virginians signed a petition opposing the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center near St. Paul, Va.
But chaining yourself to a barrel on plant property, while peaceful, is not the way to express that outrage. It wastes a lot of taxpayers’ money and ties up emergency service workers – not a winning strategy if you hope to enlist more supporters for your cause.
The protesters, mostly from out of state, who descended on the plant construction site early Monday brought with them 55-gallon steel drums with which to lock themselves.
Not only will they leave Southwest Virginia with arrest records, but they could be forced to pay restitution for the costs of the law enforcement and EMS response and for any damage done to the plant.
It’s an option that Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Elkins is mulling and would be reasonable to invoke.
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