Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered to support Wise County residents who are fighting Dominion’s plans to build a coal-burning plant in their neighborhood. “We can prevent Virginia from making this terrible mistake by allowing Dominion to build this plant,” said Jennifer Mullens, a Wise County resident. “I encourage you to look around at these mountains and imagine them gone, because that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t make the right choice now.”

Over 40,000 petition signatures were submitted to Dominion representatives. No official response has been made by Dominion, but Wise County representatives will be at Dominion’s shareholders meeting in Chicago today. The only official response that was overwhelmingly evident was that of police enforcement. As the Green Miles pointed out there was a surprisingly strong police presence. We counted over 17 cop cars lining the blocks around the park where we were having our peaceful—and permitted—rally, and a veritable herd of huge war horses.

Speakers from the Wise Energy for VA coalition highlighted many of the issues that make this plant controversial.

“You’ve seen nothing yet,” said CCAN’s VA Director Steve Calos in reference to the 18% rate increases that Dominion recently announced. Dominion argued in a Washington Post article that they may be able to reduce rates in the future if Dominion is allowed to build their plant in Wise County. “If this plant gets the go ahead as early as December,” continued Steve, “we’re going to see a rate increase that’s really going to knock your socks off.”

The plant would emit “as much pollution as every car, truck and motorcycle as the Richmond metro emits in a single year” said Cale Jaffe of the Environmental Law Center. “[Of Dominions $1.8 billion price tag,] not a penny will do anything to address the plant’s global warming pollution.”

Glen Besa, from VA Sierra Club highlighted jobs. “Maryland recently did a study on efficiency. They found that if they got serious about efficiency, they would create 12,000 new jobs by 2025, jobs on all levels of the economic latter verses 75 jobs and 350 mining jobs. Clearly there is a better way.”

The people who were gathered in Richmond yesterday were clearly full of hope and joy that so many people would get together to celebrate a new vision for Virginia—one without the threat of the destruction of their homes, mountains, and air, and one that’s for renewable energy from sources such as wind and sunlight.

For more pictures, go here and here. Post a link to your pictures or blog posts about the event in the comments!

Like what you've read? Check out these related posts:

2 Comments »

Trackback This Post | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed