The Virginian-Pilot
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More than 50 people spoke Monday night ahead of a vote next month that could pave the way for a tiny town to house a coal-fired power plant - and the vast majority were against the project.
Dendron, in the center of the county, has been proposed as the site of the Cypress Creek Power Station, a mega coal-fired power plant that would open in 2016. The 1,500-megawatt plant would be the state's largest to produce electrical energy.
But it could also be an environmental hazard, opponents of the plant said.
"Consider the impact it may have on your neighboring communities," said Gary West, a former Newport News Planning Commission member. "From agriculture to industry, it would be a severe and dramatic change."
The Planning Commission, faced with nine proposals from Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, had been scheduled to vote on the plant Monday night, but by the end of the public hearings had decided to delay the vote. The group will take up the matter again Dec. 14.
The crowd of 200-plus on Monday night overwhelmingly seemed to oppose the plant. They came from as far as Richmond, Norfolk and Williamsburg to speak. They called coal a dirty resource - one that is not renewable - and said it has the potential to harm the community's health.
Residents who want the power plant say it could bring jobs and industrial-type businesses that provide additional tax revenue to the struggling rural county.
"The power plant will bring jobs and more economic opportunities," said Robert Hall, of Surry County. "I support using one of the state's most valuable resources in a clean manner. I trust ODEC."
Since the Surry Lumber Co., which was on the land until 1927, closed, the land has been zoned for agriculture and farmed. When the lumber company was open, the town had a population of about 3,000. There are now about 300 residents of Dendron and little industry to support the community.
ODEC is expected to spend up to $6 billion to build the plant and its support system. The company would still have to go through about 50 permitting applications in add ition to those permits to be issued by both the town and the county.
The rezoning must be approved by the county Board of Supervisors and then go back to the Town Council for final approval.
Before the meeting was scheduled to begin Monday night, two groups opposing the plant - Wise Energy for Virginia and Physicians for Social Responsibility - held a news conference to reiterate the potential environmental problems with coal-fired energy.
Stan Clark, vice chairman of the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors offered some advice to Surry County: Get an independent study.
"If they are the good neighbors they say they are, they will fully fund any independent study you want or ask for."
Linda McNatt, (757) 222-5561, linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com
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Surry -vs- Franklin For A Site
Why not use the Franklin Paper Mill Plant? Just convert it! Franklin doesn't loose their industry status and Surry remains rural.
I think we should try
I think we should try underwater turbines, under something like the Gulf Stream. Perhaps we should have the plant, but a different energy source? Is burning coal cleaner burning than diesel?
Well, I would have to agree
Well, I would have to agree with the people that are suggesting for the power company to look elsewhere. When the company gets tired of the negative response directed towards their current site of choice, they can come around thirty-five miles southwest and set up shop here in Franklin Virginia. After hosting a papermill for the last century, I don't think that the negatives of having another coal power plant in the area would bother too many people. We have a skilled workforce in place that would just love to help out. Bring it. If scores of people show up to protest, we'll check their i.d. and make sure that they're from around here before we take their bickering seriously. Cool, huh?
Also, for the people that are thinking that another company might set up shop on the current International Paper property....do your research. All of the previous towns that have lost I.P. mills have seen that property sit for 5-10 years while I.P. tries to sell it. There are a lot of good aspects concerning the I.P. property such as the power plant, water access, rail, etc, but I wouldn't bank on an industry coming to our area and building there. We can only wait and see what plans ou
Virginia and Technology
A power plant planned for 2016 using coal as its resource? Geez, I thought Virginia wants to build on its reputation as a technology state. For something seven years out from now, the conventional is accepted. It sounds like the cheap way out in the short term for greater problems in the long term.
Clean Coal Isn't
The VP should have included some real facts in this article. For instance, what is Clean Coal? Clean Coal, as used by Dom Power and others in favor of the plant, only refers to the burning of the coal. There is no clean way to mine and deliver the coal, and no clean way to dispose of the Co2 and Fly Ash. When you ask Dom Power about the disposal, they try to side-step that issue. They will admit that the disposal methods are still being researched. For example, the want to pump the Co2 underground, but haven't fully developed and tested that method (at least that's what I heard them say in a radio interview a few months back). Obtaining the coal means either chopping the tops off mountains or the more expensive mining. Yes, we can burn it clean, but our neighbors in Appalachia have to suffer with a little more black lung disease.
Somone mentioned California's rolling blackouts. They didn't mention that California's plan to releive that is by using wind, solar, and other cleaner methods. California's power company is investing heavily in these methods.
VP - how about an article full of the facts about energy production?
NO REAL JOBS FOR COMMUNITY AT CYPRESS CREEK
People who think jobs will be created at Coal Plant by ODEC are not fully aware of how things truly work. ODEC has to contract out the construction of this plant , the builder will bring in their own work force, Surry does not have a local skilled workforce that is unemployed.
Furthermore ODEC has allready admitted that there is no requirement for the construction company to hire any Local residents during the construction phase. Once the plant is built ODEC must contract with a major utility to operate the plant , once that is done only union labor and licensed operators will be permitted to work at the plant. According to ODEC the operator may hire a small amount of local residents for yard maintenance and facility cleaning. Maybe 6 people.
Lets say Dominion Virginia Power agrees to operate the plant , that will mean any Dominion employee may work at this plant before any outside individual is hired , same for any other utility and this does not mean anyone who works there will live inside the community. People do not understand that ODEC has never , not ever operated a coal plant they are just the money man who fronts the cost or assists with cost for a percentage of the ele
no clue
as a dendron resident and 20+ years union electrician i just felt i need to comment on how wrong you are about the construction process. the company my be from out of town, but union rules state he must hire labor from the lo cal union hall. when time comes to operate the plant. they will have a job far to recruit local people, just like surry power station does. so you mean to tell me no locals work at surry power station. you have no clue and should keep your comments to yourself until you have the facts.
for those advocating wind, solar, tidal, etc
Ask yourself why these things aren't being used as options as you (and I) would like them to be. No fair blaming greedy power companies or politicians of one party or another.
There are many reasons why we should be moving away from coal burning power plants. But the greedy power company isn't to blame.
I'd gladly trade the new plant for sufficient windmills off the VA coast to generate equivalent energy. How about you?
The Reason
The problem is the lobbyists of these companies who have co-opted the people in congress.
In all fairness, that's where the blame goes.
The power companies are the reason. They are acting in their own self interest.
Sorry for the blame.
I appreciate your recognition of the future though Mustang Freddy.
OK, I'm ready for your zinger now.
The solution
I have it. Those who are opposed to the plant should immediately have electricity removed from their homes. If there is truely "Overwelming opposition" to the plant, the decrease in demand will make the need for a new plant go away. Problem solved! Let's find solutions not just protest problems. I wonder how many of these people feel strongly enough about their cause to put their cause above their use of the very commodity they oppose?
Just a thought!