Mountain Holler
Tell Dominion No New Coal in Southwester Virginia
May 7th, 2008
Citizens across Virginia and a coalition of citizens' groups have been putting up a strong fight against Dominion's proposed Wise County coal plant. Thousands of opponents have written to state agencies and the governor and hundreds have attended public hearings; over 40,000 have signed the Mile-Long Petition opposing the plant so far; major newspapers across the state have editorialized against it; and citizens' groups are challenging the plant in the legal and administrative arenas. Dominion is a powerful adversary, however, and we are writing to ask you to take a little of your time to join the fight. Please read on!
Opposition to the plant is growing as increasing numbers of people learn that it is one of the most important issues facing the Commonwealth. Despite Dominion's claims that the plant would be "state-of-the-art," it would actually be a giant step backwards for Virginia's environment and energy policy -- one we'd be stuck with for the next four or five decades. The plant would emit as much carbon dioxide annually as nearly one million cars and more than four times as much mercury per megawatt as a Dominion plant built over a decade ago. The new plant's demand for coal would destroy more of Virginia's irreplaceable mountains and creeks through mountaintop removal mining. Moreover, the plant is not needed: utility experts have concluded that implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measure (that would cost ratepayers significantly less) would likely eliminate the need to ever build another coal plant in Virginia.
On May 8, citizens of Southwest Virginia will deliver the Mile-Long Petition for Clean Energy opposing the plant to Dominion's Richmond headquarters. Concerned citizens from across the state and beyond will gather for a rally to support them. Please join the over 40,000 people who have already added their name to fight. Go to www.CleanEnergyVA.org to add your name to the growing list of people demanding environmental justice in Appalachia.
If you don't get to sign up by May 8, you can still add your name. This is just one stop on the way to showing Dominion South Western Virginia doesn't need another dirty coal fired power plant.
Blasting: A siege on my home
May 3rd, 2008
I just heard another blast. They are happening more and more lately... getting louder each time. Part of me maimed when I hear that sound. I sit and hear them edge closer and closer to my family home. It's a strange thing to one day waken to the truth of being an affected and endangered person. Out of nowhere *BOOM*... like a mine field. Living in the wake of so-called "progress"....a wake of death and destruction...
a wake negligence...
a wake of damage...
a wake of rape...
...in the name of profit
...in the name of greed
... in the name of selfishness
...in the name of evil
...in the name of turning a blind eye and pretending that this sacrifice can be justified.
It can never be justified by any argument... for any reason. No matter how just someone might think it to be...
Killing the land that I have grown to love so dear.
Killing the solace I've know so close.
My one place of peace...
Once a sanctuary... now a target.
I know others who live with this and I know others who profit from this. The bow is ever bending...
There's something in the Water
April 25th, 2008
One method of disposing of the semi-liquid waste from coal processing facilities is to inject it into old underground mines. Any fourth grader will tell you this is a terrible idea. A really awful one in fact. Made even worse in Prenter, WV by the massive strip mine directly above the well injection and sludge filled mine shafts.Prenter is not the only place in Appalachia where this is happening.
Judy Bonds in People Magazine
April 22nd, 2008
Hey folks,Be sure to check out the lastest issue of People magazine. Judy Bonds, one of our co-directors here at CRMW, is featured in an article.
Pick it up a copy and flip to page 143 to check it out!
Here's a picture of the article....
