RSS Feeds
 |
|
|||||||||||||
News » Breaking News
Article rated a 0
by 0
users |
~ADVERTISING~
Groups join to protest power plant plans
By DREW ANDERSEN, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO — A pair of environmental groups from Waterloo and Marshalltown will gather in Des Moines this afternoon to urge Gov. Chet Culver to place a moratorium on construction of coal-fired power plants in Iowa.
Both cities have proposals to build coal-fired plants on the table, and both projects have come under scrutiny from environmental groups. LS Power has proposed a 750-meagwatt plant in Waterloo, and Alliant Energy has proposed a 660-megawatt plant in Marshalltown.
Members of the Iowa Sierra Club and Community Energy Solutions (CES) will join for the protest rally at the Capitol in Des Moines. Sierra Club organizer Josh Jones said members will highlight the benefits of alternative energy and point out the costs of using coal.
Jones was uncertain how Culver could to place a hold on the permitting process. Officials with the Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Utilities Board — agencies from which power plants must receive permits — were unsure if the governor has such power. The office of the governor did not return messages Monday.
Jones said today’s gathering will be a memorable event.
“It’s really the first time that citizens from both communities have coordinated an event to protest these proposed plants,” said Jones. “It is really going to be something that helps build their confidence and spirit up for this battle that’s been long and protracted.”
Around fifty participants are expected for the protest, including Marshalltown activist Bill Helgen, Waterloo resident Linda Huss and Community Energy Solutions member and Waterloo resident Jeri Thornsberry.
In response to today’s protest, LS Power noted there was a significant need for energy in the state of Iowa. Placing a hold on coal-fired energy plant construction “would be economically devastating for Iowa ratepayers and future economic development, ” said spokesperson Alyssa Becthold, Hellman public relations director.
Today’s protest is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. in the west wing of the first floor rotunda of the State Capitol.
Contact Drew Andersen at (319) 291-1418 or drew.andersen@wcfcourier.com.
Both cities have proposals to build coal-fired plants on the table, and both projects have come under scrutiny from environmental groups. LS Power has proposed a 750-meagwatt plant in Waterloo, and Alliant Energy has proposed a 660-megawatt plant in Marshalltown.
Members of the Iowa Sierra Club and Community Energy Solutions (CES) will join for the protest rally at the Capitol in Des Moines. Sierra Club organizer Josh Jones said members will highlight the benefits of alternative energy and point out the costs of using coal.
Jones was uncertain how Culver could to place a hold on the permitting process. Officials with the Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Utilities Board — agencies from which power plants must receive permits — were unsure if the governor has such power. The office of the governor did not return messages Monday.
Jones said today’s gathering will be a memorable event.
“It’s really the first time that citizens from both communities have coordinated an event to protest these proposed plants,” said Jones. “It is really going to be something that helps build their confidence and spirit up for this battle that’s been long and protracted.”
Around fifty participants are expected for the protest, including Marshalltown activist Bill Helgen, Waterloo resident Linda Huss and Community Energy Solutions member and Waterloo resident Jeri Thornsberry.
In response to today’s protest, LS Power noted there was a significant need for energy in the state of Iowa. Placing a hold on coal-fired energy plant construction “would be economically devastating for Iowa ratepayers and future economic development, ” said spokesperson Alyssa Becthold, Hellman public relations director.
Today’s protest is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. in the west wing of the first floor rotunda of the State Capitol.
Contact Drew Andersen at (319) 291-1418 or drew.andersen@wcfcourier.com.
 |
 |
More Stories from News » Breaking News
Waterloo man in ISU gun case allegedly threatened athleteFish advisory continues along stretch of Mississippi RiverU.S. Supreme Court won’t review James Bentley caseEastside urban renewal plan passes first testHundreds of small dogs seized from Arizona homeTax breaks approved for Waterloo business expansionsGovernment seeks forfeiture from former insurance agent
skelloch wrote on Mar 18, 2008 12:20 PM:
" Another good reason for prospective business interests, including Microsoft to go where they won't have to work in candlelite. Perhaps if enough land is developed into wind power that will make up the difference. Oh, I forgot, might be bad for the bird watchers.
"
"
hillbillytea wrote on Mar 18, 2008 4:17 PM:
" last time I checked microsoft chose Iowa because we had a surpluss of electricity.that fact was also devuldged by Mr lathum at the energy presentation at the arts center a couple of weeks ago.we also have the ambiant air issue to deal with which is very real.If it were up to me , I would ask for a morrarorium on coal plants unless they are to be built as a replacement plant for an older less efficiant plant in the area of construction.this is not the case with the LS power facility "
myers70001 wrote on Mar 18, 2008 8:27 PM:
" I agree with skelloch. The other thing is that in order for the plant to be built they have to have some iowa utility companies signed on which they already have in place with two major Utilities and several smaller co-ops in Iowa. thats all they need. the last hurdle would be the new zoning reguest. They found a way around the state. Blackhawk county also could give the land to the city and that would also get around the land department. There are ways around everything if you know how to work the system. That's what big bussines does. Why else do you think they basically run this country. Their called lobbyist. Besides this should bring more industry to the cedar valley as well as more jobs which means more money to bussines's,bigger tax base, lower taxes for us and our children will stay in Iowa and make a descent wage to live by.Besides Waterloo needs to grow instead of being stagnant. We need to get rid of that small town mentality which put us in the pridecament in the first place.When GM wanted to come to Waterloo in the 50's or 60's who keeped them out.Our top industries which now we only have one original left. Wake up Waterloo.It's time to be progressive not regressive. "
junkman wrote on Mar 19, 2008 8:12 AM:
" I don't see anything memorable about this event at all. How is it that two counties only manage to scrape together 50 people to protest these plants? How many of them are just nimbys that live near the proposed sights? How many of them really know what their talking about concerning emmissions? It would be irresponsible for the governor to make a decision such as holding up the permits based on a group like this. Clearly, they don't represent the majority of people that want electric rates kept under control. The governor knows these plants will provide to Iowa and that there are already thousands of Iowans that can't afford their utilities bill. Ms Thornsberry talked about concerns for particulate matter. So why would she want old plants to continue when these new ones filter 99% of particulates? The more efficient plants will eventually force the old ones to clean up or shut down. That's PROGRESS for Iowa. I'm tired of this old story of all the power going out of state. It simply isn't true, and I'm sure our governor is smart enough to realize that. "
hillbillytea wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:21 PM:
" the actual number in attendance was actually 62. the delegation also presented a stack of letter from those who couldn't attend "
Whyonearth wrote on Mar 23, 2008 1:06 AM:
" I want to be the first to recommend that all the people that oppose this plant disconnect electricity from their homes so that there will be electricity in the future for me to use. If they are willing to do this, then I can respect their opposition. If they are not willing to do this, they are nothing but hypocrites that want to deprive others from having what they have (electricity). "
hillbillytea wrote on Mar 23, 2008 8:23 AM:
" the people opposing this plant are not against electricity. what they along with our goverment are trying to promote is clean renewable energy as well as a a cleaner way of burning coal than traditional means.there is also a movement towads energy efficancy which will push our states surplus well beyond what we have now.it has been well known that was our stance scince this issue hit the papers.there is also an issue of property owners rights which I am not qualified to go into details about.I wish you people would quit trying to put a spin on our intentions.but it is obvious that ther are people on this blog who are part of the coal investers lobby "
Due to the amount of spam and negative comments received, the Courier implement a registered-user system for participation in the comment portion of our site. In doing so, the Courier reserves the right to ban any user(s) at any time without notice if we feel they are not following the terms of agreement.
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
~ADVERTISEMENT~
NEWS |
SPORTS |
COMMUNITY |
BUSINESS |
ENTERTAINMENT |
FEATURES |
OPINIONS |
OBITUARIES |
CLASSIFIEDS |
PRIVACY POLICY |
CONTACT US |
CARRIER PAGES
|
Hound wrote on Mar 18, 2008 10:54 AM: