More Action Needed to Stop Power Plant!
September 14, 2007
GRANT SMITH
CAC and its coalition partners working against approval of the proposed Duke coal gasification plant planned for Edwardsport, Indiana issued a letter to the Governor and a press release urging the Governor to withdraw his support for the construction of the plant and, instead, to support a sustainable energy policy.
The evidence in the case is clear that the power plant is not needed to meet demand. Making homes and businesses more energy efficient would more than offset any purported need for the plant.
In addition, the Governor issued a press release last week stating that the plant "will" be built, raising questions about the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's ability to act independently in this matter. The Commission is a quasi-judicial body who members cannot be communicated with behind closed doors during formal proceedings, such as the Duke power plant proceeding.
Clearly, there is a full-court press from the Governor's office to get the plant built. We do not know what kind of deals have been cut with Duke or what kind of pressure is being exerted on the IURC. We do know that the head of the Governor's Energy and Defense Office worked in the utility industry and that the chair of the IURC was an attorney at PSI (now Duke) during the Marble Hill nuclear plant debacle. (Construction of the plant was never completed.)
However, the proposed Duke power plant is truly a case of the emperor and his clothes. Unequivocally, cheaper and cleaner options are available to meet energy demand in Duke territory.
Here are links to the press release, the letter to the Governor, and the Governor's press release:
How you can help
1. E-mail the Governor
E-mail Brad Rateike (brateike@gov.in.gov), the Governor's media contact for his recent press release. In your own words, let him know that the Daniels Administration should withdraw its support of the proposed Duke coal gasification plant, and that a focus on energy efficiency and renewables would be much better economically and environmentally for the state. Additionally, let him know that Governor Daniels should release all communications from the Governor's office and the Office of Energy and Defense to Duke, the Indiana Energy Association, the Office of the Consumer Counselor, and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission during the course of the Duke coal gasification plant proceeding.
For more information about Duke Energy's proposed coal-gasification plant, please visit www.citact.org/dukeigcc/dukeigcc.htm.
2. Carbon copy your local newspaper
CC your e-mail to Mr. Rateike to your local newspaper and to CAC at dukecampaign@citact.org.
For newspaper contact information, please visit www.usnpl.com/innews.php
3. Forward to friends
Forward this e-mail to friends, family, and neighbors.
Thank you so much for getting involved in our work to protect the health, environment, and the pocketbooks of all those who live in Indiana!
Grant SmithExecutive Director
Citizens Action Coalition
St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN