Dec 5 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Jens Manuel Krogstad Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

A health forum gave state legislators a chance to publicly express their views -- many for the first time -- on LS Power's proposed coal power plant.

State and local representatives convened Tuesday at the Black Hawk County Health Department to discuss pressing public health concerns.

While the department rated minority and mental health concerns more highly, when the issue of air quality and the proposed plant arose, the room livened.

Rep. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls, and State Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, thanked the board for highlighting health issues with its study.

"Once you start looking at the health care costs, that can eat up in a real hurry any economic benefits (of a coal plant)," Dotzler said. "It's an issue really fired by emotion, and it's good to have some data. I can assure you the rest of the state will be hearing about your study."

Last month the health board presented a study it commissioned to study the health impacts of the proposed coal power plant in Waterloo. One of the primary recommendations was a moratorium on building permits for coal power plants until the state enacts more stringent air pollution control measures.

Bruce Meisinger, disease surveillance manager for the health department, said that Iowa was already approaching federal air quality limits, a finding that surprised many in the health department.

While noting she's not supporting the proposed plant, Rep. Doris Kelley, D-Waterloo, cautioned that the country, including Iowa, depends on coal power. Utility bills could increase by 20 percent with a sudden, widespread shift to renewable energies -- something she said people on fixed incomes can't afford.

Kelley added that a more immediate impact can be made by changing personal behavior, a solution Rep. Tami Wiencek, R-Waterloo, also advocated.

"When you go out and buy these flat screen TVs and new computers, you're gobbling up electricity," Kelley said.

When Black Hawk County Supervisor John Miller suggested much of the energy produced by the plant will be sold elsewhere, it produced a quick response from Kelley. A former Cedar Falls Utilities marketing director, she said many Iowa utilities currently buy power produced outside the state.

"Can I respond to that?" she asked. "Iowa has 150 municipal utilities in the state, and many buy power from companies like LS Power."

LS Power project manager Mark Milburn has said the company won't exclusively sell electricity to other states.

Kressig, though, argued LS Power will ultimately do business where rates are higher. Kressig said he unsuccessfully talked to LS Power about selling the power locally.

Noting utility costs are much less here than Chicago, Kressig said, "If you're building a power plant and you want to generate revenues, where are you going to sell it at?"

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad at (319) 291-1580 or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.