Power plant hearing draws crowd

Nov 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Jamie Durant Florence Morning News, S.C.

Concerned residents and local conservation groups packed the gymnasium of Hannah-Pamplico High School on Thursday night to voice their opinions on the proposed Santee Cooper coal-burning power plant to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control officials.

Although the people in attendance were encouraged to present their concerns about the coal plant, DHEC officials weren't permitted to respond to any of the issues raised in the public hearing.

"We have to follow a very rigid set of rules," DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said. "We cannot respond to questions. We can only take in comments from the public. Once the public comment period ends Dec. 7, we will then get all of those comments back in and we will respond to everyone."

The 600-megawatt coal-fired generation facility, which would be located on a 2,709-acre tract along the Great Pee Dee River, is scheduled to become operational sometime after 2012.

Berry said there won't be any decisions in the matter for a number of months while procedures are followed.

He also addressed the concerns about the additional mercury the proposed coal plant would add to the Great Pee Dee River, which is already under advisory regarding the mercury content of the fish caught in the river.

"That's one of the things we always take into consideration, not just here, but (for) any plant, anywhere in the state," Berry said. "One of the things we look at is, how does this fit in to the already existing conditions? Because our goal, and the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency's) goal is no detrimental loss to the quality of the environment."

But taking the mercury content into consideration isn't enough to appease many of the conservationists protesting the plant.

"We believe that the (Great) Pee Dee River is already heavily burdened with mercury, as a matter of fact we know it is," Mike King, representative of the Pee Dee River Watchers, said. "We think it is unconscionable for DHEC to already approve a draft air permit for this plant, hastily, even before the environmental impact statement is done by the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers."

King and other members of the conservation groups who gathered in front of the school with signs telling the dangers of coal-based power, said a busload of Santee Cooper employees were bused to the event to tilt the balance of power in the auditorium.

"They were bused in, all the Santee Cooper employees have filled up the auditorium, courtesy of the South Carolina state taxpayers," King said. "They are paid minions of Santee Cooper."

Santee Cooper President and CEO Lonnie Carter denied having his employees brought to the hearing en masse.

"That's incorrect," he said.

Santee Cooper spokeswoman Laura Varn said although there were no buses involved, Santee Cooper employees did make an effort to carpool to the event.

Moments after the comments portion of the evening opened, Carter took the stage to reassure the crowd about Santee Cooper's commitment to providing affordable, responsible power to the Pee Dee.

"I think this is a good opportunity for Santee Cooper to come out and remind people of how seriously we take our job," he said.

Carter said that despite the opposition to a coal-based energy source, he doesn't foresee any problems in bringing the proposed plant to fruition.

"I don't see any stumbling block, because this facility is being designed and built with the best control technology in the world," he said.

Lou Green, executive vice president of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, said even with consideration of renewable resources and valiant energy efficiency efforts, there would still be a need for the proposed plant.

"We don't think (that's the case)," he said. "We know."

Green said that although newer, possibly cleaner, forms of energy are being discussed, they are years away from being economical for consumers.

"We have to do something between now and the time when we can use more renewable fuels and save for energy to provide the energy that is needed," he said.

Green said the studies researching the need for the power plant often are misused by many of the groups opposing the plant.

"They are mischaracterizing the studies," he said. "They look at some of the most optimistic numbers about how much renewable energy we can have without looking at what is practically achievable and cost effective.

"The idea that we're going to shift immediately to renewable resources is just unrealistic. That fact that we've got to use more of them and be more conservative is absolutely on target. It's just a matter of timing."

Terry Cook, who lives along the stretch of the river where the proposed plant is to be built, said she thinks the plant could have ill effects on her health and property.

"I came to speak to try to stop this coal plant from coming to my neighborhood," she said. "In my backyard will be a landfill and an ash pond if this plant goes in. I've got grandchildren. There's a lot I want to show them -- one of them is not a coal-fired power plant."