Publisher: The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
(Author: Jacob Lammers)
Oct. 28--A proposed coal plant could
stabilize electric rates: sounds good, right?
An environmental organization, a handful of Painesville residents
and at least one councilman disagree and say it could mean increased
rates.
During a town hall-style forum Tuesday night, representatives from
the Sierra Club informed residents about the proposed coal plant
that will be built in southern Ohio.
In 2007, Painesville City Council voted to participate in the
construction of the plant, along with 81 other municipalities that
are members of American Municipal Power.
Resident Angelo Cimaglio said he was confused about the city's
involvement. If council did indeed participate, Cimaglio said he
thinks it was the wrong decision to make.
"Why are we a city of 17,000 involved in a deal like this?" said
Cimaglio, adding Painesville is small compared to Cleveland, which
also is participating.
"I don't know how they sold this to our city fathers."
Councilman Andrew Flock hosted the meeting and voted against signing
the contract, which locks Painesville into a 1.3 percent share of
the 960 megawatt-hour facility for 50 years. AMP was not invited to
the forum.
"I still don't know what price we're going to have to pay for this
plant," Flock said. From an initial price of $1.5 billion in 2006,
the plant jumped in price to $3.94 billion in 2008, according to the
Sierra Club.
"I feel today like I did two years ago. Voting for a 50-year
contract was not a good idea," Flock said.
While the market could conceivably drive prices down, AMP's Senior
Director of Communications Kent Carson said the whole point of the
proposed plant is to offer market stability to its members.
Sierra Club spokesman Nachy Kanfer pointed out that electric usage
could in fact go down. With the help of Senate Bill 221, electric
rates will cumulatively reduce energy consumption by 22 percent over
the next 25 years.
"No one knows what the reality will be like in 50 years, but no
matter what, Painesville will be involved in this plant," Kanfer
said.
Instead of building coal-fired plants, Kanfer said AMP needs to
focus on renewable energy.
As of Tuesday, AMP received $143.7 million in bonds from the U.S.
Treasury Department to use toward renewable energy products, Carson
said.
AMP will focus on eight projects in five states, which will use at
least one of the following renewable energy sources: hydroelectric,
and wind and solar energies, as well as harnessing methane gas from
landfills, Carson said.
In Bowling Green, AMP operates a wind farm.
Carson added that AMP does not focus all of its resources on coal.
"We understand the need for diversification. We understand the need
to support renewable energy sources," said Carson, adding that there
should be a balance.
AMP's annual conference is under way this week in Cleveland, and
Kanfer said it offers members a unique opportunity to voice their
concerns about the proposed plant.
If enough communities are against the project, AMP would likely shut
it down.
"It's not set in stone. AMP would you tell you they serve their
members," Kanfer said.
Carson agreed that they would respond to their members' wishes, but
he advised against pulling out of the project.
During the conference, Kanfer suspects that AMP's members could vote
on a final notice to proceed on the project. Carson added that he is
not aware of any votes taking place.
With an alleged vote going on this week, city resident Sandy Miller
said she's more concerned that no one seems to care.
"I can't believe our council people would sign this," Miller said.
"I've gone door-to-door and the people don't even know about this."
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