Wise County coal plant: The Wise Energy Coalition for Virginia has vowed to fight in court the construction of Dominion’s hybrid energy plant in Wise County. Although Dominion has obtained needed approvals from the State Corporation Commission and Air Pollution Control board, opponents say they intend to challenge the legality of the air pollution permits on the grounds that they do no require Dominion to curb carbon dioxide emissions.
Last week a state judge invalidated an air pollution permit for a planned coal-fired plant in Georgia because the permit established no carbon dioxide limits. The judge relied upon a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows carbon dioxide to be regulated as a pollutant, reports the Roanoke Times. But the federal government has yet to issue such regulations.The environmental battle against coal is gaining momentum. The Coalition notes approvingly on its website that New York’s Attorney General started an investigation of Dominion, “questioning whether the company adequately disclosed investor risks associated with new coal-fired power plants.” If built, Dominion’s proposed coal-fired power plant would worsen global warming, accelerate mountain-top removal coal mining, encourage the construction of new transmission lines and further pollution Virginia’s air, land and waters.
Offshore drilling: Meanwhile, General Assembly Republicans are still pushing offshore drilling. Although Democrats have killed an offshore drilling bill on the Senate side, Republicans pushed a measure, HB 6006, through the House Rules Committee in a 12-3 vote. The bill would dedicate future revenues and royalties from offshore drilling to Virginia’s Transportation Trust Fund.
The Virginian-Pilot covers the issues here.
