The Substitution of Legislation by Regulation
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, Mi Part 21
The Heavy Hand of the EPA
One of the things that makes America different from other countries is our political system, presumably. I mean to say that we elect leaders to represent us and work in our interest among the political causes of the day. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case in the United States of America.
Under the Obama Administration, what cannot be done through legislation is now being done by decree.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said in a press release on Friday, “Business leaders, security experts, government officials, concerned citizens and the United States Supreme Court have called for enduring, pragmatic solutions to reduce the greenhouse gas pollution that is causing climate change. This continues our work towards clean energy reform that will cut GHGs and reduce the dependence on foreign oil that threatens our national security and our economy.”
The fact that the science of global warming has come under serious question and even been shown to be made up, seems not to be an issue for Ms. Jackson.
Since these regulations will most likely ban the domestic drilling of oil, it will in no way “reduce the dependence on foreign oil.”
What does this all mean for the Rogers City Coal Plant? Well, as of this writing, Wolverine has not been issued an air permit or a permit to install. But if it does receive the main permit, it will be a double-edged sword.
With Cap and Trade legislation largely considered dead-on-arrival in the Senate, the EPA means to enact similar, without a doubt, more stringent commands on coal plants. It is not to be ignored that a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute concluded, “The only certainty is that EPA regulation would be far more expensive than congressional-designed legislation.”
After all, why is the Global Warming bill (Cap and Trade H.R. 2454) in trouble in the Senate? Is it not because a large number of Senators have constituencies that are very much opposed to the bill? In fact, the only way Cap and Trade was passed in the House was in the middle of the night by a vote of 219-212.
The people of this nation have no say in the matter.
This is not how the U.S.A. is supposed to work.
Tom Karas says quit “whining” while he kills our children’s future.
A couple of weeks back, I noticed that Tom Karas, an out-of town environmentalist, was planning to show up at the Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op annual meeting to formally demand a complete financial disclosure of Wolverine’s Power Plant proposal. He stated so openly in an editorial in the Advance.
Knowing that he had been actively trying to kill the future of Rogers City by casting aspersions against the financing of the coal plant for almost two years now, I threw his demand back in his face.
Advance (10/29/09) Opinion:
To the editor,
As a member of Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op, I hereby introduce a motion demanding Tom Karas’ financial disclosure. By carefully following the coal plant story for the past three years, I know he has started at least three web sites without disclosure to the public of who pays for them. I know he has paid for at least one study that is biased in nature and shares his world view. I also know that he himself has admitted that he gets paid from San Francisco to continue to force Wolverine to spend money to address his concerns. I want to know who he is paid by, how much he is paid, and more importantly, how much money he stands to gain if this coal plant does not go through. I have been writing about this coal plant on my blog. You can read it at http://jennerationx.wordpress.com/rogers-city-coal-plant/.
Jennifer M. Kuznicki
Rogers City(sic)
Hawks
Tom has distastefully responded to my inquiry by leaving an arrogant comment on my website and like a school-yard bully, sent me an email to try to get me to meet him for a photo-op in front of the Advance to accept his tax returns from last year.
I have decided to handle the inquiry in this manner.
As you can see by reading The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 5, my inquiry was a result of Karas’ own words.
Part 5--Quoting from the Advance, “Karas, who voiced his disapproval of Wolverine’s project on many levels, said he receives funding for his efforts from the Energy Foundation, based in San Francisco, California. According to its website, the goal of the Energy Foundation is ‘to develop and promote U.S. state and regional policies to reduce global warming pollution in order to build models for, and momentum toward federal global warming policy.’ ‘They want me to do public education, ‘ Karas said.
The Energy Foundation funds 501(c)(3)s to which Karas would have to apply and receive funding for a certain project under a different name.
501 (c)(3) organizations include charitable, religious and educational groups. They pay no taxes on income, and contributions are tax deductible for donors. This is the only category of tax-exempt organizations with this fundraising advantage. One of the conditions for this favorable treatment is that these groups strictly prohibited from supporting or opposing candidates for public office. However, they are allowed to engage in a limited amount of legislative lobbying.
This funding would not show on his individual tax return. I believe his “project” is to kill the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture. The name used could be Co-op Conversations.
I do not “whine” in public, Tom. I see you as a self-serving egotist who stands in the way of my children’s future.
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 20
Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Our congressman, Bart Stupak announced gleefully the week of October 8th, 2009, that $2.7 million of federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)were awarded to Wolverine Power for carbon capture. I wrote about the stimulus bill on this blog and rereading shows me that there was 2.4 billion in the stimulus for carbon capture and sequestration projects.
The Advance quotes Stupak, “This funding will allow Wolverine Power to develop innovative new technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also creating jobs for our workers. I am pleased Energy Secretary Steven Chu is investing this stimulus money in northern Michigan so we can continue to be a leader in developing and implementing green technology here in Michigan and across the nation.”
First of all, Steven Chu didn’t invest anything, we have to pay for it with future taxation, but that aside, it is only a little over 2.7 million dollars. With a little research I found out that because carbon capture and sequestration is not fully developed yet, it is very expensive.
As you can read from the Council for Climate Research’s 2008 NIChE Carbon Capture and Sequestration Conference
Particular focus is given to CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants, because these plants account for about 33% of the total CO2 emissions in the United States – more than the combined emissions from all other large point sources. CO2 capture options for coal-fired plants include post-combustion capture (e.g., using amine or ammonia scrubbing to treat the flue gas from a pulverized coal (PC) plant), pre-combustion capture (e.g., using a physical absorption process to treat the synthesis gas in an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant), and oxy-combustion (i.e., combusting coal in pure oxygen and recycled CO2). Pilot- and/or commercial-scale demonstrations of these configurations are in various stages of development; a realistic timeframe for commercial deployment of these technologies is proposed. However, widespread deployment of CO2 capture using today’s best available technologies would have a substantial impact on the nation’s economy and energy supply. Retrofitting a coal-fired power plant with amine scrubbing for 90% CO2 capture can triple its cost of producing electricity and decrease its net electrical output by 30%. A new IGCC plant with CO2 capture can have 50-100% greater capital costs and ≥60% greater cost of producing electricity than a new supercritical PC plant without CO2 capture. Hence, there is a strong need for the continued development of technologies that have potential to reduce the costs and energy requirements associated with CO2 capture. (emphasis added mine)
So, basically, we will be taxed in the future for the project that is so cost-prohibitive and undeveloped, that Wolverine’s cost of doing business will skyrocket. Much like President Obama said would happen and I discuss in Part 8.
Now, all this talk about CO2 has got to be put into perspective, and by doing so, I believe you will understand my opinion on the whole carbon project.
We exhale carbon dioxide and it is needed by plants to grow. Carbon dioxide accounts for .004 % of the atmosphere. The extremist environmental school of thought puts carbon dioxide as a major source of pollution and is what is causing global warming. Remember, Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth was based on .7 degrees celcius increase over one hundred years.
The Supreme Court of the United States on April, 2, 2007, ruled in a 5-4 decision that th EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, an authority the current administration accepts with vigor. Because of the extreme environmentalist view of the current administration, Wolverine, in my view, has to pony up an awful lot of money.
How could so many people buy into falsehoods and “scientific consensus?” I will discuss that later.
Back to the 2.7 million dollar grant. It seems a mere pittance since Wolverine has to prove if it works to be accepted for the second phase of grants. Quoting the Advance, “The remaining ARRA funding will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive phase two selection process. Projects that best demonstrate the ability to address their emission needs will be in the final portfolio that will receive additional funding for design, construction and operation.”
So, not only do we have to pay for the competitive research with future tax dollars, Wolverine isn’t guaranteed any more funds, and who knows what may happen if the project fails. From Part 17 about Cap and trade, I discuss how the bill calls for carbon sequestration.
From the October 9th, 2009 post on Varnum Blogs, “The Department of Energy has awarded an initial $3.71 million grant to study whether carbon dioxide from Holland Board of Public Work’s proposed new coal-fired electric generating plant can be safely injected in below-ground sandstone formations. PraxAir Inc. assisted in garnering the funds for the Board’s study. Test wells will be drilled at the location of the plant. The cost of the carbon-sequestration project is estimated to be $150 million in addition to the $240 million cost of the new plant. The DOE has also awarded Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative Inc. $2.7 million to demonstrate the use of advanced amines and additives to capture 300,000 tons of CO2 per year from its proposed 600 MW circulating fluidized bed power plant near Rogers City. Both projects are in the process of negotiating air permits with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Meanwhile the state legislature is working on a bill that would charge a one-time $1 per ton CO2 fee and 15 cents per ton annually in exchange for the state assuming liability for the CO2 storage.”
Like the blog says, on top of it all, the legislators are still working on a way to charge the energy user more.
click here to view Part 21
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 19
Clean Coal = Michigan Jobs
“Put us to work,” was the chant heard in Lansing on October 6th, 2009 when a bus load of Rogers City activists joined a rally on the steps and the lawn of the capitol. Mayor Beach Hall spoke at the rally .
The Advance writes, “The Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council and Protect Michigan, a coalition of the state’s major labor organizations, organized the rally with the support of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Manufacturers Association, and other members of the Michigan Jobs and Energy Coalition.”
ROGERS CITY mayor Beach Hall, the only speaker from the lakefront town, told the audience of the “overwhelming support” the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture has received, including a “Welcome” ad in the Advance from businesses and individuals, 3,500 petition signatures “in a town of 3,300” and 400 yard signs.
Citing the economic well-being of the region and the future power needs of the state, Hall urged Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) “to hurry up and approve Wolverine’s air quality permit so people can be put to work now,” Hall said in his speech.
“For Rogers City and the northeast Michigan counties of Presque Isle, Alpena, Cheboygan and Montmorency, a billion dollar project in northeast Michigan is huge. The possibility of up to 1,700 construction jobs for several years is huge. The possibility of over 500 direct and in-direct permanent jobs, including over 200 jobs supplying biomass for the plant is huge, anywhere, but especially in northeast Michigan.” Hall said local and state tax revenue from the project would increase at no cost to the state.
You can read the entire story here, I was not able to be at the rally, but after reading about it, I realized that it is such a significant picture.
The fact that in the most economically depressed state in the Nation, that a town of 3500 has to mobilize and picket the capitol just to get jobs. It’s sad really.
The Advance reports on an interesting poll, “Seventy-four percent of voters say they support Consumers Energy’s plan, while 72 percent said they would support Wolverine’s project. While the strongest support for these new power plants comes from the regions where they would be located, they receive robust support from all areas of the state.”
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 18
The Sierra Club’s Theatrics
Reacting to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Wolverine asked for an additional hearing to change the way that emissions are measured. The EPA changed the way emissions are measured in the Clean Air Act of 2008, and that standard does not have to be met until 2011 in Michigan. In another good faith effort by Wolverine, the town now had another public hearing to attend, held on September 17th, 2009, which created another opportunity for the Sierra Club to put on a show.
The Advance reported, “Last Thursday’s hearing at Rogers City High School drew around 125 audience members, more than a dozen DEQ engineers, staffers and support personnel, and 15 people who stepped up to the microphone to comment. Vince Helwig, chief of the Air Quality Division of the DEQ, designated as the “decision maker” for the DEQ, sat at a table facing the audience and the microphone where people offered testimony to him. He didn’t comment on any person’s testimony, but offered instructions before the hearing began.
He reminded the audience that the purpose of the hearing was to listen to comments on Wolverine’s plan to use the measurement 2.5 micrometers to measure particulate matter in plant emissions rather than the larger 10 micrometers measurement. ‘If you decide to make other comments we cannot consider them in the permit hearing process. We are not taking comment on the recent Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) report. That was a report given to us and we cannot answer questions because it was written by the MPSC, so we are still in the process of evaluating that.’ Helwig said. MARION HART, THE administrative section supervisor for the air quality division of the DEQ, moderated the 50-minute hearing, calling people one at a time to the microphone placed in front of Helwig’s table.”
Of the 14 commentators at the hearing, 10 spoke for the plant’s initiative, and 4 spoke against. The Sierra Club decidedly embarrassed themselves with a dramatic show. A friend of Lee Sprague (Michigan Sierra Club) who called himself Rich Coalbaron started walking through the gym acting as though he was stuffing money into people’s pockets.
The Advance reported, “AMONG THOSE who spoke against, at least three were from the state level of environmental organizations. An audience member, believed to be associated with the Sierra Club, identified himself as “Rich Coalbaron” and appeared in the high school lobby with Lee Sprague, an officer in the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club. Both were dressed in black suits with a very tall black stovepipe hat. They offered literature to people coming into the gymnasium and had a table set up in the commons area.
Although Sprague changed out of his costume before offering his comments to the DEQ, “Coalbaron” stayed in character while he spoke at the microphone. “I want to thank you for giving me your hard-earned money for the next 50 years,” he said. “Rogers City is a great place to pollute. It needs to be less pure here in Rogers City and we need to make sure that this place becomes a little more dirty.”
Then Sprague went on to comment on fugitive dust again, something that Tom Karas of Michigan Energy Alternatives had commented on in Part 9.
It’s always good to have the last word, and Elizabeth Zimmer had a good one.
“When I came in here tonight, I felt I was being harassed by the fellows in the tall hats (Sprague and “Coalbaron”). First they made me feel like they were for the Wolverine power plant and then they proceeded to tell me that we could keep sending them our money for years to come,” she said. Other “scare tactics” have been used on her as well, she said.
“I just wish they would go home. We don’t go to California or other places and chain ourselves to trees. I just feel they should go home,” Zimmer said as the final person to testify that night.
The town is still waiting for word on an air quality permit.
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 16
Surprise! Michigan doesn’t need Energy!
In Part 13 of this series I covered the governor’s state-of-the-state address where she issued a declaration that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) would be involved with the DEQ in the issuance of air permits. I mentioned that AG Mike Cox forced Granholm to rescind the order, but in a good faith effort, Wolverine compiled a report and sent it to the MPSC in June.
The Advance reports,
“On April 1, the MPSC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DEQ that clarified each participant’s role and responsibility regarding a review process to evaluate electric generation alternatives and provide technical assistance to the DEQ. This MOU answers requirements of an executive order issued on February 3 by Governor Granholm.
In this new directive, the “MPSC is to provide technical assistance to the DEQ on all matters related to the need for electric generation in the state, as it relates to the analysis that looks at alternatives to coal-fired generation.” The MPSC is also to “review the alternatives analysis to assess whether energy efficiency, renewable energy, or other alternatives meet future electricity needs,” states a press release from the MPSC.”
Executive Vice President for Wolverine Craig Borr concluded the story saying, “Think of it as the DEQ using the MPSC as its power supply or electric generation advisor or consultant.”
So even though the report is not necessary since the MPSC cannot approve or deny permits, only the DEQ can, the MPSC came back with an opinion.
The opinion stated that Wolverine did not successfully demonstrate the need for power, and Wolverine offered a scathing rebuttal to the report which you can read here.
I have to admit, when I heard this opinion by the MPSC I was livid because I knew what they had said just a few years previous. This excerpt is from MPSC Issues Summer 2006 Energy Appraisal.
Electricity – This summer’s combined peak demand in the Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy service areas are projected to total 21,365 MW. This demand will be 722 MW above their in-state generating capacity of 19,250 MW, so purchases of power are being made to assure adequate reserves.
It makes me wonder what has happened to the MPSC in three short years?
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 14
Wind Energy Depends on Your Wind
Despite the bad political climate, some leaders of Presque Isle County took a trip to observe a coal-fired plant under construction in Boyce, Louisiana. Read the story here.
In March, another trip, this time to a wind mill gave some insight on the Adam’s Point feasibility of the wind farm proposal by Wolverine discussed in Part 3 of this series. It seems that at this point in the story, Wolverine was not having luck finding enough wind needed to put up windmills. Quoting the Advance, “The Adams Point site was being pursued after initial discussions with Oglebay Norton’s former company president and CEO Mike Lundin, who suggested the location.
“Mike said that it is really windy there,” said Bradstreet. “If you look at a state wind map, where they look at the geography and they make a guesstimate of whether that is going to be a good area, it’s not particularly good. That isn’t based on actual tests.
“Everyone I talk to in Rogers City says this is the windiest place you’ll ever find. We hope that is true, but we need to put some statistics behind that,” said Geiger. In September 2007, a 200-foot meteorological tower was put up. “Its purpose is to get a better understanding of what the wind in that area is like,” said Geiger. “We need to get an understanding of how hard the wind is blowing, and how often. In any case, we’ve had the tower up for some time now.”
Since Adam’s Point is in Pulawski Township, some of the leaders of Pulawski took a trip to the thumb area to learn about wind farms. The Township Clerk of Oliver in Huron County just happened to own a farm on which three wind mills generate power. The windmills on his land are part of the 32 Canadian made windmills of John Deere Wind Energy, whose electricity is bought by Wolverine. It took one month to put the turbines up. He talked about the increased tax base and the fact that the area was exceptionally windy. He added that in the 15 month of operation of the windmills, electric bills haven’t gone down, but they haven’t gone up either. He also said that some utilities were tacking on additional charges for the future development of green energy. The 32 windmills produce a maximum of 52.8 megawatts. The entire project costed 94 million.
What that means to me is that 32 wind turbines in a very windy area can produce almost 53 megawatts of electricity, for 94 million dollars with very little sustainable job creation. Compare that with one clean coal plant bulit in the middle of a limestone quarry that can produce 600 megawatts of electricity, for about the same money and over 1000 temporary jobs and 100 permanent jobs right here in Michigan.
However, that was not the reason the officials went to view the wind farm, it was to understand the pros and cons of having wind turbines as an addition to the coal plant. If Adam’s Point does not generate enough wind to produce electricity, there will be no windmills built. That is what happens when you rely on Mother Nature.
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City MI Part 13
Michigan Blown Away
Governor Jennifer Granholm gave her state-of-the-state address in February adding to the obstacles placed in the way of Presque Isle’s economic recovery. You can read the Advance’s story about it here. She pushed for reliance on solar and wind power and energy conservation. Strong conservation habits will be needed precisely because she wants to rely on solar and wind. She introduced a “bold” new “goal” of decreasing the usage of fossil fuels in Michigan by 45% by the year 2020.
“How will we reach this 45-by-20 goal and get the jobs that come with it? Instead of spending nearly $2 billion a year importing coal or natural gas from other states we’ll be spending our energy dollars on Michigan wind turbines, Michigan solar panels, Michigan energy-efficiency devices….” You read that right, she said “instead of.” Granholm’s plan is to eliminate coal-power. If you are keeping score, that puts Granholm on the side of the people who want Rogers City to lose.
“That’s why I have directed the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to evaluate, in consultation with our Public Service Commission, both the need for additional electricity generation and all feasible and prudent alternatives before approving new coal-fired power plants in Michigan.”
I mention this because it will become relevant later in this series. Granholm’s expectation that Michiganders will be able to conserve our way to economic prosperity is a very laughable stance indeed, unless of course you consider the fact that Michigan is and has been the fastest emptying state ever since she came into office.
She also mentions that part of her four point plan is that new jobs will be created when Michiganders winterize their homes. That is a side-splitter. To think that all of us moronic citizens of Michigan haven’t yet thought to winterize our homes and we need the Governor of the state to tell us to do so.
As for Rogers City, the following week a group of citizens traveled to Louisiana to see how a coal plant in construction impacted a small town.
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 12
Michigan: Pure, Pristine and Poor
Several things happened in the weeks following the Rogers City public hearings. We learned that due to an error in the public comment ad taken out by the DEQ, the public comment period would be extended to January with another public hearing in Lansing on January 6th. The editorial pages of the Advance were filled again with opinions about the public hearings, the environmental groups, and the job situation. Adding to the mix, Wolverine had a proposal for an additional boat slip at Calcite’s deep sea port in order to ship in coal. The Advance reported that the city was unanimously in favor of Wolverine and Carmeuse (owner of the limestone quarry) working together to get a slip approved that would accommodate two 1,000 foot ships at a time. Right now, Calcite cannot accommodate one 1,000 foot ship, so the benefit to the community would be that more ships would be available to carry Rogers City Limestone products.
As interest in coal plants by the townspeople increased, they learned that a proposed plant in Holland, MI was going to be going through similar public hearings experienced by Rogers City.
In the December 18th Advance, it was reported, “Environmental groups ask governor to halt coal plants.”
“Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been an energy leader and this is her opportunity to slam the brakes on Michigan’s one-of-a-kind coal rush, protect the health of our families and create 21st century green energy jobs,” said Anne Woiwode, state director of the Michigan Sierra Club. “The writing is on the wall for coal. Gov. Granholm has long recognized this and she can now provide the leadership our state needs to jump-start our move away from coal and toward clean, renewable energy.”
Another excerpt reads,
“If allowed to move forward, the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture will have significant financial impact on the area and statewide. Wolverine has stated the capital investment will be around $1 billion, doubling the state equalized value (SEV) of Presque Isle County.
Construction of the power plant will create 1,000 temporary jobs, and 100 permanent positions will be filled to operate the plant, which may be in operation as soon as 2012, according to Wolverine. Jobs in engineering, plant operations and plant maintenance will be created at salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 per year plus benefits.”
I chose those two excerpts because that is the main argument here. On the one hand, the environmentalists want to kill coal, on the other, one of the most severely economically depressed areas of Michigan would potentially boom.
In the January 8th edition of the Advance, the Lansing hearing was reported. You can read the story here.
Since the hearing was held in Lansing, a number of state representatives had their say, including State Representative Andy Neumann of the 106th Congressional District spoke first.
“I have lived my whole life in northeast Michigan in Alpena and spent much of my youth in the Rogers City area. I know many of the struggles that the community and all of northeast Michigan has faced especially over the past two decades where we have had some of the highest unemployment rates across the state. As a matter of fact, Rogers City, or Presque Isle County had unemployment rates last winter of close to 20 percent. And most certainly this coming winter with our economy unemployment rates will probably reach the mid 20 percent range.”
“This proposed plant would be one of the cleanest in the United States it would also have the added advantage of burning up to 20 percent carbon neutral fuel by using locally produced biomass. This proposed plant by burning just 10 percent biomass would produce 350 critically needed permanent full time jobs. By burning 20 percent this plant would produce more than 500 jobs. This plant would also double the state equalization value of Presque Isle County. If we do not allow this plant, coal-fired plants will be permitted in other states, which are currently being built. And they will be in places that we are going to have to import our power from, places we are going to be sending our money to, places that are going to have the jobs we could have, places that are going to control this power source that we could control. I would hope the DEQ and the state of Michigan would allow this permit process and help move this forward,” said Neumann.
103rd District State Representative Joel Sheltrown gave an interesting thought, “…there are some that would wish that northern Michigan would remain pure, pristine and poor.”
The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 11
Public Hearings
C. Vinson Hellwig, Chief of the Air Quality Division of the MDEQ was seated with moderator and former Rogers City Mayor David Nadolsky to recieve comments from the concerned public at the public hearings on October 29th and 30th, 2008. The bleachers were packed with many locals and of course, the environmentalists. In all, 86 different people testified, the Advance mentions, “Although all commentators didn’t comment directly on the air quality permit, there was no shortage of opinions given over two days of testimony. More than 600 attended the first session, many in white T-shirts with support for Wolverine, far out-numbering those in opposition. Around 200 attended the second night, with barely 75 people left in the gymnasium when the session ended at 10:30 p.m.”
These two evenings were filled with intensity and as a person interested in politics and human behavior, it was fun. To me, the most notable things that happened were the most heartfelt testimonies given by some of the locals.
See, throughout this process, the ever-looming threat that this may not become reality had become the elephant in the room for many. I grew up in this small town as did many of the most ardent supporters of the plant. Many locals were absolutely disgusted with the environmental groups for their condescension and lack of economic logic. Some of the testimony certainly was just opinion by locals but for that matter, so was the testimony given by the environmentalists. I had decided to speak on the 29th, but as I watched local after local give logical reasons why the permit should be given, including the fact that the DEQ already said it was safe, I could see that what I had to say must be directed at testimony given by the environmentalists. It looked like most of that testimony may come on the second day.
A local man gave testimony directed at the environmentalist job killers. It was very logical and it sticks in my mind because of it’s rationale. He said something like, “I have lived here all my life, I have a very large extended family here, and every one of us has come up against the DEQ for something, digging a pond, clearing land and so on. They are so good at what they do to protect the environment, that a lot of us have gotten hot under the collar against them. Do you really think they would allow toxic pollutants at high levels for this power plant?”
I spoke as well, I wanted to use the 5 minutes to make sure the environmentalists knew we were not stupid. As I was sitting and waiting for my time to speak, I happened to be seated directly behind two people, a man and a woman, who had papers in front of them. I thought they must be prepared to speak as well, so I peeked at their papers. Both papers were exactly the same and I realized they were prewritten speech samples from some environmental group. They both started with the sentence, “Hi, my name is ______ and I live in the nearby town of ___________.” Both papers were nothing but fear-mongering about the “inevitable” blood cancers and internal bleeding and tumors and so on. As I changed seats, I looked over at the man and noticed that he was the same guy who testified the night before who said he was from Millersburg and was “living on savings.” Now, I knew he was full-of-it because nobody would live on savings in MBurg at his young age and be against the coal plant. It is very difficult to believe that. Plus, I took a picture of him the night before and he had a different mustache the second evening. All of the environmentalist games were being played. Representatives from the environmental group, The Michigan Land Institute were also there from across the state near Interlochen. Every single man in that group (I had to giggle) were wearing plaid shirts in various colors, they must have all hit the same sale. They were no doubt “trying to fit in” with the locals. Lee Sprague took the cake in my view though.
Lee is the representative from the Sierra Club, a native American who stands about 6′ 5″ and wears his hair in two long braids. He is a very impressive figure. He had up to this point been a very embarrassing questioner of the DEQ who took swipes at their professionalism and expertise. When Lee gave his testimony, it was obvious to those who had been paying attention that he was still beating the mercury drum. That was his main focus in almost all of the public hearings so far. After his sob story about going fishing with his son, my husband and I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed for him, or laugh uncontrollably. In his testimony, Sprague told a story of when he went fishing with his son. His son caught a fish and he had to tell the boy that he could not eat the fish. His boy said dad, we must eat what we kill. He replied, no son we must not. Lee asked how can I tell my son he cannot eat the fish because of the high levels of mercury that get absorbed into the fish? Because of the mercury levels, he can’t eat Michigan fish anymore. He also pointed out that as a Native American, everyone should understand that people of his ancestry always do what is right for the environment.
Now, we already knew at this point that the DEQ had done work to predict the amount of mercury that could possibly be emitted and that the nearest impact-able lake was Swan Lake and the levels with this plant would still be very low. Of course, due to dissipation, there really was no other impact-able lake. Besides the only reason we were there was to comment to the head of the DEQ about the air quality permit, not the water, but, that didn’t matter to the experts at the Sierra Club. As for the claim that we were supposed to trust his word over the DEQ because of his ancestry, my husband commented to me about how devastated the lakes have become after all the gill-netting.
My testimony was aimed at the environmental groups. I don’t remember what I said verbatim, but it was something like this.
I ask that the DEQ approve the permit for Wolverine Clean Energy Venture. I would like to address an argument that has been given against the plant by the Michigan Energy Alternatives Project. The idea that if the wolverine plant is built, your energy rates will double. Ladies and Gentleman, if they do, it is because the Sierra Club and Citizens for Environmental Inquiry and the Michigan Energy Alternatives Project will bleed Wolverine with lawsuit after lawsuit. It is on THEM. The people of P I county have spoken and open their arms to Wolverine. All the governmental representatives of this county have overwhelmingly pushed to support Wolverine including my own township, whose officials recently signed a resolution of support.
These outside groups, and believe me, the Citizens for Environmental Inquiry are not local, though their representatives are, have promised to kill this plant. The Sierra Club has no threshold. They are not here to get the company to lessen it’s output, they are here to make certain there is no power plant. They will bring lawsuit after lawsuit against Wolverine to drain capital in defense, and in the mean time, they will use scare tactics against our townspeople to lessen the community support. You will hear words like cancer and carcinogens and quote, “save that person from drowning to death slowly in his own blood.” Actually, I don’t know what that means, I just read it while I was sitting behind those two people ( I turned and pointed) who have papers that say exactly the same words verbatim, and both copies state an opening that says Hello I’m such and such and am currently a resident of Presque Isle County. Only that guy in the brown hat spoke last night and said he was from Millersburg and he has it crossed out of his speech tonight I see, so I know that’s a lie.
I will read from an LA Times article from April 14th, 2008 that states,”Every time a new coal-fired power plant is proposed anywhere in the United States, a lawyer form the Sierra Club or an allied environmental group is assigned to stop it, by any bureaucratic or legal means necessary.
They might frame the battle as a mater of zoning or water use, but the larger war is over global warming…..The plant by plant strategy is part of a campaign by environmentalists ……..The goal: ‘We hope to clog up the system.’ said David Bookbinder, the Sierra Clubs chief climate counsel…….” (I discuss this article in Part 7 of this series and the fact that the LA Times erased it from the website, however at this time, the article is made whole.)
I also pointed to the Sierra Club’s website where they brag about how many coal plants they have killed . As you can see here, they are still focused on shutting this down and are praising Jennifer Granholm for taking steps to kill it as well, but that part of the story will come later.
