What Virginians Could Suffer to Power 375,000 Homes with Coal

What emits unprecedented amounts of mercury, produces polluting ozone, and could adversely affect the health of Virginia children and elderly folk?

Well, the answer is nothing....yet. But if Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) gets its way with plans to build a colossal 1,500 megawatt coal-fired power plant near Hampton Roads, Virginia, in what would the largest coal-fired facility in the state, that could change soon.

Surely, the prospect of powering 375,000 homes is enticing; however digging a bit deeper into this large coal plant reveals its dark side.

Environmental group Appalachian Voices, and several health organizations, are up in arms.  A statement released by  the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), the Virginia Asthma Coalition, and the American Lung Association cites the already poor air quality in the Hampton Roads area, and adding this plant would severely exacerbate that problem by producing unacceptable pollution to the region.

The primary concern of this plant however, lies in the dreadful soot and smog that would be unleashed by a plant of this size. Its fine soot emissions would be expected to cause serious health problems and increase the likelihood of birth defects. Powering 375,000 households seems a lot less tempting now, but there is more.

Let's say that the negatives like increased ground-level ozone and particulate matter are not enough to convince you that this plant is a pretty detrimental idea. If this bituminous bastion were to be built, it would ultimately be the 4th largest toxic mercury discharger in the Hampton Roads area. Mercury is not a fun element to play around with; there's a reason we don't use it in thermometers anymore.  The health effects of mercury are nasty, and can involve respiratory failure and severe neurological deficiencies. ODEC must now ask themselves, is powering homes in Virginia really worth sickening, potentially killing, the people who live in them?

Appalachian Voices, along with  CINCH, Virginia Asthma Coalition, and the American Lung Association, say its not. For more on their campaign, read a post on Change.org's Health blog. These groups are teaming up to fight the construction of this plant in Hampton Roads, and have waged a conscious effort to put an end to the idea entirely. These organizations see the costs outweighing the benefits of the Cypress Creek Power Plant. Dirty energy like this shouldn't be at the expense of human life.

The joint statement from all three health organizations can be found here, and you can sign the statement and join the fight against this multi-million dollar health hazard.  Let your voice be heard, and help protect the people of Southeastern Virginia.

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Photo Credit: davipt via flickr