Speak Out on the Proposed Pee Dee Plant !

Next week, two important public hearings will be held on Santee Cooper’s misguided plan to build a coal-fired power plant on the Great Pee Dee River.

The plant would emit 300 pounds of mercury (a neurotoxin dangerous even in small quantities), 8.7 million tons of the global warming gas, CO2, and thousands of tons of smog and soot-forming pollutants (SO2, NOx and PM2.5) every year. In addition, hundreds of acres of coal ash landfills would be located near the Great Pee Dee River and the plant would use millions of gallons of water per day, impacting almost a hundred acres of wetlands.

Fortunately, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for the plant. The EIS must look at all alternatives to the plant and compare the environmental impacts of those alternatives. The Corp of Engineers, which is conducting the EIS, is hosting two meetings next week to “scope” out what issues the EIS should look consider.

Please attend at least one of these meetings and demand that the Corps consider every possible alternative to the plant and all of the environmental impacts, rather than just accepting Santee Cooper’s word that another dirty coal plant makes sense for South Carolina. There are better choices that would have less environmental impact and would save the state money.

The meetings will be held:

Tuesday, September 25, 2007
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC
Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts Recital Hall

Thursday, September 27, 2007
6:00pm – 9:00pm
South Florence High School
3200 South Irby Street
Florence, SC
High school commons area and auditorium

The meeting format will allow citizens to give their comments publicly or in writing. If you are unable to attend a meeting you can comment online at: comments@peedeepowereis.com