I am posting the following article forwarded to me by Dr. Chris Llewellyn, a Williamsburg, VA physician and resident.
My hope is to spread the word about the issue. Read on to see what was just approved by the Dendron Town Council and what you can do about it.
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UPDATE Feb 3, 2010 The Surry County Board of Supervisors on Thursday Feb 4th, 2010 unanimously approved land-use permits that could bring the state’s largest coal-fueled power plant to the rural county. Old Dominion is proffering to give the county access to up to 2 million of water per day, which could be a boon for future economic development ventures; to make road improvements to Route 31; and to donate $200,000 for improvements to the Surry County Library. |
Letter from Dr. Christine Llewellyn, M.D. Williamsburg, VA
The Old Dominion Electric Cooperative has plans to build the largest coal fired power plant in Virginia (1500 MW) in the tiny, rural town of Dendron in Surry County. This is only 18 miles from Williamsburg, as the crow flies, which puts us right in the middle of the area that suffers the most serious effects.
The soot particles, ozone smog pollution, sulfur dioxide and toxic mercury that this plant will emit will effect our health and the health of our children in terms of increased asthma attacks, heart attacks, increased blood pressure and arrhythmias, strokes, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, premature death and reduced IQ in children.
This same pollution will further impair the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waterways, both in terms of mercury pollution and nitrogen loading, responsible for massive "dead zones" or algal blooms seen every year.
The 14.6 million tons of carbon dioxide put out every year will contribute hugely to climate change which increases sea level rise in coastal Virginia, second only to New Orleans in terms of vulnerability to sea level rise.
And the ozone smog will further hamper our area’s ability to come back into federal ozone attainment, which has serious economic development implications for all of Hampton Roads, including Williamsburg.
If you think you may not want this new neighbor for Williamsburg, plan to attend the Surry County Board of Supervisors public hearing on this proposal Thursday, February 4 at 7 PM at the Surry Government Center, 45 School St, Surry, and speak your mind. Don’t wish you had done it after it’s too late.
Christine Llewellyn, M.D.
Williamsburg, VA
P.S. You may also sign an online petition opposing the plant here:
Filed under: Business, virginia, williamsburg va
