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Friday, July 13, 2007
7/19: Speak Out Against Coal-Fired Desert Rock Power Plant
From the Natural Resources Defense Council:
I hope you’ll join NRDC and your fellow activists next Thursday in Albuquerque to speak out against a proposed power plant on the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation:
- When: Thursday, July 19th, 1:00 PM
- Where: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th Street NW (1 block N of I-40), Albuquerque, NM
A global energy company and Diné Power Authority want to build a dirty, coal-fired power plant in northwest New Mexico, when the Four Corners area already has two of the most polluting power plants in the country!
The proposed Desert Rock power plant would release mercury and other toxic contaminants into the environment, polluting waterways and threatening human health. It would also significantly increase global warming pollution in New Mexico, at a time when states should be working to cut back these dangerous emissions.
The people of the Four Corners region would bear the burden of the plant’s environmental impacts – even though most of the power would be exported to Las Vegas and Phoenix. The Navajo Nation would receive less than 5 percent of the projected electricity output from Desert Rock. Many Navajo citizens still have no electricity in their homes.
If you are able, please join us at a public hearing in Albuquerque on July 19th and make your opposition felt. You will have the opportunity, if you wish, to speak publicly for two or three minutes against the proposed power plant. (See full details below.) Whether or not you wish to speak, I hope you will join us because there is great strength in numbers.
If you can attend, please email me at nrdcmembers@nrdc.org (and be sure to include your name and phone number). We’ll get back to you with more information and details, including pointers for preparing your comments, if any, and how to find an NRDC staffer when you arrive.
Thank you for helping to protect New Mexico’s environment.
Sincerely,
Laura E. Sanchez
Energy Solutions Advocate
Natural Resources Defense Council
Editor's Note: Also see our previous post about the public hearings and comment period on the Desert Rock Power Plant.
July 13, 2007 at 09:13 AM in Energy, Environment, Events, Native Americans | Permalink
Comments
There has never been a more important time to stand up against the development of more dirty coal. New coal plants that are built will operate for approximately 50-60 years, adding carbon dioxide, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other small particulates to the air we breathe. In addition, coal plants use massive amounts of water - an average 1,500 MW plant uses 10 million gallons per day - that the arid West simply cannot afford to lose. New technologies have eliminated the need for new coal plants, and it is possible to meet the energy needs of the West through energy efficiency measures, renewable energy and, if absolutely necessary, new coal technologies like IGCC with carbon capture.
Stand up and show the utilities that you do not want or need a new coal fired power plant.
Here are five things you can do:
1. Submit comments to the BIA and tell the agency what you think about proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant (Must arrive by August 20th).
2. Encourage your friends, neighbors and family to write a letter too.
3. Attend a public hearing and bring two people with you. The more people that attend the meeting the stronger the message will be to the BIA that New Mexicans don¢t want Sithe's dirty coal plant.
4. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper, a blog, or a list-serve expressing your concern about the proposed Desert Rock coal plant.
5. Demand national legislation that would move the entire country away from coal.
Check out https://www.sanjuancitizens.org/air/desertrock.shtml to get the schedule for the public hearings and find out more information about Desert Rock. Protect the air we breathe and the earth we depend on by making your voice heard!
Posted by: Karen McKinnon | Jul 13, 2007 9:57:13 AM
Karen: Your advice is a hundred percent correct. We have to fight this thing. Al Gore's Live Earth pledge says NO MORE coal fired power plants. Zero tolerance.
Posted by: | Jul 13, 2007 12:44:50 PM
If Richardson is so "green" why isn't he speaking out loudly and often against this horrible plant? Instead he's in with Shirley the tribal chief in pushing this thing. Shame on any Native American or anyone else who supports this filthy project when we know exactly how much it will make global warming worse.
Go here to learn more and donate:
https://www.desert-rock-blog.com/
Posted by: | Jul 14, 2007 2:15:15 PM
