NOTICE: The "concerned citizens of Monongalia County" will present their Appeal of the
Longview siting and transmission certificates to the state Supreme Court this coming
Tuesday, October 24th, shortly after 10 am in the East Wing of the Capitol Complex, in
Charleston, WV. These proceedings are open to the public. Our lawyer Phil Gaugot will
have about 5 minutes to review our case, which has already been presented in written form
as a petition. Longview, the PSC, and the Building Trades will each have about 5 minutes
for rebuttal. Then, within a day or two the Supreme Court will decide whether to schedule
the case for full hearing or to set it aside (reject it).
Jarrett Jamison will be driving a new Suburban and invites anyone who wishes to ride along
to join him; please call Jarrett on 292-2323 to arrange to park in Westover and meet him at
around 7 am on October 24th. [Jarrett has an email address: Jarrett425@aol.com]
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Recent Information On Longview Power, LLC
I presented the following information to the Mon County Commission yesterday.
1. The ownership of Longview Power, LLC, has changed to:
10% GenPower, LLC (the former owner) 90% GenPower Holdings, L.P., a Cayman Islands Limited Partnership.
2. The above change was made after First Reserve Corporation joined GenPower as a venture partner. First Reserve has been in business for a number of years to promote a wide variety of energy related projects.
3. Longview has changed the estimated cost of the proposed power plant to 1.8 billion dollars, from an initial estimate of around 900 million, to an estimated 1.2 billion this past April.
4. First Reserve has put 500 million on the table as equity financing. Now, I don't believe that a check was actually written, rather a letter was probably provide to state their intention. So 1.8 billion minus 500 million, that leaves 1.3 billion yet to be raised. [Seems to me, if you raise the cost by 600 million, then claim equity of 500 million, you now have more to raise than before.] SO, FINANCING FOR THIS PROPOSED PLANT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR.
5. Longview stated that they are aiming for a start of construction this January. This is not feasible since they must submit blue prints 120 days before construction, and they still have a number of outstanding permits to secure.
6. I pointed out that I would have preferred a county wide referendum on this proposed plant as the majority of citizens have questions about it. Commissioner Kennedy said that according to the law, they are not allowed to put this question out for referendum.
7. I pointed out that the Ft. Martin Church received a letter from Longview requesting permission to place a noise monitor on the Church, and this the same day that Longview submitted a brief to the Public Service Commission stating that the Ft. Martin Church was uncooperative.
8. I pointed out some of my own problems with the Longview plant, to night glow, the large steam plume, the fine particulates (non-attainment) problems, noise and traffic on local roads, and a very very large addition to greenhouse (carbon dioxide) gas emissions in the county. Commissioner Kennedy said that he understood these problems and had some concerns too. He said that he had been told that there would be no steam plume (but there will be). He said that he liked the idea that some trees are being planted around the region to help bring the carbon dioxide problem under control; and I said that this will be an insignificant improvement, and he nodded agreement with that.
9. I talked about Longview's incomplete information to the PSC regarding estimated taxes, the offense PILOT agreement, the noise studies and the incomplete specification of the plant equipment and viewshed. They were very attentive and thanked me for presenting this information.
10. Commissioner Bell (President of the Commission) said that he was going to refer some of these questions to the County Development Authority, that he didn't know whether the agreements with Longview would be affected. Both Commissioners said they were trying to do their best, believing the benefits to the county will be substantial, with some disadvantages.
Duane Nichols, Convenor, Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, P. O. Box 4679, Morgantown, WV 26504-4679