The Pep Rally
The public informational meeting required by the Iowa Administrative Code was held last night at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo. Iowa Utilities Board attorney Gary Stump presided over the meeting, at which LS Power's new Elk Run plant manager, Mark Milburn (mmilburn@lspower.com; 888-317-6567) and his associates attempted to answer questions.
The public's legal right to question the developer in a public meeting was cut off only an hour or so in by Attorney Stump who declared that it was turning into a "pep rally". In the face of critical questioning of LS Power by a large and angry crowd, Stump ended the open forum in spite of vigorous protests from the assembled citizens and sent everyone with unasked questions to LS Power's "open house" at the back of the convention hall, where it was impossible for the crowd to hear the answers to each person's questions.
Clean Air Waterloo will be protesting this regulatory violation with the Iowa Utilities Board and demanding a public meeting that provides a full and open forum for all questions to be asked and, we hope, finally answered.
There is no reason to be discouraged by yesterday evening. This will be a long process, and we have not yet begun to fight.
posted by Carrie @ 12:13 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I attended last nights meeting and first hour was very informative. Then it turned ugly.. It was to bad some of the people were not allowed to get questions answered but many folks the second hour had an agenda and were not interested in facts. The only wanted to make a scene. If some wanted answers they could have gone and got answers as we did. The actors just left. It was apparent there were some who didnt want answers they just used there distored info for there ajenda. If there info was not correct contact them and discuss the facts. I see no reason it should not be allowed if all local state and federal requirements are met.. If requirements arent right work on changeing them.
Hey anonymous, send me your name and address, I think you may be interested in a bridge in Brooklyn I've got for sale!
People,
One of the reasons I like Iowa is because we didn't have problems with eco-freaks trying to wreck power generation like they do in California. I always thought Iowans were too level-headed for that. Well, I'd like to keep it that way. Anybody interested in organizing a counter-demonstration against these folks next time they organize a cheap media stunt? Email me! sthurkettle, at netscape.net!
Dear sthurkettle,
You're award that California's problem was that Enron sold all its generation out of state, not that they lacked capacity, right? You do read the newspaper? And you are aware that until they recently changed their story, LS Power was saying that they planned to sell all of this generation out of state, right?
Just checking.
Speaking of sending power out of state when are you going to update the sheet that lays with your petition. There are so many false statements in that sheet that all the names on sheet should have a chance to remove there names after true facts were presented. I believe you misled a lot of people. Starting with your out of state power to Chicago theme. As stated most of power will stay in N E Iowa.L S Power intends to use state of the art enviromental equipment. Wind power plant that Mid america building is 310 mw not 545 MW. L S Power plant will meet or exceed all state federal and local requirements. Your sheet needs a update and its time for actors to remove makeup and speak the truth.
LS Power said in all their initial statements that they'd be selling all the power out of state. Call the state agencies and ask them if you don't believe us. They changed their story when they realized that was a very unpopular business plan.
MidAmerican applied to the IUB for authorization to build 545MW of wind, not necessarily all at one site.
The members of this coalition, who have spoken to this press repeatedly and are well known to the community, stand behind the petitions.
Post a Comment
<< Home