The Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a report in Norfolk on Monday that found a $6 billion coal-fired power plant in Surry County would establish a number of adverse economic and health impacts.
Pollution from the power plant, according to the report, could cause hundreds of asthma attacks, cause dozens of premature deaths, and cost millions in health care expenses.
The report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation also comes in the wake of the proposed Cypress Creek Power Station in the town of Dendron by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative.
Not surprisingly, environmentalists as well as a number of residents have been opposed to the huge power plant, arguing that it poses an environmental threat to the Chesapeake Bay.
“A Coal Plant’s Drain on Health and Wealth,” the name of the bay report, also cites a possible threat to safe drinking water in south Hampton Roads.
The Board of Supervisors for Surry County also gave the go-ahead for permits for the 1,500 megawatt power plant.
Again it should be commonsensical that huge, toxic substance emitting power plants are severely harmful to the environment.
It should also be commonsensical at this point that the greatest beneficiaries of the construction of these huge power plants are utilities like Old Dominion Electric Cooperative.
After all, human and environmental health are not for sale.
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