Posted on 07/28/2007 8:19:42 AM PDT by CedarDave
Gov. Bill Richardson weighed in Friday on the Desert Rock power plant planned for the Four Corners, saying he is "gravely concerned" about the plant's effects on the environment.
He said the plant would dirty the air and use scarce water and is "a step in the wrong direction."
Desert Rock is a coal-powered plant planned for a piece of the Navajo reservation southwest of Farmington. It would produce power for growing Southwestern populations, specifically the Phoenix and Las Vegas, Nev., areas.
The plant has been welcomed by Navajo Nation officials, both for the jobs it would bring to the reservation and for the taxes and coal royalties it would pay to the tribe. Environmental groups, on and off the reservation, oppose the plant.
Richardson's statement was welcomed by environmental groups, but it has no real effect on the project. Because the plant is being built on tribal land, it needs no state permits to go forward.
Richardson said "this new facility will adversely impact air quality, exacerbate existing environment problems, and negatively impact scarce surface and ground water resources."
He said new power generation should employ new, cleaner technologies and not go back "to the old dirty coal plants of the past." "To characterize Desert Rock as 'old dirty coal' is incorrect," Desert Rock spokesman Frank Maisano said.
The plant's technology would reduce its emissions significantly, and the company has agreed to fund improvements at other power plants in the region that would more than make up for any emissions at Desert Rock, Maisano said.
"We're talking about the cleanest coal plant that's ever been permitted in the United States," Maisano said. Richardson has vowed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico, and he said Desert Rock would make it nearly impossible to meet that goal.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
I used to be opposed to the Indian Tribes controlling their policies over state objections. But they are the only ones that can harvest natural resources these days (logging on tribal lands) or build such facilities.
Think Bill would support a nuke plant in NM.
Richardson has vowed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico, and he said Desert Rock would make it nearly impossible to meet that goal.
No, I think Richardson in pandering to enviro-fascists would prefer the Navajo have no good jobs and everyone else but him and his elites to sit in the dark.
I never really gave it much thought, but the casino's and cigarettes seem to have been the foot in the door for Capatalistic enterprise.
Either that, or we may have our own Taliban brewing that will show up in a hundred years ... "The white man did this ... the white man did that ... WE will live by Tribal Law and all will abide by it."
OK Bill, here’s a thought:
Go for a nuke plant instead.
Until these enviro-whackos talk about nuclear power as a possible solution, you can’t take them seriously. Either they think global warming is the most serious threat to man or they don’t. From their actions it is obvious that they don’t.
Actually a nuclear plant would be best. We need lots of new nuclear plants, and lots of new refineries, and lots of new drilling.
We don't need Bill Crisco and his enormous carbon footprint flying the taxpayer's plane campaigning for Hillary Stalinsky's vice-apologist.
He's gonna shut his pie hole?
“Because the plant is being built on tribal land, it needs no state permits to go forward.”
This time I agree with the Sovereign Nation” identity of the tribes.
***Desert Rock is a coal-powered plant planned for a piece of the Navajo reservation southwest of Farmington.***
This is not the first time one was planned for the area. 35 years ago one was planned, the Indians threw a fit. This was when they took over the Fairchild plant in Shiprock. The AIM (American Indian Movement) was showing their a$$ in the area.
Good for the Navajo. BTTT.
If you want on or off the NM Ping list, please FReepmail me.
We can only hope. Sigh.....
Celebration was in the air this week after a major world power announced it would cut its dependence on fossil fuels by having Westinghouse Electric Co. construct four state-of-the-art nuclear power plants.Trouble is, that major power was not the United States. It was China.
While China celebrates a multibillion-dollar deal giving it access to Westinghouse's newest technology along with those third-generation plants, the United States remains stalled in the 1970s mentality of "The China Syndrome," fearful of a meltdown.
If Americans are serious about combating global warming and reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies, nuclear power has got to be considered rationally, not emotionally. Plant design and safety have improved greatly since 1979, when Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon played the role of horrified witnesses to a near core meltdown.
Solar and wind power can certainly play an important role in U.S. and worldwide efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but nuclear must be an important part of the mix.
It would be a sad irony if the United States were to help build modern nuclear plants for nations around the world, only to limp along at home with a coal-based system.
U.S. Remains Stuck In 'China Syndrome'
(excerpted)
So do I. I would love to see decommissioning of old coal plants upon replacement by nukes. But will never happen in the immediate future due to the greenies.
They're changing their toon. Most will come around on nukes within the next 5 years, I predict. It's already happening in Europe.
It is not the greenies who are the problem anymore. It is the Republican establishment that thinks goal, gas and imported oil are just great and the establishment democrats who think that their power base coalition includes gays, abortionists and anti-nukes. Just like Bush can’t keep up that times have changed, the democrats cannot either.
Instead of casinos, tribal nations could be sites for nuke plants. Guaranteed source of income for the tribe with no maintennace, as the power company would take care of the plant.
How do I become an agent for an Indian nation?????
Really? It's not my impression. For the fault's of Bush's energy policy (like wasting even more money on ethanol), to his credit he has tried to get more nuke plants built.
and the establishment democrats who think that their power base coalition includes gays, abortionists and anti-nukes. Just like Bush can’t keep up that times have changed, the democrats cannot either.
That's true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.