Are You For Actual ‘american Independence’?

Are you embarrassed when you see our leaders [representing you] ‘bowing down’ to countries like Saudi Arabia? Take a look at the following story. I live in Ga. so this hits fairly close to home for me but this is a scenario that is being played out across the country.
Governor Sanford Announces Opposition to Coal-Fired Plant
Columbia, S.C. – February 11, 2009 – Governor Mark Sanford today announced his opposition to a proposed coal-fired power plant to be built by Santee-Cooper in Florence County, saying that projections related to the need for the plant need to be revisited, along with the potential for harm to the state’s environment.
“Everyone involved agrees that building this coal-fired plant is a short-term solution to bridge the gap between now and the time more nuclear capacity comes online,” Gov. Sanford said. “We have a great deal of respect for many of the decision makers in this process and many of the advocates who have pushed so hard for this plant to be built. To that end, I’d single out O.L. Thompson for his leadership of Santee Cooper, and given what’s at stake here I’d thank him in particular for his thoughtful approach to everything he works on.
“In that same vein, I’d respectfully suggest that the environmental community be equally thoughtful in making a choice. It’s simply not realistic to suggest that neither coal nor nuclear is acceptable, because like it or not, one or the other must come our way as our state grows over time. To that end, I’d ask the environmental community to indeed embrace nuclear power as an alternative to the coal-fired plant proposal, for the advantages it has in terms of cleaner emissions.”
Governor Sanford laid out four broad concerns about the coal-fired plant proposal:
- Construction and operating costs – On Friday, the Obama Administration said it intended to reverse Bush Administration policies related to not capping mercury emissions, with action carbon dioxide emissions expected to follow. Those forthcoming caps have not yet been factored in to the cost of building and operating the plant. For this reason on Monday, Nevada Power canceled plans for a $5 billion coal fired plant in that state.
- Pollution – The proposed plant would have a significant negative impact on air quality and increase mercury pollution. The plant would emit the equivalent of 2.3 million cars in carbon dioxide yearly, and nearly 15 million cars’ worth of particulate matter.
- Growth projections – Given Santee Cooper’s overall decrease in power sold last year and a statewide slowdown in new home construction, the growth projections that showed the need for the plant need to be revisited.
- Coal prices – Unpredictability in the global commodities market may make the coal needed to run the plant more expensive than originally anticipated.
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Joel Sawyer
Communications Director
Office of Gov. Mark Sanford
(803) 734-5254 – work
(803) 446-6713 – cell
(803) 734-6447 – fax
(end of article)
So..There are several forces at work here
.
Environmental groups including Al Gore and Co.
Obama administration / agenda.
A state governor who [to my amazement] is basing his decision ‘in part’ on a bet Against Future Growth in his state. (what does this pessimistic attitude say about us?)
Feel free to add to this list.
IMO..The time for a half azzed approach to energy independence is long gone. Let’s get in gear and enlist the private sector to Make Coal Plants Cleaner! We have LOTS of coal so let’s get the damned things built! Same with the Nuclear Plants. If the wishy-washy French can do it then what about the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave! As we speak the Obama administration is pushing to put More taxes and Restrictions on the production and sale of Natural Gas! This is one area which shows real promise because of huge new deposits that have been found On Our Soil in the past few years.
Isn’t it time to get in gear and stop playing games with our Independence? Can’t means Don’t Want To!