Mirant and IBEW Local 1900 Officers and Workers work together to keep the Potomac River plant open

Submitted by Karl Furbush on Thu, 05/24/2007 - 9:08am.

Residents, Officials Debate Fate Of Va. Power Plant
Plant Officials Work To Keep Facility Open

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A heated debate is growing in Alexandria, officials said, as nearby residents of a controversial power plant fight to shut it down.

The fate of Mirant Potomac River Generating Station in Old Towne rests in the hands of state officials News4's Jane Watrel reported. Officials are trying to reach a five-year agreement that both the power company and residents can accept.

Hundreds of people have signed up to testify at a five-hour hearing in front of Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board.

The board normally meets in Richmond but came to Alexandria for talks about the fate of plant.

Residents have argued that there have been documented health risks posed by the plant's carbon dioxide emissions.

At one point in 2005, Mirant shut down its operations for environmental violations but reopened after installing pollution control devices to reduce emissions, Watrel said.

Meanwhile, plant officials work to keep the facility open.

"It's not just the 130 jobs for the plant themselves, there's thousands of members of other locals that actually service the surrounding area of the plant. We're talking thousands of jobs that would be affected," said Mirant Union President John Holt.

Mirant officials also argued that closing the plant could cause blackouts in the surrounding D.C. area. The plant supplies electricity to Pepco Power Company in the District and Maryland.

"We recognize we're in a city environment, and we want to work with the city. It's difficult at times with the resolution that wants to shut the plant down, but we want to continue trying and reaching out and participating," said Mirant Vice President Debra Raggio Bolton.

The state air pollution control board will meet in Alexandria again on Wednesday to decide whether to extend the power company's temporary permit during the long-term decision process.
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