Dear Kathy Johnson:

My name is Susan A. Hubbard, and I am a 29 year old Great Falls resident.  I am writing to express my immense concern over the proposed coal fire plant/Highwood Generating Station.  Please do not issue an air quality permit for this proposed plant, as it would be a severe detriment to our environment, our wildlife, and the health of our Montana citizens.   

Did you know that incidences of mental retardation in infants where a coal fire-plant exits within 50 miles of a community increase by 50% in the space of 15 years?  This proposed plant would be 8 miles from Great Falls.  I do not have any children, but I would one day like to. Whether you have children or not, you must know where I am coming from.

Also, were you aware that several incidences have  recently been recorded of Montana eagles dying from high levels of mercury.  How long before this affects our bears, deer, elk, antelope, and children?  I say we test the ingenuity of Montana citizens and find an alternative. 

I cannot express enough how inconceivable it is to me to be writing in opposition of something that costs twice as much, produces half as much energy, and produces 100% more pollution than its wind turbine/wind farm alternative.  I attended the local SME meeting, and those in favor of the plant were not even Montana citizens.  SME's explanation for not building wind farms is that the wind turbines would kill a few birds.  I love Montana's wildlife, but if I have to choose between a few birds or a few children, I choose the children.

This proposed plant would produce 4 times the amount of electricity consumed by the five co-ops.  Why?  So it can be sold to other states.  I say if they want this type of energy than they should build a coal-fire plant in their own backyards and contaminate their own families, not those of Montana.

This should go without saying, but apparently either SME has too much profit to make by this, or incidences of mental retardation have already set in.  Regardless, allow me to say, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS SUCH A DETRIMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITY WHEN THERE IS AN EQUALLY PRODUCTIVE, NON-POLLUTING ALTERNATIVE.

Please deny an air quality permit in this matter.

Susan A. Hubbard 
Great Falls Citizen 
(406) 799-6129