Richard D. Liebert                                            406-736-5791/wwranch@3rivers.net

289 Boston Coulee Road

Great Falls, MT  59405

 

Letter to the Editor                                                             3 August 2006

Great Falls Tribune

Great Falls, MT

 

 

I commend Southern Montana ElectricÕs (SME) efforts to build a generation facility, but

as the saying goes Òthe road to hell is paved with good intentions.Ó   Clean, affordable energy can still be achieved by using more wind energy balanced with Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal fire technology that can provide a base load and Ôfirm upÕ our wind turbines and most citizens do understand our great winds cannot do it all.  

 

At the July 27th draft environmental statement hearing (DEIS) at the Civic Center, It was inspiring to witness dozens of local citizens speaking out for better options than an

Ôold techÕ CFB plant whereas many of the proponents were SME employees and board members who donÕt live in our area and certainly not ÔdownwindÕ of such a plant.  

 

The DEIS didnÕt include the cost of a carbon tax on using coal, making it more expensive  and also didnÕt consider the positive financial contribution of wind turbine leases to landowners that helps Rural America.  The study also overestimated the area needed for a wind farm and doesnÕt address the issue of mining coal again in the Great Falls area should it become too expensive to bring it from eastern Montana.

 

The DEIS itself states using Missouri River water could have an adverse impact.  Why should we ÔsquanderÕ our precious water, which we may need for residential use, irrigation and future projects like an ethanol plant?   I urge citizens to get involved and ask our elected leaders the hard questions. 

 

 

Richard D. Liebert

 

However, It was distressing to learn that the MT Dept. of Environmental Quality DENIED citizens with other viewpoints the ÔRight to AssembleÕ in proximity to SMEÕs ÔOpen HouseÕ in the convention hall at the Civic Center, a PUBLIC facility.  I served our Army for thirty years to defend the Constitution, and where does our government get the arrogance to ÔmuzzleÕ a peaceful assembly?