Article published Feb 1, 2008

Coal plant testimony

I want to clarify the previously published information concerning the County Commissioner's hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Several Tribune articles have stated that 90 residents from Great Falls testified at the public hearing. However, I kept record of those who testified and my analysis is quite different.

Ninety people testified at the hearing. Of the 45 proponents who testified, 35-40 are financially allied with SME including attorneys, engineers, energy consultants, union leaders, the PR agent, the independent CPA, the retiring City Manager, and the GM of the Waste Water Treatment Facility.

Approximately 30-35 of these financially coupled proponents do not live in Great Falls or Cascade County.

Of the 30-35 non-resident proponents who testified, 10-15 came from out of state including engineers and consultants from Ohio, Colorado, Wyoming, and SME's Boston attorney.

Fewer than 10 of the proponents who testified are citizens-at-large in Great Falls or Cascade County including Urquhart family members.

Of the 45 opponents who testified, 45 are adjacent landowners and citizens-at-large in Great Falls, Cascade County, and surrounding counties who do not have any financial association with SME but are driven by HGS's impact on our community's economic and environmentally safe future.

It is important the public knows that the 90 individuals who testified were not all residents from Great Falls or Cascade County, and the majority of the proponents are financially committed to HGS. The public is not equally divided on this issue as implied by the number of proponents and opponents allowed to testify.

— Tammie Lynne Smith, Salem Road and area landowners, Great Falls