Dear Governor Schweitzer,

When you were elected, I was thrilled to think we might be moving in a positive and reasonable direction, one that was supportive of the people, but also progressive and forward thinking. 

I have thought that you would be pretty diligent in watching out for Montana citizens when they came up against corporate groups running roughshod over the masses - or in the case of government promoting development that benefits these corporate bulldogs at our expense. Why now, are you not only allowing, but promoting the building of MANY old technology coal plants in Montana? I can't even imagine the sense behind that - other than to further line the deep pockets of those involved and destined to gain, before they cut and run. How totally irresponsible in today's age, with the threat of global warming accelerating as we speak. Laws or no laws, this is outrageous! 

Living near Great Falls, I can tell you that the citizens here will lose. The world will lose as we continue to build these toxic, dirty plants. This one plant will increase Montana's CO2 emissions by 7.5%, let alone all the other toxic crap it will spew into our once Big Sky. Does that not matter anymore? There has been huge local opposition to the Highwood Plant, and yet it moves on to the next step. 

Have you not heard yet from all the landowners downstream from the Plant, that will lose .31% of the water in the Missouri River when this monster is up and running? If they're not paying attention yet, I can promise you, you will be hearing from them when they do! Does an industrial giant have the right to supercede landowner water rights? This is thievery! 

There is NO reason to build this horribly dirty, antiquated, expensive, water guzzling plant other than to make some rich thugs richer. Yes, it may produce a lot of electricity, but we have better, cheaper, cleaner, greener options, which could be on line years sooner, and will produce at least as much electricity. Where is the sense here? Are you going to continue to look the other way - or worse, and encourage that the citizens of Cascade County be sold "down the river" so to speak, for the sake of this corporate greed? Are you promoting that? 

I have to tell you that the momentum against this coal plant and all who are in support of it is growing, and many of us (many more than can fit in a phone booth, by the way) are beginning to really question your motives and focus in the impact study on the Highwood Plant. WHY did you not allow the cost of the coal itself to come into play, nor the costs of transporting it, when you folks came up with your numbers? The cost of the coal alone should offset most of, if not all of the profit on the energy that might be generated from this plant. Have you figured in the increasing costs of coal and transportation over time? Why have you not discussed the cost that penalties on these dirty plants may incur in the near future, and how that will affect the cost of this coal power? Your numbers are misleading and wrong.

It really appears that there is more going on here than a fair and unbiased study of possible solutions to our energy needs. People are determined to get to the bottom of this. 

I had been one of your ardent supporters. You have been a pretty popular governor, until this issue hit the table.  We're now smelling corruption - as usual. Have you guys not learned your lessons from this last election? People are getting ANGRY about the good 'ol boy's wanton disregard for anything but their own profiteering!!   If we, collectively, (and we're not just "Hippie Environmentalists") have anything to do with it, this coal plant could do YOU in, Mr. Scweitzer.

Laurie Gilleon