Mr. Lawton, why wasn’t your one hour presentation about the coal plant announced in the City Commission Agenda for the meeting on Jan. 2? You are being very unfair in cutting the public out of these important City Council discussions.

As I watched your presentation and the Southern Montana Electric officials on Public Cable television, it became apparent you’re trying to sell your coal fired power project with half-truths and scientifically unsubstantiated claims. For instance your graph showing the fallout of stack pollutants had no scientific references. However, if believed, it did point out the dangers of those living within a five-mile radius of the plant. I suppose that is one reason why the local area neighbors are suing. What about the dangers to Great Falls residents who live within the same circle of death?

Mr. Lawton, your assertion that a CO2 tax would be universally applied to all utilities is simply wrong. Green power generators would be exempt and have the cheapest power available for sale. This will make your coal burning plant obsolete in the competitive market place. That is why forward thinking utilities are planning Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal gasification plants. These plants can sequester CO2 and thus be exempt from this tax. Because the Highwood plant is not capable of sequestering CO2 it will be uncompetitive in the marketplace trying to sell its expensive power, or if the city has its way, compelling residents to buy this expensive dirty power. Citizens beware!

Neil J. Taylor