I want to share some thoughts of the proposed Highwood Station coal plant to be erected in Great Falls. I have listened to both sides, and I’m not convinced of what the proponents had to offer. I was appalled at the presentation presented by the Montana Environment Information Centers, this plant will be burning 1.2 million tons of coal per year and the pollution amounts presented are:

  Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)                     443 tons per year

   Nitrogen Oxides (Nox)                  847 tons per year

   Carbon Monoxide (CO)              1,161 tons per year

   Particulate Matter (PM-10)*          363 tons per year

   Carbon Dioxide (CO2)                1,941+ tons per year 

                                                           (equivalent to 356,800 automobiles)

   Sulfuric Acid Mist                            62 tons per year

   Hydrochloric Gas (HCI)                   24 tons per year

   Hydrofluoric Gas (HF)                     19 tons per year

   Mercury                                            46 pounds per year

·            Note that Particulate Matter includes metals such as Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Manganese, and 600 pounds of Lead.

Even though the proponents claim this plant will only emit 22 pounds of mercury per year, it’s hard to convince me these numbers are accurate, especially when they were projected on models. It was also presented they burned 80 tons of coal to get the graphs prepared, and when it gets to Havre it will be an almost zero negative impact. This plant won’t be burning 80 tons, it will be burning 1.2 million tons per year. We were told the ash will be disposed of in an underground storage, and will be buried and taken care of forever. It sounds like a line that was told to the people who opposed the Zortman/Landusky mine 30 years ago, yet it calls for water reclamation in perpetuity, “perpetuity” means “forever”.

    This is a money issue, tax incentives for the company. Pollution for us downwind, and pollution is still pollution no matter how one presents it. Everybody who lives in North central Montana knows the majority of the wind comes from the southwest, hence, Chinook Winds. Rains and snow was said to bring the emissions to the ground, and the soot will land on the grass. The majority of peoples livelihood in this part of the country is through farming and ranching, and when the farmers sell the grain, and the ranchers sell their cattle, what will it do to the prices?

    The United States makes up 5% of the earths population, yet we contribute to 25% of the earths total pollution. When carbons are emitted into the air, they don’t just go away with the wind. The gases emitted into the air turns the earth into a greenhouse, with the ozone not allowing the gases to escape. In the last 50 years, there is evidence showing the polar caps melting, making mother nature harder to keep up with the pollution we are creating. Remember there are over 100 coal plants nationwide, and think of the harmful activity it’s creating, the numbers stated above is from one plant.

    The Montana Constitution is clearly stated:  ARTICLE IX Section 1. Protection and improvement. (1) The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. It’s very clear that the powers at be need to know, that if this is a done deal, then it’s an obligation on behalf of the state to ensure all of us this constitutional right for future generations.

Jonathan Windy Boy, Chippewa Cree Tribal Council, HD32 Representative