12/8/06

Dear Mr. Baucus, 

I have thought in the past that you were 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. Where are you now as Montana is building and intending to build MANY old technology coal plants?? 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 accellerating 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 emmissions 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 Missoui 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 theivery! 

There is NO reason to build this horribly dirty, antiquated, expensive plant, other than to make some rich thugs richer. We have better, cheaper, cleaner, greener options, which could be on line years sooner . Where is the sense here? Are you going to fold and go with the rest of them, and allow the citizens of Cascade County to be sold "down the river" so to speak, for the sake of this corporate greed? 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!!  

Laurie Gilleon