Article published Jan 7, 2008

Sacrifices resources

Why is it that people who live near an existing coal-fired generator plant always exclaim, "Oh, you don't want that!" whenever you mention the Highwood coal-fired power plant? Why is it that so many states including California, Texas, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Florida are blocking and saying "No" to future coal-fired generating plants? Why in Florida was the $850 million plant, Stanton Energy Centre, abandoned two months after breaking ground on the project, September 2007? Why is it that this community is willing to sacrifice the natural resources we say we treasure — breathing the clean air, seeing the beautiful blue sky (the Big Sky Country), recreating on the clean, pristine Missouri River (the Missouri River which beckons fishermen and water sports enthusiasts from around the world), and enjoying the grains and foods grown on our neighboring farmlands?

Why do we take for granted good health and want to risk the greenhouse gas-emitting hazards of this power system?

Why is it that big money has made the most important reasons for us who now live here, in north central Montana, for our ancestors of yesteryear who settled here and for our future generations whom we have responsibility for, seem insignificant?

Is it possible that the people exclaiming "Oh, you don't want that" wish they would have treasured their natural resources and said, "No"?

— Linda Say, Great Falls