CALP Home Page: Citizens for Alternatives to Longview Power
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN LONGVIEW!
Citizens for Alternatives to Longview Power (CALP) is a campaign involving community groups and individuals who believe that the costs and hazards associated with Longview will far outweigh the likely benefits. CALP's mission is to educate the public about the full ramifications of the Longview project; to encourage citizens to speak out about it; and to promote alternative development activities that contribute positively to Mon County.
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On Dec. 17, 2004, the US EPA designated parts of Monongalia County to be in non-attainment status for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). The designated non-attainment areas include the site of the Fort Martin power plant and the proposed Longview plant but will exclude the city of Morgantown.
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- Compared to all other states in the country, West Virginians have the highest risk of dying from heart disease and lung cancer caused by power plant pollution. Each year, Longview would release thousands of tons of air pollutants that can cause or worsen heart disease, asthma, lung cancer, and other lung diseases. In addition, it would release mercury that can cause brain damage in babies and children.
- There are already 7 coal-fired power plants within a 28-mile radius of the proposed Longview site. Two of these are within the greater Morgantown area. Longview would be located directly across the Monongahela River from the new University High School site.
- If Longview is built, there is NO guarantee or plan that Fort Martin will be shut down!
- Longview would release thousands of tons of pollutants that cause acid rain and global warming.
- Longview's 550-foot stack would be the tallest structure in WV and would be visible over a range of some 20 miles, from many people's homes as well as from Cooper's Rock.
- Longview would have negative effects on the local communities nearby, including traffic from coal trucks, a 4-mile long conveyor belt to move coal, noise generated by the plant, and destruction of a Fort Martin historical site.
- Monongalia County plans to give Longview's owners a 9 million dollar tax break each year in exchange for a lesser annual payment of $2.1 - $3 million over a period of 30 years. After 30 years have passed, Monongalia County would own the (now obsolete) Longview plant.
- After completion of construction of the Longview plant, it would only employ about 50 - 60 full-time power plant workers and 150 - 200 non-Union coal miners.
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN LONGVIEW!