Friday, August 31, 2001

Signing up

Power plant opponents advertise their displeasure

Safeguard South Metro's "No Power Plant" signs are beginning to pepper the neighborhoods of Fulton and Fayette counties.

The signs were distributed for the first time Saturday at Safeguard's letter writing party and membership drive. By Sunday numerous signs were visible in the yards of homes from Peters Road and Old Jonesboro Road in Fulton County to the neighborhoods along Westbridge Road, Ga. Highway 92 and Peters Road in Fayette County.

The Williams Company has an option on 288 acres of land in Fulton County on the Fayette County line. The firm is requesting that Fulton County and Union City rezone the property from agricultural residential to M2 (heavy industrial) to allow the Fulton Energy Center, a 1,230-megawatt, gas-generated power plant, on the property.

Williams is proposing to put the plant on 30 to 35 acres, leaving the rest of the property as green space.

Neighbors complain that the plant would be just a few hundred feet from homes in Green Valley Lake, Peters Road and Old Jonesboro Road.

The Christian City retirement community, which houses over 1,100, will be across the road from the power plant, and Christian City director Bob Crutchfield has expressed concerns about the effects on the health of residents.

Hundreds of homes on Green Valley Lake, Peters Road, Westbridge Road, Wagon Wheel Road, Old Jonesboro Road, Hwy. 92 and other connecting roads are within one mile of the proposed location.

"Prevailing winds will carry the emissions from the plant into Fayette County the majority of the year," said Ed Williams, Safeguard South Metro board member. "Although you may not see, hear or feel the vibrations from the plant, you will breath the chemicals emitted from the plant if you are in the path of the emissions. There is a large volume of medical data which highlights the severe impact of emissions on the health of children and the elderly in particular."

Company officials say because the plant's smoke stacks will be about 200 feet tall, emissions will dissipate high in the atmosphere and have little effect on residents.

Mari Jo Paladino, Safeguard South Metro president, also warned that "property values will almost certainly decrease in residential neighborhoods, especially those in Fayette County and Christian City." Company spokesmen dispute that claim as well.

A steady crowd stopped by Saturday to write letters, pick up signs and bumper stickers and make donations to help "stop the stacks" throughout the four-hour party/drive.

"We were extremely pleased with the response from the community in the metro area," said Paladino. "Over 350 letters were written to elected officials during the four-hour party. Many stopped by to pick up stacks of letters to distribute to their neighbors also, so we expect the numbers of letters to increase."

Safeguard representatives also carried copies of the form letters to homeowners in Christian City in response to their request.

The group is also soliciting signatures for a petition to stop the plant, which will be sent to elected officials and Williams Company representatives.

To date the group has amassed more than 1,000 signatures, Paladino said.

Safeguard provided pre-written letters with ample space at the bottom for individuals to add their own comments. The letters will be sent to elected officials in Fulton County, Fayette County and Union City, and to officers and board members of the Williams Company.

Neighbors from Fulton and Fayette, whose paths normally would rarely cross, banded together recently to attempt to stop the plant proposal, forming Safeguard South Metro.

"Initially our purpose was to stop the power plant. As a result of our increased awareness and concern for our neighborhoods, we realized the need to continue to safeguard our community," said Paladino.

In response to opposition in the community, company officials have delayed their rezoning request until next January, saying they want to provide more information to the community. Environmental testing is underway.

For information on Safeguard South Metro, visit www.NoPowerPlant.org or call 770-969-4884.

For information from the power company, visit www.fultonenergycenter.com.

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