Wednesday, September 26, 2001

Thank you for publishing letters on both sides of the proposed power plant controversy. Fair-minded people like to hear all views of an issue so important to the future of Fayette County.

We would like to address the letter by Theri Thompson in the Sept. 12 issue of The Citizen. Her view had understandably been influenced by the unfortunate situation of her grandmother, who lives on the west coast. But to equate California, clearly the worst state in America in energy management, with Georgia, one of the best, is not logical.

Although not one of our favorite companies, Georgia Power had done an admirable job in keeping ahead of our energy needs, which means we are an energy exporting state.

Ms. Thompson's admonition to South Fulton, Fayette and
Coweta to 'don't stick your feet in your mouth' borders on something we would expect to hear from a Williams Energy representative. We accepted (reluctantly) two gas-fired plants on the Coweta-Heard county line. Although those plants are in a fairly rural area, and are smaller than the very large one now proposed, they have clearly had a most detrimental effect on living conditions and property values in that area.

The proposed location for the new plant would directly and negatively impact more than 30,000 citizens. To build any power plant in the Atlanta non-attainment zone for ozone pollution obviously affects the three million citizens of the metro area.

To put this in proper perspective, Williams Energy (an Oklahoma corporation) gets the money, other states (through the national power grid) get the power, and the Atlanta metro area gets the noise, visual and chemical pollution, greatly lowered property values, less healthy air, and loses seven million gallons of water each day.

We would kindly urge Ms. Thompson to look at all the facts and rethink her position.

Sincerely,

Brenda and Chuck Davenport

Fayetteville

Back to Opinion Home Page | Back to the top of the page