In the face of growing controversy concerning the planned construction of a coal power plant in Wise County, Student Council discussed the topic during last night's meeting to encourage Gov. Tim Kaine to consider environmental concerns.
"We sought a resolution because there are deadlines approaching and Gov. Kaine is one of the only individuals who can step in and take action to slow down the process," Environmental Sustainability Committee Chair Ben Chrisinger said.
The proposed legislation not only asks Kaine to reconsider his support of the plant, formally called the Dominion Power's Wise County Power Plant, but also expresses Council's disapproval of its construction.
Environmental Committee member Cal Trepagnier said this resolution was meaningful because the Wise plant could potentially have negative impacts upon the environment of the commonwealth.
"This is a moral issue," Trepagnier said, "It affects the future generations of Virginians who will be breathing air and facing other issues like drought, fires and flooding, which are all things that come from climate change."
Hannah Morgan, spokesperson for Chesapeake Climate Action Network and also a resident of the Wise County area, spoke at the beginning of the meeting to rally support for the resolution, stressing Council's powerful impact on the campaign supporting the construction of the plant.
"U.Va. is well-respected within a number of circles," Morgan said. "If you approve it, it could have a lot of weight against this statewide campaign."
She added that it is imperative that Council remember that if this plant is built, it could have devastating impacts on the area's water and air supply.
"The plant would emit mercury, arsenic, lead, carbon dioxide and all kinds of air pollutants," she noted.
Trepagnier said the issue of the Wise plant has been debated for a while but, as time for deliberation runs out, soon the commonwealth will deliver its final decision.
"They plan to break ground in April," Trepagnier said, "so the final throws of this fight will be decided within the next month or two."
Although the resolution was passed by Council, some members expressed concern with the proposed legislation.
Graduate College Rep. Tom Bryan said he wanted to clarify that the power plant had an impact upon University students. He did not wish to give the impression the Council was "speaking out on an issue in general."
Chrisinger affirmed that he believed the legislation directly affects students.
"This is a student issue -- we have a campus in Wise County," he said. "Climate change will affect students."
After discussion, Council decided they would approve the legislation contingent upon the fact that the Environmental Sustainability Committee will contact the University's College at Wise to get its opinion on the issue.
According to outgoing President Lauren Tilton, "Wise professors, do think we [University students] should care about what happens to the Wise area, they believe we have a responsibility to do so."
Ultimately Council passed the resolution, with two abstentions.
"I think we will be pleasantly surprised with the levels of impact we can have," Chrisinger said.
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