I truly appreciated Jerry Sternberg’s comments [“Power to the People,” March 7] regarding the need to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and the Bush administration’s failure to harness this country’s moral imperative to do so. But I don’t understand why Jerry only sees the opposition to the Woodfin power plant as an “eco-freak” issue.
This is a public-health issue! Is it worth $275,000 a year to sacrifice the health of our community? Does Jerry not recognize the cost to this community for asthma care alone? And while Progress Energy promises that this power plant will only be used for peak-power usage, what is to stop them from changing their minds? They are in business to make money and have no incentive to do otherwise.
There are viable, clean-power technologies available, and this community needs to unite to pressure Progress Energy to invest their money in our future. Throwing labels at those who oppose the power plant only serves to confuse the issue.
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