Gulf Restoration Network

Stop Kemper Coal Blog - Healthy Waters / Dead Zone Friday, 06 April 2012 10:29

The Mississippi Supreme Court recently ruled against the dirty, expensive, and unnecessary Kemper coal mine and plant. Now the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) is blatantly defying that ruling. Call on the PSC members to deny the permit for Kemper Coal:

http://grn.convio.net/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=367

Last Friday, I drove up to Jackson for a PSC hearing where two of the three commissioners voted to grant an “emergency” permit for construction of Mississippi Power’s Kemper County coal plant and strip mine. Although people had come from all across the state, driving from hours away, the public wasn’t given a single opportunity to share their concerns. Click here to tell the PSC to hold open public meetings on Kemper coal, and ultimately deny its permit.

If Kemper is allowed to move forward, the power plant and strip mine would destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands, pollute nearby waters, and raise energy bills in the average household by up to 45%!

In their unanimous decision, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the PSC failed to provide substantial evidence for approving the Kemper coal plant and strip mine – essentially voiding the permit for this $2.88 billion boondoggle. Now, Mississippi Power is working to use their influence, corporate cash, and cozy relationship with politicians to keep on building the plant anyway! Tell the PSC they should listen to the citizens of Mississippi, not a big corporation, and deny the permits for Kemper coal.

Raleigh Hoke is GRN's Mississippi Organizer.