Press Conference to be held for new citizens group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Contact information at bottom.

A press conference will be held tomorrow, January 29th at 1:30 PM in front of the confederate flag on the state house grounds in Columbia, South Carolina.

At the press conference the creation of a local citizens group will be announced.  This York County/Fort Mill based group will work to prevent Calpine's plans to build a power plant just outside of the Fort Mill town limits.  The plant, which will burn diesel fuel and/or natural gas to generate electricity for out-of-state consumers, is proposed for the Bradley Industrial Park.  The plant will produce more pollution than 25,000 cars would, every year.

The press conference will address three areas of concern.  They are:

Economic concerns.  Calpine is selling it's proposal by saying the power plant will funnel money into local treasuries. Calpine's ability to honor any tax obligations must be viewed in the light of the following recent events:
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Moody's Investor service, and similar organizations, has reduced Calpine to "junk bond" status, and their stock has dropped over 80% from it's high less than 10 months ago, and shows no signs of short term recovery.

Last week, according to the Sacramento Bee, Calpine put billions of dollars worth of proposed power plants, including several in California, on indefinite hold.

Environmental concerns.  The plant will emit formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide gasses, and volatile organic compounds, as well as tons of particulate matter, commonly known as soot.  Those with respiratory illnesses will be particularly in harms way.  The company's financial challenges raise the question of their commitment to clean air and water in a hostile economic environment.

Fairness concerns.  Calpine has asked that their project in Fort Mill be exempted from a proposed moratorium pending before the House Energy sub-committee of the South Carolina House Committee of Commerce, Industry and Labor.  Since they filed to site this power plant on December 21st, and other power companies which build similar plants have eyes on South Carolina, Calpine is asking that they be given special consideration which others won't get.

The press conference will include speakers from the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, which has successfully battled similar projects in the past, and local residents of the Fort Mill/York County area who oppose this project.

For More Information, please contact:

 Gregg Jocoy
1-803-984-5414

 Cleanair@cetlink.net