Feb 19, 2008: AMP-Ohio communities:
Are you about to buy into 50 years of Appalachian mountaintop removal?

CLEVELAND -- Communities that buy into the proposed AMP-Ohio coal plant may be unwittingly buying into 'mountaintop removal,' a method of coal extraction that literally decapitates Appalachian mountains. If your community is considering it, please take 8 minutes and 23 seconds to view the following video:





More on mountaintop removal from the Appalachian Voices organization.

AMP-Ohio has narrowed its aim on coal supplies to the 'Central Appalachian' region

In the first R.W. Beck Feasibility Study, the consultants assessed prices of coal supplies from both eastern and western sources. The new R.W. Beck 'Update,' however, ignores western coal. It states, 'The eastern blend was used for this Initial Feasibility Study Update.' Then later, the study becomes more specific: 'The projections of fuel costs . . assume that AMP-Ohio would purchase coal for the AMP Generating Station project from mines in Ohio and the Central Appalachian region. . .' (American Municipal Power Generating Station Initial Project Feasibility Study Update, R.W. Beck, January, 2008, 3.57 MB pdf, p. 10, 28).

The reference to Ohio coal is not news, and provides political cover to Ohio politicians.  What is new is the specific reference to the 'Central Appalachian' region. This is a very well defined area. The following map shows this region, defined down to the county-by-county level by the U.S. Energy Information Agency.





Now, let's see where the mountaintop removal operations are going on:




Clearly, it is the same region.

The contract could easily have ruled out mountaintop removal coal as a power source. Why doesn't it?

The R.W. Beck update has a section entitled 'Environmental Consideration and Requirements.' There is no mention of mountaintop removal in it, even though it is by far the most devastating environmental crime being committed in the eastern United States. Neither AMP-Ohio, which commissioned the update, nor R.W. Beck, which conducted it, considered mountaintop removal worthy of mention.

Who decides?

Contrary to what AMP-Ohio maintains, the participants committee will not decide whether this new plant uses coal from mountaintop removal operations.

AMP-Ohio's stated position on using coal from mountaintop removal operations is as follows:

"AMP-Ohio understands concerns about mountaintop coal mining techniques. The source or sources of coal for the AMPGS facility remain unknown at this point because it is simply too early in the process. Further, it is the municipal participants who will ultimately decide on coal contracts and costs since the decision regarding coal contracts will be approved by the participants committee prior to execution," (' Will the facility use coal from mountaintop mining operations?, AMP-Ohio).

An expert analysis of the proposed AMP-Ohio contract, however, concluded that it was the AMP-Ohio Board that would decide.

"With regard to the annual operation of the plant, several large contracts related to fuel acquisition and handling and transportation charges are necessary. It is assumed by the contract structure that these multi million dollar annual contracts will be solicited, negotiated and overseen solely by the Board of Trustees of AMP -Ohio," (Thomas Sanzillo, Senior Associate, TR Rose Associates, 'AMP-Ohio Contract Analysis,' February 10, 2008).

Cities and towns have until February 29 to formally notify AMP-Ohio that they want out of the 50-year contract for electricity from the proposed new plant.

Full coverage of AMP-Ohio Generating Plant proposal.