INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Web Exclusive: $2.1 billion investment in Duke Coal plant sparks vehement discontent

Taxpayers gathered in the main atrium of the Statehouse Thursday morning to express an overwhelming discontent with the decision of Gov. Mitch Daniels to use 2.1 billion Hoosier dollars to build a new coal burning energy plant. In 2007 alone, 24 coal-fired plants in 13 U.S. states have been canceled. Reasons behind the cancellations include financial risk to stockholders and ratepayers, concerns about carbon regulations (and future carbon taxes), inability to demonstrate need, cleaner and cheaper alternatives, global warming and public health. This is why our new coal plant will be paid for through a 15-20 percent increase in energy costs for us, the residents of our state.

The protest began with a press conference where much of our local media were represented. Following speeches made by regional activists, an over-sized Christmas stocking stuffed with none other than lumpy coal and a card signed by all the citizens present were delivered by Santa himself to the offices of Gov. Daniels. Unfortunately, Daniels himself was not present for this visit. One of his staff welcomed Santa with a silver platter of store-bought cookies and a Dean's Milk Chug. Everyone said what they had to say, as the office staff pretended not to notice the overflow of angry people chanting "no new coal," with signs and banners and with the television cameramen shining their bright lights around the room. The governor's staff sure is focused.

All joking aside. If our governor's decisions are not representing our best interests, and WE are his constituents (constituent: one who authorizes another to act as agent --Webster's dictionary) then whose best interests does he consider when making these decisions? More directly, it appears as though he may be misusing his power -- power that we have given him.

Find more information on this issue at www.citact.org, or in next week's edition of NUVO.