Resolution on Jamestown Power Plant
June 28, 2005

Whereas, one of the greatest environmental threats we face is that of global warming and climate change,

Whereas, global warming and climate change are caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity and the most significant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide caused by the burning of fossil fuels

Whereas, coal is the most carbon-intensive of fossil fuels, and burning coal produces twice as much carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than does burning natural gas,

Whereas, the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is planning to build a $140 million coal-burning electricity generating power plant to replace older coal-fired generating units,

Whereas, while Jamestown's BPU's proposed new power plant would produce less acid-rain producing emissions, the proposed plant would still emit large volumes of carbon dioxide,

Whereas, the Jamestown's use of the term "clean coal" to describe its proposed coal burning power plant is inappropriate and misleading because the plant would not sequester carbon dioxide and therefore would contribute to global warming and climate change,

Whereas, the Jamestown BPU has not seriously explored opportunities for reducing its customer's electricity demand through energy efficiency and conservation,

Whereas, the Jamestown BPU already owns a new 40 megawatt natural gas turbine which it hardly uses,

Whereas, the Jamestown BPU Scoping Report and other documents pertaining to this project demonstrate that the BPU has not considered energy efficiency and conservation, possibly coupled with natural gas and/ or wind enerfy generation, as an option o be evaluated,

Whereas, the anticipated $ 140 million cost of the proposed Jamestown BPU coal burning power plant appears likely to cause substantial electric rate increases, causing economic hardship to the Jamestown region and possible an exodus of business and jobs - further damaging Jamestown's fragile economy,

Now, therefore let it be resolved that The Sierra Club of Niagara Group calls upon the Jamestown BPU and the City of Jamestown to stop ignoring the problem of global warming, to re-consider plans for a coal burning power plant, and to identify environmentally and economically responsible strategies for meeting Jamestown's electric needs, namely:

Energy efficiency and conservation programs to encourage rate payers to reduce their demand for and use of electricity

Renewable energy generation through the use of technologies such as properly sited wind turbines

Natural gas fired generation, perhaps using the 40 megawatt natural gas turbine already owned by Jamestown BPU

Now, therefore be it resolved that The Sierra Club Niagara Group calls upon the Governor George Pataki, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Public Service Commission, the New York Power Authority and NYSERDA to intervene and insist that Jamestown participate in the New York state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission from power plants

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Sierra Club Niagara Group will work with local citizens and citizen groups in the Jamestown area, including the BPUWatch, to oppose the coal burning power plant option and insist on environmentally responsible solution to Jamestown's electric power needs,

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Sierra Club Niagara Group calls upon the statewide Atlantic Chapter of Sierra Club and the national office of Sierra Club to lend support to this campaign