Surry, Virginia, is about as picturesque as they come. A portrait of the rural south, Surry and its neighbor, Dendron, offer testament to the unique charm and unavoidable beauty that accompanies the idea of small-town America. Wary of outsiders and exceptionally warm toward neighbors and friends, the residents of Surry County understand the inherent splendor of a life that is unhindered by external influence. Naturally, it comes as no surprise that Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposed dirty, unhealthy, coal-fired power plant has been received with very few open arms in the community. Of course, this has not dampened the large cooperative’s desire to take advantage of a small town with its share of economic difficulties. With the promise of new jobs and increased tax revenue, ODEC has repeatedly stressed the so-called benefits to be won from the massive plant’s construction. On Monday evening, Dendron’s town council brought these claims to task during their regular meeting. Dendronites are engaged in a fight to save the health of their community, their children, and the irreplaceable beauty of the surrounding environment.
The Coalition to Keep Surry Clean, spearheaded by a group of energized residents and neighbors, has brought the fight against dirty coal to a national level. The evening kicked off with an outdoor potluck, featuring democratic gubernatorial candidate, Brian Moran (the only of the three in opposition to the plant). Under the watchful eye of national and local media, citizens called for a Surry that would be free of excess pollution, harmful chemicals and obtrusive, dangerous, 600-foot smokestacks. Coalition spokeswoman, Beth Roach, cast an air of humility over the audience as she called on all people to consider and ensure the health and happiness of future generations. Through the timeless words of Iroquois leader, Peacemaker, the message requires little interpretation:
“Think not forever of yourselves, O Chiefs, nor of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground.”Enough said.
Potluck dinners bring a certain level of warmth to any occasion. However, on Monday, the positive energy surrounding Dendron’s monthly town council meeting greatly exceeded the sense of community and trust that one garners from a sunny afternoon spent with friends. With attendance toppling 300 people, the Surry County recreational center played host to what is likely the single largest crowd ever assembled in the county. Many of the host sported signs reading “No coal is clean coal,” and, “Stop the coal plant” as town council members filed into the room.
This is not to say that ODEC’s presence was not felt. While the cooperative’s headquarters in Glen Allen, Virginia lay empty, a crowd of sharp-dressed men, sporting Italian loafers (read: “you aren’t from around here, are you?”) began to slowly file into the recreational center’s backmost seats. Donning stickers reading, “I support Cypress Creek Coal,” the out-of-towners reminded most that ODEC was an organization of “loud voices and deep pockets.” A phony and feeble show of force, ODEC’s decision to import supporters from 90 miles away sent a clear message to residents and local organizers; the cooperative reeks of desperation.
ODEC’s death throes have been characterized by more than one instance in which the cooperative has undercut, balked, and downright avoided altogether any legitimate form of engagement with the Dendron community. From reprinting already refuted newspaper articles to holding invitation-only meetings to gain support for the plant, the cooperative has come to the realization that their battle will not be won by winning over the community, but by running it over.
Most recently, the cooperative announced a bus tour of the neighboring coal-fired plant in Clover, VA (one that has been fined more than $5 million for environmental violations) in order to showcase the cleanliness of their facilities. Originally scheduled for June 6, ODEC chose to move the tour forward one week to May 31. No one was informed of the change, and ODEC has since denied the existence of the original tour date. Instead, the coop chose to direct its attention local low-income families and minorities, many of which are unemployed. With the promise of new jobs (the Clover plant has eight full-time employees) and outlandish claims such as the promise of a new municipal water system, the shift in the tour schedule allowed ODEC to mislead, and outright lie, to a large portion of Dendron’s population. The move was underhanded, citizens were not informed of the change, and ODEC categorically denies the existence of the former tour date.
As the town council meeting progressed, ODEC’s deliberate sidestepping of due process became increasingly prominent. Those opposed to the plant spoke from the heart, expressing a deep seated concern for their community and the health their children, grandchildren, rivers and streams, livestock, and the economic future of a town dominated by dirty industry. Those who testified in support of the plant were not difficult to identify, likely due to the fact they don’t live in Surry.
ODEC’s pithy attempt at frightening the town council into submission was yet again put on hold as the council voted to put on hold the decision to delegate the plant’s zoning to the pro-coal county board of supervisors. Needless to say, the out-of-towners weren’t pleased, and it wasn’t long before the ODEC mob had begun its return to Glen Allen, where it belongs. Citizens and members of the Coalition to Keep Surry Clean smiled and laughed quietly outside the meeting hall, but Surry’s future remains uncertain as long as the ordinance stays tabled.
No one will deny that these folks are in it for the long haul. A minor victory on Monday marks one of many steps that must be taken to ensure that Dendron maintains its status as a beautiful, tiny piece of rural America. ODEC walked away disappointed, but far from beaten. “Loud voices and deep pockets,” echoes Surry resident, Betsy Shepard, “Well, we’re louder.”
Playing fair oftentimes involves dealing with those who do not. If you have your doubts, look no further than Dendron, Virginia. Dirty coal has its money, its massive legal entourage, and dozens of hands in even more pockets. Coal does not play fair; it is impersonal, cold, and dangerous. Taking the high road means fighting a tougher fight, but the children of Surry remain vigilant, awaiting ODEC’s next move. Bring it on.
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