Open Minds Urged On Sequatehie Plan

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A letter to the editor from Jack Pine of Dunlap, Tennessee, responding to coverage of a public meeting on a proposed pumped storage power plant in Bledsoe County. Pine argues for keeping an open mind about the project, criticizes the Save Our Sequatchie group for exceeding speaking time limits, and contends that the pumped storage facility represents the cleanest and safest power option compared to alternatives like coal.

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Open Minds Urged
On Sequatehie Plan

To The Free Press:

I've just read your coverage of
the meeting in Dunlap regarding
the proposed pumped storage
power plant to be located in Bled-
soe County. I appreciate your
continued coverage on this
project and also commend TVA
and the FERC for allowing the
public forums for the voicing of
our comments.

Some of the comments made at
the meeting made a lot of sense
and others were simply negative
and scare tactics. This group
called SOS (Save Our Sequat-
chie), although mostly well inten-
tioned, was very unfair to the rest
of the speakers by continually
going beyond their three-minute
allotted speaking time.

The meeting was supposed to
end at 9:30 and I had an appoint-
ment at that time so I was unable
to speak. I was No. 51 to talk.

There are many people includ-
ing myself who are waiting for the
final scope of this project before
making a judgment. They have al-
ready made several revisions after
doing ongoing research to try to
minimize the negative impact on
the environment.

It is always unfortunate for peo-
ple to sacrifice some of their land
and sometimes their homes in the
name of progress. This though is
a fact of life. If this never hap-
pened we wouldn't have new and
updated highways and power
plants that give us our electricity.

There are lots of people who
want to make their own minds up
and don't need scare tactics from
a group to help us. If this power
will be needed whether it be now
or 30 years from now, it is unfair
to our children and future genera-
tions to stop this project which is
proven to be the cleanest, safest
and cheapest type of power.

I would hate to see some other
type of power facility built later
that would have a worse negative
impact on us. I would like to add
that TVA signed a contract to pur-
chase power from a coal-fired
powerhouse in Mississippi. This
shows me that we may need this
power soon.

JACK PINE
Dunlap, Tenn.