To the Editor:
(Open letter to federal Environment Minister Peter Kent)
I currently lead a group known as Creston Airshed Management (CASM) and our residents have done such a great job changing our habits, that our air quality here is now much improved. But many of us are disturbed by the recent announcement that Maxim Power will be opening a new coal plant in Grand Cache, Alta.
At a time when most provinces are phasing out coal power, this plant will place the equivalent of 600,000 cars on the road for the next 50 years. Appa-rently, it is also one of the older, “pre-new regulations” plants that you announced last Friday. This appears to be a free ticket for Maxim to pollute our air.
Surely this company will want to take advantage of the new regulations and make their plant less harmful to the Canadian climate. It is our hope that we can provide “backup” to you on any move you chose to take on our behalf as you encourage them to do so. There is a need for them to retrofit their plant, within a reasonable time frame, just as we, as Canadian citizens, are having to retrofit our habits in our homes and businesses.
As concerned citizens who care about our air, we wish you every success in that regard on our behalf.
Pat Martin
Canyon