Jul 15, 2013 3 min read

First Energy has announced it is closing the Mitchell and Hatfield Ferry power generating plants because they are coal-fired and can not meet standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. This is another effort by the Obama administration and the EPA to force economic hardship on the citizens of this country.

Continually we are told through the media how fragile the electrical grid is in the country, how it is not developing or improving as fast as growth demands. Even where I work, we have a provider who gives us a discount for being on a program to idle back or shut down for specific time periods during high peak periods in the summer, due to lack of sufficient power. Yet First Energy can idle two plants and not have any contingency to supplement the 10 percent of production loss.

Where is the public outrage?

Can anyone offer a reason as to why the EPA, during one of the weakest economic recoveries in our history, cannot delay for a few years these regulations? I had the opportunity to work in other countries during my career, one of them being Russia, and I can show you pictures of manufacturing facilities producing air pollution the same as we were in the 1940s and 1950s.

Consider this: All of North America is 4.8 percent of the Earth’s surface. Just exactly how much difference are we making against other industrialized countries that do not put the environment before the economic needs of their citizens? This does not mean I am not for protecting the environment or clean air. I know firsthand the importance of clean air. I had lung cancer, lost a lung and nearly my life. But there is no reason the environment can’t be protected responsibly, economically and in a timely manner to protect the citizens and also allow for economic growth.

Where is the public outrage?

For the first time in decades we have had economic growth within our region, even our township of Fallowfield, has gained economically from natural gas. We have had modest growth of several companies bringing in light manufacturing, we have added 600 jobs. Now that we are drawing in additional manufacturing jobs and families, adding to our economy and economic success, we close two power stations at the cost of hundreds of jobs. Do you think businesses looking at our area for relocation don’t consider electrical availability and stability?

Where is the public outrage?

I hear very few people complaining. I hear very few complain that their electric bills are projected to increase. Have we become so complacent that we no longer care or feel we can make a difference? I just feel there are individuals and groups out there who know the statistics related to these issues and who could organize a rally, write letters to show in a responsible manner that we would like these EPA standards extended and First Energy to reconsider the closings.

Wib Caldwell

Fallowfield Township

Caldwell is a supervisor in Fallowfield Township.