The Coweta

County Commission made quite clear its support of

citizens' concerns about two new power plants under

construction in Heard County.

But the

commission also said that a wave of disinformation must

be stopped in order to maintain that support.

The two

huge power plants in neighboring Heard County have been

the source of a fierce controversy in the county during

the last month. Commissioners recently learned that

Dynegy Inc. is building a 500-megawatt natural gas-fired

electric generating plant, just across the line in Heard

County.

But six

acres of the site lie in Coweta County and are zoned

rural reserve, not industrial. Officials from Dynegy

approached the Planning Department about using the tract

as a construction staging area, but were told the

property would have to be rezoned first. The company

decided not to seek a rezoning and planted Virginia Pines

as a buffer.

When the

details of the plant construction were discovered,

Commissioner Jim McGuffey was outraged that the project

was approved by Heard County officials without any

comments from Coweta residents or officials.

"The

citizens have not had an opportunity to voice concerns or

objections on a project that will affect their quality of

life," he said.

Heard

officials also approved the construction of the Tenaska

Generation Station, which will be a 100-megawatt power

station, and McGuffey wants the staff to examine the

impact of that facility on Coweta County.

During

Tuesday's meeting, Doug Whittaker, who represents

concerned residents near the plant, wanted to know the

status of the commissioners' efforts to find out more

about the power plants.

McGuffey

said the county has written a letter to state

Environmental Protection Division officials about the

environmental impact and said they had not heard back.

But McGuffey, Nelms and Chairman Vernon "Mutt"

Hunter said the citizens' group needs to quit sending out

information that the county knew about these projects

before it was brought to the public's attention.

Hunter also

said the commission's authority is somewhat limited.

"We

don't have any authority in Heard County," he said,

but Whittaker said that all the flyers and mailings had

been stopped and hoped the commission would keep

supporting the group's efforts to stop construction of

the plants.

Dynegy will

sell the power generated at the Heard County Power

Project in the wholesale electricity market to

investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives and

municipalities, when commercial operations begin during

the second quarter of 2001.

The

capacity of Dynegy's 34 U.S. generation assets currently

operating or under construction is more than 7,000 gross

megawatts.

Dynegy Inc.

is one of the country's leading marketers of energy

products and services. The company provides energy

solutions to its customers primarily in North America and

the United Kingdom, according to company literature.

Some

research for this article was found at www.dynegy.com .