The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, in its annual report for 2003 to 2005, recommends that the city rezone the property on which the Mirant Power Plant sits in an attempt to force the coal-burning plant to close.
Alexandria City Council was expected to accept the annual report at its meeting tonight. Acceptance does not bind the council to act on the recommendations contained in the report, but it does provide it and the Alexandria government with additional weapons in their fight to get Mirant to close its doors.
Alexandria is opposing the Mirant plant on many fronts. It is in the midst of a lawsuit against the company, and is challenging a consent agreement between Mirant and the state and federal governments that would allow Mirant to increase the amount of nitrous oxide it releases each summer.
The council continues to lobby the state legislature for laws increasing clean air requirements for the plant, Councilwoman Redelle Pepper said.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that Mirant would be able to run all five of its generators if national air quality standards are met. Those standards limit a number of pollutants harmful to human health, but not nitrous oxide. Since last summer, the plant has only been permitted to run two generators at a time.
The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission “studies and makes recommendations on the environmental impact of various projects and program initiatives.” Members serve two-year terms and are appointed by City Council, according to Alexandria’s Board and Commissions Office.
The annual report said the city should work to rezone the property occupied by Mirant to allow for uses that better fit in the city’s master plan. It also calls for the council to work with state legislators to create laws that would quicken the closure of the plant.
Pepper said these recommendations have been considered by the council for some time and the city hopes to rezone the property in the future.
“We hope there will come a time that they will find it advantageous to go elsewhere,” she said.
