We are here today because of a proposal to construct a huge electric generating plant in a field north of us. In Bennington, the proposed power plant would be located in an area near children's schools and elderly and low-income housing.

On its surface, it is inconceivable that a project of this magnitude -- a billion dollars, an amount more than the general fund of Vermont -- could have been encouraged by the state of Vermont. The potential environmental impacts are enormous. The site, in the lowest part of Rutland, is in a flood plain surrounded by wetlands. The pollution from the power plant would fall on the mountainous terrain around us, and contribute to the area's air quality problems. The amount of water the plants propose to evaporate would stress the region's water supply and create a vapor plume that would be visible for miles. It would fall on the surrounding roadways creating hazardous fogging and icing conditions. These plants would be the largest stationary sources of Nitrogen Oxide emissions in the state, adding to acid rain and ground level ozone problems. These power plants cannot receive a Certificate of Public Good under current Vermont law because they cannot satisfy the requirement to show "need". Indeed, there is no "need" for these power plants in Vermont. Their only purpose is to make enormous amounts of money for out-of-state corporations.

Many promises have been made by the promoters: the power plants will make the air cleaner, may result in reduced electricity rates for Vermonters, and be a cheap source of fuel that would lead to economic development and jobs. Vermonters for a Clean Environment is grateful to the Vermont Public Interest Research Group for commissioning an independent study from the Tellus Institute -- a Boston economics research organization -- to clarify and evaluate these unsubstantiated claims. A project of this magnitude has many complex elements, which VCE has been researching. But it is important for the people of Vermont to have access to an independent assessment of this project so they can make intelligent and informed decisions.

I recently returned from a train trip along the East Coast. I saw many power plants. I could tell when one was near because they all had massive transmission lines streaming from them. I saw vapor plumes. Huge areas of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland are covered with this kind of industrial development. I invite you to go to these areas and then ask yourself, "is this what you want Vermont to become?"

Governor Dean has joined VCE and the citizens of the region in rejecting the pipeline route between Bennington and Rutland. Despite the Governor's acknowledgement that the people of the region have the right to reject this pipeline route, New York State Electric & Gas has publicly stated its defiance of the Governor and the people and their commitment to using the route between Bennington and Rutland. It is this type of corporate arrogance and failure to respect the citizens of the region that has so angered the people of southwestern Vermont. The power plant developers have had 18 months to get their financing and are causing economic damage to property owners along the pipeline route. Their intention to leave the region in limbo for another 12 to 18 months is antithetical to any definition of fair process. It is time for this to stop.

After reading The Tellus Report, we hope that Governor Dean will also agree that the power plants are a bad deal for Vermont. They will pollute our clean air, waste our precious water, destroy our scenic vistas, and distract our focus from Vermont's energy plans and policies that require renewable and sustainable sources of electricity that will empower Vermonters to participate in our energy future.