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Here is the letter we sent to the Freeman in response to Dennis Shook's Shakin'
Up Muskego editorial of April 2 (it was inserted in April 2 edition but dated April 3.)
Why the Freeman published misinformation about the proposal and attempted to
minimize the impact of our the efforts is baffling. This is just one of the replies the
Freeman received in response.
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Many of us at Citizen Power are baffled by the Waukesha Freeman's editorial on the demise of
the Muskego power plant proposals, including their description of us as "the opposition -
while extremely energetic and intelligently led - was simply a speed bump to the two companies."
While it's always nice to be remembered as an energetic and intelligent bunch, I can assure you
that Citizen Power was more than a speed bump in the road. Had we not existed, both Midwest and
El Paso power plant proposals would have gone forward and been rubber stamped by the PSC a long
time ago. Sure, El Paso shot themselves in the foot through their Enron-style business wheelings
and dealings during the power plant gold rush, BUT grass roots mobilization of citizen opposition
along with the outstanding legal representation provided by our attorney, Dennis Grezezinski,
profoundly slowed the companies' timetables, giving the bullet time to catch up with the foot.
Furthermore, had the El Paso proposal ultimately been approved by the PSC in June, there would
have been sound legal grounds to appeal that decision in court.
In addition, the Freeman's editorial diminished Citizen Power's opposition to the power plant
in Muskego by unfairly comparing El Paso to WE's Oak Creek power plant proposal in Milwaukee
County. The Freeman said that compared to Oak Creek, the problem posed by the El Paso power
plant in Muskego "would have been smaller." Smaller? El Paso has so many problems in comparison
to WE that there are almost too many to count.
For example, when was the last time WE Energy had a "problem" with a major gas pipeline
explosion, sending flames 500 feet in the air, melting siding off neighboring homes, or
killing a dozen people due to faulty pipeline maintenance? In the last few months alone,
El Paso has experienced two humongous pipeline explosions in Illinois and Colorado.
When was the last time WE had a major construction accident "problem" at a power plant site,
killing and maiming several workers? El Paso experienced a major power plant construction
accident in Milford, Connecticut more than a year ago, and that power plant is still not
on-line as a result.
When was the last time WE was the subject of a FERC probe for illegally driving up energy
prices in our state? El Paso just reached a $1.7 billion dollar settlement to settle energy
overcharge "problems" during the California power crisis.
When was the last time a high level WE employee was arrested for job-related criminal activity
for reporting false data to manipulate energy prices? El Paso faced this "problem" a few months
ago, when one of its energy traders was indicted on these grounds.
When was the last time WE Energy's financial ratings were cut several notches below junk status,
with genuine concerns that they would be bankrupt before the end of the year? Predictions abound
that El Paso will be the next bankrupt Enron.
The Freeman editorial also failed to mention the problems in Waukesha County posed by burning
massive amounts of "clean" natural gas during the "peak" ozone non-attainment air pollution days
of summer. The 1 million pounds of air pollutants produced by the El Paso plant in Muskego would
have made it the single largest industrial source of air pollution in Waukesha County.
And what about the uncertain future of state revenue sharing funds? Even if revenue sharing survives
the State budget crisis, the Freeman editorial failed to mention that Muskego would reap ALL the
revenue sharing rewards while the citizens living closest to the El Paso sites in Vernon and Big
Bend would get absolutely nothing except diminished property values, power plant noise, and a
scenic view of smokestacks from their picture windows.
And finally, what about the fact that while El Paso kept giving assurances that their Muskego
plant would meet LOCAL energy needs, they were actually bidding to ship the power out of state
to Xcel Energy to meet the needs of Minnesota and the Dakotas!
I'm going to stop here, because these power plant proposals are history. Still, the Freeman's
historical footnote to Citizen Power's efforts and their editor's comment that "whether Muskego
residents overall are better served is a matter of opinion" does the people of this community
a grave injustice.
If we were "simply a speed bump to the two companies", it was a speed bump to be reckoned with...
Although some tried to treat us like a group of annoying gnats buzzing around the heads of
elected officials, local government, the PSC, El Paso Corporation and Midwest Power, we were
a group whose strength lay in reasoned and reasonable opposition that couldn't simply be
swatted away.
As the curtain finally falls, Citizen Power takes pride in the hundreds of citizens from several
communities who courageously banded together and met a multi-BILLION dollar mega-corporation
head on and ultimately won! In the final analysis, isn't "citizen power" what democracy is
supposed to be all about anyway?
Andrea Frank
Chairman of the Board, Citizen Power, Inc.
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