Letter to the editor: Invenergy permit should be denied

The beautiful haven that is the Youghiogheny River Valley and surrounding green space is under attack. Chicago-based gas company Invenergy is proposing to build a new power plant in Elizabeth Township.

The polluting effects of this new plant would be tangible and immediate. As a longtime resident of Allegheny County, I cannot be silent about this severe threat to public health and safety, not to mention the grave dangers associated with polluting this pristine waterway. This plant would only employ a maximum of 30 full-time employees, while producing power to be distributed out of state. This only harms those in Elizabeth and the surrounding areas.

The next step for Invenergy is to obtain an air permit from the Allegheny County Health Department to decide how much the plant will be allowed to pollute. Our county already has a failing grade for air quality — when will we say enough is enough?

I urge my fellow Pennsylvanians to ask the health department to deny this permit. It couldn’t be more obvious: build this plant, and Pennsylvanians suffer.

Grace Johnston

Moon