A small town in the cetner of Surry County has been proposed as the site of a mega coal-fired power plant that would open in 2016.

On Monday night more than 200 people showed up at thePlanning Commission meeting that was scheduled to vote on the matter. Most of the people in attendance were against the power plant, however, most of those people were from surrounding areas such as Richmond, Williamsburg and Norfolk.

Residents supported the plant, because it could bring jobs, tax revenue and hope to the town that has been struggling. Homeowners should be aware that the Planning Commission rescheduled their vote for Dec 14th.

"More than 50 people spoke Monday night ahead of a vote next month that could pave the way for a tiny town to house a coal-fired power plant - and the vast majority were against the project.

Dendron, in the center of the county, has been proposed as the site of the Cypress Creek Power Station, a mega coal-fired power plant that would open in 2016. The 1,500-megawatt plant would be the state's largest to produce electrical energy.

But it could also be an environmental hazard, opponents of the plant said.

'Consider the impact it may have on your neighboring communities,' said Gary West, a former Newport News Planning Commission member. 'From agriculture to industry, it would be a severe and dramatic change.'

The Planning Commission, faced with nine proposals from Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, had been scheduled to vote on the plant Monday night, but by the end of the public hearings had decided to delay the vote. The group will take up the matter again Dec. 14.

The crowd of 200-plus on Monday night overwhelmingly seemed to oppose the plant. They came from as far as Richmond, Norfolk and Williamsburg to speak. They called coal a dirty resource - one that is not renewable - and said it has the potential to harm the community's health.

Residents who want the power plant say it could bring jobs and industrial-type businesses that provide additional tax revenue to the struggling rural county."

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