Dear NC DEQ,

My name is _______, I am a local resident. Do not issue the air permit for the Roxboro Steam Electric Plant. This matters to me because __________________________ (insert your personal reason here!).

Do not retire one environmental injustice in Person County, just to replace it with another. Here are some of my concerns:

• Duke Energy’s own “environmental justice” analysis shows the plant may increase the community’s already high risk of cancer from harmful air pollutants.

• Duke Energy wants to run the gas plant & the coal plant at the same time, unclear how long. That’s more pollution for the community, not less.

• Duke Energy estimates the gas plant will emit more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide than the existing coal plant.
  • VOCs can cause liver, kidney and nervous system damage.
  • Low to moderate levels of carbon monoxide can cause chest pain, impaired vision, and reduced brain function.

• The draft permit doesn’t have an effective plan to monitor for sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and arsenic.

• In 2032, new Clean Air Act rules will take effect. Until then, the plant would run 80% of the year, emitting more than 2x the total carbon pollution the Roxboro coal units it is replacing produced in 2023.

• Duke Energy does not provide all the relevant pollution data. Duke fails to demonstrate why the data they do provide accurately predicts future pollution levels.

• The long-standing community directly next to the proposed gas plant is predominantly African American. The community has suffered the impacts from the existing coal plant for nearly 60 years. This is an environmental injustice. Issuing this permit would continue that injustice.

Sincerely,