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I was looking at a house online just a tad north of Morgantown and on Google Earth I noticed there was a coal power plant right across the river.
Are there any concerns in the Morgantown area being so close downwind of the plant for pollution and cancer clusters?
I'm not anti coal by any means but I know that there are genuine concerns of cancer clusters down wind of them.
I wouldn't ever recommend living anywhere near a coal power plant for a variety of reasons, especially downwind. I would steer at least 20-25 miles away at a minimum.
I wouldn't ever recommend living anywhere near a coal power plant for a variety of reasons, especially downwind. I would steer at least 20-25 miles away at a minimum.
Please elaborate?
This appears to apply to most of the Morgantown area then
I wouldn't ever recommend living anywhere near a coal power plant for a variety of reasons, especially downwind. I would steer at least 20-25 miles away at a minimum.
Coal power plants produce toxic coal ash, mercury, radiation, and a variety of other hazards. I would not live anywhere near such a toxic facility. I get a large majority of my electricity that is renewable through a rural electric coop with very reasonable rates. West Virginia does not remotely represent the vast majority of the country as it does not have a diversified sources for electricity at 95% coal.
I don't want this thread to degenerate into an argument. I'm genuinely concerned about buying property near a coal power plant that I might later find out is a cancer cluster.
I really like the Morgantown area but this is a genuine concern. And no, I'm not against coal I think it has a meaningful contribution to make and it has value as an energy source.
How far away from the plant would be appropriate?
Which direction are the prevailing winds in the area do they typically come from the NW, W, SW?
I don't want this thread to degenerate into an argument. I'm genuinely concerned about buying property near a coal power plant that I might later find out is a cancer cluster.
I really like the Morgantown area but this is a genuine concern. And no, I'm not against coal I think it has a meaningful contribution to make and it has value as an energy source.
How far away from the plant would be appropriate?
Which direction are the prevailing winds in the area do they typically come from the NW, W, SW?
This is a helpful weather data source with some detailed data:
As the crow flies, western Monongalia County is 15-20 miles away from where Fort Martin and other power plants are. That would be a more favorable area for looking for real estate as the prevailing winds that come from the west into that area are from a nearby much more rural area. The Ohio River is another 25 miles away to the west as the crow flies. That is where more clusters of coal power plants are located- along the Ohio and West Virginia border. If it were me, I would avoid most anywhere near the Ohio Valley. I'm looking at leaving southern Indiana as there are many issues with the air and water here.
There is a good site as well to get more detailed data:
Coal power plants produce toxic coal ash, mercury, radiation, and a variety of other hazards. I would not live anywhere near such a toxic facility. I get a large majority of my electricity that is renewable through a rural electric coop with very reasonable rates. West Virginia does not remotely represent the vast majority of the country as it does not have a diversified sources for electricity at 95% coal.
This is of course all in the past! Fort Martin has scrubbers, and and equipment to almost eliminate all the mercury!
I don't want this thread to degenerate into an argument. I'm genuinely concerned about buying property near a coal power plant that I might later find out is a cancer cluster.
I really like the Morgantown area but this is a genuine concern. And no, I'm not against coal I think it has a meaningful contribution to make and it has value as an energy source.
How far away from the plant would be appropriate?
Which direction are the prevailing winds in the area do they typically come from the NW, W, SW?
There has not been any cancer clusters around Fort Martin, I live across the river from them, and it is no problem at all! I would be much more concerned about living next to the highways, as their is much more hazardous pollution there!
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