OUR PLEDGE: THE SAFEST MINE IN THE WORLD

CHATHAM

--When the General Assembly convenes, Virginia will likely face one of the most important policy decisions of our time--whether or not to lift Virginia's moratorium on uranium mining. Nothing less is at stake than the economic revitalization of an entire region as well as an opportunity to contribute to the energy independence of the nation.

In 2007, a group of Southside farmers and longtime residents formed a company called Virginia Uranium Inc. to explore the development of one of the richest geologic treasures ever discovered in the commonwealth of Virginia. These families were guided by a dream that unlocking this treasure would contribute to the long-sought economic revival of our region. Nearly five years later, their vision finally appears within reach.

According to the state-sponsored socioeconomic study just released, the Coles Hill project will support more than 1,000 jobs in Virginia, with more than half in Southside alone. These are highly skilled, good-paying jobs that cannot be shipped overseas and will enable workers and spin-off businesses to invest in our community. Our operation will also generate nearly $5 billion in revenue for Virginia companies and more than $112 million in state and local tax revenue over the 35-year life of the project.

It is impossible to overstate the significance of this economic opportunity for the thousands of Southside residents who've seen their jobs disappear overseas and the hundreds of contractors and supply companies across Virginia struggling to survive in this economy. In so many ways, this is a providential opportunity that has arrived at the time and place that we need it the most.

The Coles Hill project, located on 3,500 acres in rural Pittsylvania County, also affords us the opportunity to contribute significantly to American energy independence. According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. imports more than 90 percent of its uranium from foreign countries, some of them highly unstable. As the U.S. and other developing countries like China and India build more reactors, U.S. dependence will only deepen unless we develop new sources of domestic uranium. Coles Hill is the largest untapped uranium deposit in the U.S. and contains enough uranium to fuel all of Virginia's nuclear power for nearly 75 years.

1 2 Next Page

OUR PLEDGE: THE SAFEST MINE IN THE WORLD

Patrick M. Wales is project manager for Virginia Uranium Inc.

Date published: 12/11/2011

1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
2. Please avoid offensive, vulgar, abusive, hateful or defamatory language.
3. Read and follow THE RULES.
4. We will block violaters and ban repeat offenders.

Breaking News - click here to have the latest delivered to your email box or cell phone