Coal fight inspiration to Redford
SALT LAKE CITY -- Robert Redford was so struck by a story of Texas mayors, ranchers and other citizens who stood up against plans for a batch of new coal-fired power plants that he narrated a film about it.
The actor and founder of the Sundance Film Festival is lending his voice to a 34-minute documentary called "Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars." The film is being shown next week in seven cities in Utah and Nevada, where several new coal-fired plants are being proposed.
Redford is hoping the story inspires others to face off against the "mythology" of nonrenewable resources and consider renewable energy alternatives.
"It makes no sense going in a direction that represents yesterday," Redford said in an interview this week.
The story centers on a fight that started in 2006 over 19 proposed coal-fired power plants in central and east Texas. The plans galvanized a diverse group of citizens who might otherwise have divergent political viewpoints: ranchers, environmentalists, business leaders, legislators, lawyers and more than a dozen mayors.
Redford, who has been involved with environmental causes for decades, said he was inspired by the unifying interests around clean air and a healthy environment. The group opposing the plans grew to include 36 cities, counties and school districts.
"To me, that was a sign of changing times," he said.
The company that proposed 11 of the new plants agreed to build only three.
Screenings in Nevada will be Tuesday in Las Vegas, Reno and Ely and Wednesday in Mesquite.
In Utah, the movie will be shown Tuesday in Salt Lake City, St. George and Richfield.
