The meeting began with the presentation of Ms. Diana Maciąga from Association Workshop for All Beings (Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot) who summed up the information from the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Elektrownia Północ power plant. Than Ms. Małgorzata Smolak – a lawyer working for ClientEarth Poland – presented the up-to-date legal status of the investment as well as the possibilities for social participation in the legal and administrative proceedings. During the debate many questions were asked about the possible alternatives to coal-based energy production and development of the region. They were all answered in details by Mr. Dariusz Szwed – an expert on sustainable development and renewable energy from the Green Institute (Zielony Instytut).

The main aim of the meeting was to provide the audience with information on the impact of coal-fired power plants on human health. Mr. Łukasz Adamkiewicz from international organization HEAL presented the issue of the heath impact of pollution that will be generated by the Elektrownia Północ power plant.

The quests answered many questions asked by the audience who engage themselves in a lively discussion. The citizens of Pomerania emphasized that they had not a faintest idea of many hazards related with the investment. They pointed out the need to inform more people about its possible impacts as the vast majority of local people has little to no knowledge on this vital issue and many are unaware of the fact that such investment is about to be executed in the region. A representative of the association which has been supporting the investor was also present at the meeting. However, he was able neither to give any sound reason why he is supporting this project nor to refer to the facts presented by the invited experts who clearly showed that only a very small group of people will benefit from the project and that its social and environmental costs are going to exceed the eventual benefits many times.

The meeting in Tczew was most certainly the first of many of this kind of events organized by Stop Elektrowni Północ campaign. The organizers has also submitted a request to the Starost of Tczew to organize an official open debate on the impacts of Elektrownia Północ on humans and environment.

With 1600 MW capacity the Elektrownia Północ Power Plant planned in the Rajkowy municipality, Pomerania, is going to become one of the largest coal-fired power plants in Poland. It consist of main buildings, road and railway system, water main for water intake from the Vistula river and waste water discharge to the river and a system of high-voltage power lines. Its construction and exploitation entails many serious negative socio-environmental impacts, including a grave threat to human health, devastation of local wildlife, irreversible changes to local cultural landscape and a threat to the Teutonic Castle in Malbork, a UNESCO world heritage site.