A radical environmental group says it vandalized about 15 vehicles at the Oldham County construction site of a controversial natural gas power plant being built by Houston-based Dynegy Inc.
Oldham County police spokesman John Meadors did not confirm the claims yesterday but said an incident at the site was under investigation.
A fax from the Earth Liberation Front -- which describes itself as ''an international anonymous organization'' using ''economic sabotage'' to defend the environment -- claimed to have slashed tires and broken windows in the vehicles early Saturday morning. It said the vehicles were being used ''to rape the earth.''
The group has claimed responsibility for fires and other significant crimes from Oregon to New York since 1996.
Last year the group claimed responsibility for incidents around Bloomington, Ind., such as the burning of a luxury home and vandalizing of road construction and logging sites.
The Dynegy plant, under construction northeast of Buckner, has been fiercely opposed by residents who say the plant will hurt air quality and cause health problems.
But Maxwell Shannon, director of the group Community Against Power Plants, denounced the sabotage tactics.
''Certainly we don't condone any of that,'' he said. ''We're opposed to the power plant, but we are pursuing legal actions against Dynegy, and we are committed to discussing this in an open forum.''
Last month the Oldham County group filed suit in Franklin Circuit Court, challenging the tax treatment and incentives given by the county for the plant.
It also is challenging the plant on environmental grounds in an appeal to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.
The group is appealing a decision by the Division of Air Quality to modify Dynegy's permit to allow a third turbine at the plant, which is projected to generate 624 megawatts of electricity and emit 245 tons of carbon monoxide a year.
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