[SustainableTompkins] Factory turns animals into fuel. Forget local property values, taxes, traffic, and zoning.

[Tony Del Plato]

  "Unlike every other commercial biodiesel manufacturing facility in
>>operation, the plant proposed for the Seneca Shipyard Industrial Park
[near
>>Chicago, Illinois] will use animal rendering by-products in addition to
>>traditional crops to make biodiesel. The plant's capacity also will make
it
>>one of the largest in the nation....
>>
>>      "The Seneca facility will be one of as many as four similar-sized
>>refineries Nova plans to build over the next few years. Its first venture,
a
>>10-million gallon per year biodiesel refinery in Clinton County, Iowa,
>>should be operating in September....
>>
>>      "George Lamb, who owns and manages land at the [Seneca] industrial
>>park, said that once the property purchase is complete, open land still
will
>>remain in the center of the 185-acre site, but a development like the
>>refinery could eventually help fill that space....
>>
>>      "And, Lamb added, though the refinery is in a tax increment
financing
>>district, it eventually will add to the tax base and allow for
improvements
>>to the water and sewer system."
>>
>>           -- From "Biodiesel plant will employ new method: Animal
>>by-products to be used at Seneca site," by Matt Buedel, at this August 9,
>>2006 Journal Star (Peoria, IL) site:
>>http://www.pjstar.com/stories/080906/REG_BAKBPQKO.033.shtml
>>
>>- - -
>>
>>      "ANNAWAN [Illinois] - More than 30 people spoke for or against a
>>proposed $130 million ethanol plant Wednesday night.
>>
>>      "A crowd of about 120 gathered in Annawan to give their statements
to
>>the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which is accepting public
>>input before it decides whether to approve a construction permit....
>>
>>      "Not all audience members supported the project.
>>
>>      "'I don't think ethanol is the answer,' said Jay DeValkenaere. He
>>voiced concerns about wastewater runoff, air pollution and odor from the
>>plant.
>>
>>      "'I don't think this is going to be good for the people of Annawan
down
>>the road," he said."
>>
>>      -- From "Crowd speaks out about proposed ethanol plant," by Kevin
>>Sampier, at this August 3, 2006 Journal Star (Peoria, IL) site:
>>http://www.pjstar.com/stories/080306/REG_BAIK45MG.049.shtml
>>
>>- - -
>>
>>      Illinois Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Maggie "Carson
>>also noted that several subjects are commonly discussed at these types of
>>public hearings but cannot be considered by the IEPA.
>>
>>      "Those subjects include: off-site traffic patterns and wear to
>>roadways, property taxes and property values, county zoning stipulations,
>>other facilities operated or owned by the same applicant and the
possibility
>>of future expansion."
>>
>>           -- From "Hearings set on two ethanol plants," by Matt Buedel,
at
>>this August 1, 2006 Journal Star (Peoria, IL) site:
>>http://www.pjstar.com/stories/080106/REG_BAHUI6KQ.033.shtml
>>
>>- - -
>>
>>Chauntelle Biagi, Putnam County Board member:
>>
>>      "You're going to be using our water. You're going to be making our
>>        backyards stink."
>>
>>Claire Manning, who chaired the Illinois Pollution Control Board for 10
>>years:
>>
>>      "The permit as drafted avoids virtually all of the new federal Clean
>>Air Act rules that have been promulgated in recent years to protect the
>>environment, especially the quality of our air and the safety of our
workers
>>and citizens....
>>
>>      "Because ethanol is such a hot and sexy issue, there's a rush to
>>judgment in approving these projects. I urge the IEPA to be more careful
in
>>its review of this permit - and, more generally, of this burgeoning
>>industry."
>>
>>           -- As quoted in "Expert urges stiffer ethanol regulations," by
>>Gary L. Smith, at this August 3, 2006 Journal Star (Peoria, IL) site:
>>http://www.pjstar.com/stories/080306/REG_BAIK8O92.046.shtml
>>
>># # #



-- 
"Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something
rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for."
Seamus Heaney