We are not alone

07/22/2004

Marietta opposed to energy plant

By: Rebecca Locuson and Ryan Phillips



Marietta Borough Council voted unanimously at its last meeting to send Conoy Township a letter authored by councilman Harold Kuhlman, expressing opposition to plans for a proposed Ethanol Plant northeast of Marietta along Route 441.

The reasons cited in the letter, which was signed by council President William Nagy, Jr., included an increase in traffic, potential for serious vehicle accidents, potential for explosions and fire, mal odors and an increase in air pollution.

According to Kuhlman, approximately 770 of 973 polled Conoy Township residents said they didn't want the plant built. Despite the fact that Penn-Mar Ethanol did not have the requisite DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) application or Emergency Preparedness plan completed, Conoy Township agreed to go forward with its planned hearing on Aug. 5 at the Bainbridge fire hall on Second Street in Bainbridge.

"It seemed to be the contention of the town," said councilman Sam Wiggins about the letter denouncing the ethanol plant.

Wiggins also cited the plant's inability to contain fires another reason for opposing the Penn-Mar plan. If approved, the plant would be the first of its kind on the east coast.

Robert Strickland, a Conoy Township supervisor and secretary, said Marietta was the first municipality in the immediate area to send a letter opposing the plant. Hellam Township in York County sent a letter of opposition several months ago, Strickland noted.

"They (Marietta Borough) certainly have a right to their concerns," he said. "We're going to try to address those at the hearing."

Kim Anderson, member of the Governor Pinchot Group, which is an offshoot of the state chapter of the Sierra Club, said the ethanol industry will not be good for Pennsylvania and that such a plant would add to the county's already-existing air quality problems.

"We're also concerned they will not be monitored as much as they should be," Anderson said. "They're (Penn-Mar) going to be replacing water (in the Susquehanna River) that is not of the same quality."

The Governor Pinchot Group plans on following the developments of Penn-Mar's application process very closely, said Anderson. She emphasized the proposed plant would affect any town along the Susquehanna River.

If the plant becomes a reality, it's expected that traffic along Route 441 will increase exponentially. Officials expect that as many as 48 to 200 trucks will travel 441 and surrounding roads daily. It is also estimated that of those numbers of trucks, at least 13 will transport the gas additive, increasing the risk of severe injury and increased danger of fire and explosion and the attendant problems.

Mal odors are also a problem with ethanol plant operations. For example, in 2003, Wisconsin passed Senate Bill 299, prohibiting construction of ethanol plants within a five-mile radius of elementary, middle, junior and senior high schools. Although Wisconsin specifies a five-mile protection zone, the possibly exists that odors can drift well beyond five miles.

Increased pollution will also be a problem, council members agreed. Even though the plant expects to produce nearly 60 million gallons of ethanol yearly, they plan to apply only for a minor emission control system.

Kuhlman added that the problem of pollution will also be increased with the stop and go emissions from diesel trucks traveling along roads with signal lights, like Route 441.

http://www.c4aqe.org/dangers_ethanol_plants/marietta_opposed_to_energy_plant.htm