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Tuesday, 23 January 2007 16:57 |
By COBY MANGUM
Despite objections from many residents, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 16 to lease 79 acres of county-owned property near Woodfin to an energy company that plans to build a $72 million power plant that will service the area during times of peak energy use.
The board unanimously decided to award the long-term lease to Progress Energy after hearing input about the proposal during a public hearing that lasted almost two hours.
About
100 people filled the meeting room to hear and give opinions about the
project ÇƒÓ most of them in opposition to it ÇƒÓ leaving about 25 others to
listen from the hall.
Many of the
speakers expressed concerns about continued use of fossil fuel-burning
energy sources, which they said are a threat to the environment, public
health and economic stability.
However, Ken
Maxwell, a spokesman for Progress Energy, said the company considered
renewable energy sources and conservation methods but decided on an
ultralow-sulfur fuel for the plant because of costs and practicality.
"(We were given)
a very short timeline for a lot of power and energy," Maxwell said,
adding, "Weëre obligated to provide that power."
The new
facility, which Progress Energy plans to have completed by 2009, will
produce 130 megawatts of power to serve 150,000 customers in the region
during periods of peak use in the winter and summer, Maxwell said.
He added that
the new plant is meant to address current power needs in the area and
is not intended to make up for increased use in the future.
This is "not about growth. This is simply how much (power) weëre using in Western North Carolina," he said.
To facilitate
the current need for energy on demand, other energy sources would not
have been the best option, Maxwell continued.
"Wind and solar
power will not meet the criteria," he said, naming cost, efficiency and
availability as the factors considered by Progess Energy in its
research.
The company
will, however, adhere to local air quality standards ÇƒÓ "some of the
strictest in the nation," Maxwell said ÇƒÓ as well as make use of 61
acres of buffer, or "green space," around the facility itself.
"Conservation will not be the answer, it will be part of answer," he said.
Commissioner
David Gantt questioned Maxwell about the ultimate purpose of the plant,
noting that nothing is "built in for growth" and that Progress Energy
could not create more energy than is needed and "sell the extra."
Maxwell said
that the air permit would prevent the facility from operating at a
higher level than was originally projected to handle the areaës need.
Asked about the
decision to use land near the old county landfill, Maxwell said, "We
considered 30 sites in Western North Carolina," and chose the property
off Riverside Drive because it offered easy transmission of energy to
homes.
Maxwell added
that the plant would make use of a site that has remained unused since
1999 ÇƒÓ an incentive for the project cited by the commissioners in
December ÇƒÓ and that it would provide needed power while increasing the
tax base by $300,000.
"Weëve been in
limbo trying to find a project (for the site) until we were approached
by Progress Energy," Bob Hunter, a retired director of Buncombe County
Solid Waste, said.
In response to
questioning by Commissioner Carol Peterson, Maxwell said that
visibility of the plant and environmental impact were the major
concerns that had been expressed by the public in Progress Energyës
proposal process.
This statement
was echoed during the public hearing, as numerous speakers focused
their comments on what they said were detrimental effects of fossil
fuel-burning energy sources.
One man began
his comments by showing the board a picture of his granddaughter. "We
live in a world that doesnët care about its children," he said. "All
the chemicals that will be emitted by this oil-burning plant are
unnecessary."
Several
individuals urged the board to postpone a decision by 30 to 90 days.
Many expressed confusion as to why they had not heard about the
proposal sooner.
"You said youëve been working on it for two years ÇƒÓ I havenët heard it mentioned until now," Charles Rice said.
"Thereës always
common ground if we look for it ... We have two years until (Progress
Energyës) contract expires," one man said, adding that 30 days would
not affect the project.
"We donët have to do this overnight," he added.
Another man said
that by voting to lease the land to Progress Energy, the county was
"voting to increase dependence on foreign oil."
However, Albert
Sneed, who spoke in favor of the new plant, said, "Energy is essential
to our economy ... (If we keep) putting it off, we get dependent" and
rates increase. He added that the new plant would prevent "rolling
blackouts at peak times." Several others agreed that it was in the best
interest of the county to act immediately to address the energy need.
"Grant a lease,"
a woman said, "but make it for a renewable-energy plant ... This will
attract other (companies) and ultimately strengthen the economy."
"I challenge Progress Energy to think outside the box," a man said in agreement.
Others wondered if increased conservation would be the best option, eliminating the need for a peak-use plant altogether.
"If this ... is going to fill the gap now, what will we do later" when usage increases again, a woman asked.
In other action, the board:
ï Was presented with a mental health update by Arthur Carder of Western Highlands LME and Assistant County Manager Mandy Stone.
ï Authorized the advertisement of unpaid taxes after hearing a report on tax collections from Tax Adminstrator Gary Roberts.
ï Appointed Alice Briggs, Lesley Anne Mullen, Linda Hamilton, Tim Peck, Joseph Scotto and Hunter Goosman to the URTV Board.
ï Appointed Kim MacQueen to the Library Board.
ï Authorized the donation of "kids voting machines" to local schools.
ï Declined to purchase 2.2 acres of land adjacent to Reynolds High School from the Board of Education.
ï Approved a
$170,474.62 tax-exempt loan to be made to the Leiceister Volunteer Fire
Department for the purchase of a new fire truck.
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