Letter to the Editor: A top ten list from Healthy Dubois County
TOP TEN REASONS TO REPEAL THE BIOMASS DECISION
It’s not too late to learn and correct course.
10. “Do unto those downstream [downwind] as you would have those upstream [upwind] do unto you.” —Wendell Berry
9. Government inadequately informs and protects the public. The Ohio Valley already produces far more electricity (approx. 15,000 MW) than it consumes (approx. 4,500 MW) (Valley Watch/John Blair). Despite IDEM and EPA, our region is among the most polluted in the nation. After extensive research, William Sammons, MD, on August 12, 2011, reported that the baghouse and other technologies do not remove nearly enough particulates to make this plant safe for its location. http://www.dcfreep.com/a-letter-from-dr-william-sammons-regarding-the- biomass-power-plant/
8. Dubois County ranked nationwide as the 36th worst (of 3,141) for yearly particulates in 2008. It has been in non-attainment for particulates—the EPA’s version of an F grade—for years. Would we tolerate more criminals if we ranked that poorly on crime? www.city-data.com
7. The Twisted Oak power plant would add to our national debt. Available federal subsidies/incentives divided by an estimated 16 new jobs would cost taxpayers nearly $2,500,00 per job. If divided by the total 30 jobs at the plant, the taxpayer cost would still be $1,300,000 per job. The Gainesville, FL, Tea Party is leading the opposition to a local biomass power plant for both health and financial reasons. ARRA, 2009 Stimulus Act, 30% tax-free rebate of Twisted Oak’s proposed capital investment www.dsireusa.gov Federal Register, Vol 74, No 11, Thursday, June 11, 2009, p. 27768, Biomass Crop Assistance Program, Final Rule, October 21, 2010 (up to $45 per ton of biomass fuel) www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ener&topic=bcap http://gainesvilleteaparty.org/hot-topics/biomass-a-health-hazard/
http://gainesvilleteaparty.org/hot-topics/fight-the-biomass-plant-it-can-be-done/
6. Politicians have made this decision despite widespread opposition from c
itizens, local health care professionals, and from national position statements from the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which are based upon thousands of studies worldwide that show particulates and other pollutants are toxic and directly increase asthma, cancer, heart disease and premature births http://www.healthyduboiscounty.org. Recent analysis also suggests increased special education rates in southern Indiana. http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/indianas-toxic-air-affecting- children/Content? oid=2321074
5. The power plant’s location does not respect the sanctity of life and pro- life values. The unborn, pregnant, elderly, and ill are most vulnerable and deserve more protection than they have received in this process. http://06vars.tripod.com/id1.html http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=10803
4. Biomass is not carbon neutral. The European Environmental Agency Scientific committee’s September 15, 2011, report calls biomass carbon neutrality “a serious accounting error.” In plain English or correct math, saying biomass combustion is carbon neutral won’t improve our air quality. http://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/governance/scientific-committee/sc-opinions/opinions-on-scientific-issues/sc-opinion-on-greenhouse-gas
3. Truck traffic to and from the power plant will tear up our roads and increase pollution. Street Commissioner Raymie Eckerle, in a Jasper council meeting, stated one semi-truck equals 2,000 cars for road damage. Twisted Oak’s 18-20 truck deliveries per day for fuel alone would be equivalent to the wear and tear of 36,000-40,000 additional cars on our roads. Reference in minutes of July 18, 2007, Jasper Common Council meeting. http://www.jasperindiana.gov/images/contentimages/grkl6iyty.pdf
2. Miscanthus is very expensive to grow, and today’s crop subsidies may evaporate tomorrow. Farmers must wait several years to harvest before they might profit. Despite his assurances in June that the western corn rootworm was “not a significant risk,” University of Illinois expert Dr. Michael Gray now reports that resistant corn rootworms are causing “significant damage” to fields of genetically modified Bt corn in both Iowa and Illinois. The rule of nature is that pests develop resistance. http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1555
1. Our kids are exposed to enough pollution already. In “The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America’s Schools,” investigators from USA Today, Johns Hopkins, UMass, and the University of Maryland extensively analyzed toxic industrial exposure to over 128,000 American schools. Tenth Street and Holy Family Schools scored worse than 95% of our nation’s schools. No school in Jasper’s city limits surpassed the 19th percentile, meaning 80% of schools did better. Although these investigators consider distance from smokestacks important, Jasper politicians voted money first. http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/index
Respectfully contact our current and future leaders, and ask that they repeal the biomass resolution.
