Letter to the Editor: Farming and trucking still big concern for biomass crop

The farming and trucking issues pointed out in recent DCFREEP posted commentary have been repeatedly brought up and ignored (but not reported or thoroughly analyzed in the press). I spent hundreds of hours researching and several hours talking to Jasper officials (only to have that turned against us by their lawyers that they had already heard it all and we’d had our chance to speak). The “truck” issue was watered with a “promise” to use natural gas trucks in the “future.”

People are used to thinking they get “the whole story” from what they get in the media. But here locally, the media is generally either loyal to Jasper or like many citizens, afraid of what dissention will do to their business. Read between the lines! Unless advertisers feel the pinch from their own customers, don’t expect things to change. I was personally accused by a local media editor of “character assasination” for challenging Shaddix’s conflict of interest when his department was partnered with Monsanto (which owns half the company that develops the miscanthus).

I am hoping that 1) farmers will think twice before committing >3 years and >$1500-$5000 PER ACRE to plant this stuff (note the city has kept this out of the media as well). Is either Jay Catasein, the City of Jasper, the venture capitalists or any insurance company going to insure this crop? 2) SOMEONE outside of Healthy Dubois County will complain when they resort to trash or turkey manure especially when Jasper repeatedly said WE were misleading people by warning of other fuels. Then of course the Jasper USB and City Council tried to slip switchgrass through (more invasive and higher in choride and dioxins)!

I actually recognized the farming issues first but was (not so politely) told I didn’t know what I was talking about. The city also blatantly ignored my medical statements and concern about the amount of cancer and lung disease in the area.

We at Healthy Dubois County are hoping for more of those downwind and both up and down stream to check Jasper’s math because this plant will affect you whether you live in Jasper or not. And pray for those of us who have chosen to stand up for you.