Clean Energy at the Expense of Our Water is Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

NEWS RELEASE

2/15/08 - Citizens concerned over a proposed ethanol plant in the Mount Pleasant Community, between Brunswick and Jesup, are meeting on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. at the Union Baptist Church on Aiken Road

Bill Frechette, a hydrologist for the Environmental protection Division (E.P.D.) is meeting with citizens to discuss the plant's water withdrawal permit. The location for the plant, East Coast Ethanol, is a 350- acre plot at the intersection of Hwy 341 and Akin Rd.

Approximately 60 Aiken Road residents (off of Hwy 341) say the proposed location for an industrial ethanol plant is too close to their quiet rural neighborhood. In addition to being a nuisance with a projected 50 trucks a day going down their country road, they say the plant will pose major traffic, safety, flooding, and pollution problems.

"Residents have protested at the Wayne County Commission and the Industrial Development Authority meetings. There are too many problems posed by the plant and we want to stop it," says resident, Kim Smith. "Wetlands cover the development site. In a September meeting, plant officials said their intent is to dump the plant's discharge into the creek that runs behind our homes. We already have flooding problems. Neighborhood residents all depend on wells, how will it affect our water supply, "she says.

Water problems also concern other opponents including the Altamaha Riverkeeper. In its permit application, East Coast Ethanol is asking the state for permission to withdraw 1.7 million gallons of water a day from the Upper Floridan aquifer. The plant's discharge, 287,000 gallons day, will flow into a creek into the Altamaha River. The water would be used to produce automobile fuel from corn.

"We all want clean energy but not at the expense of polluting our world class river in the process, " says James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper. " It is ridiculous for the government to pay subsidies to farmers in Iowa to grow corn then ship it to South Georgia and jeopardize our river to produce ethanol. Here we are in the middle of a state water shortage and we are putting in another water guzzling industry, it doesn't' make sense," he says.

Mickey Whittington of the Wayne County Industrial Development Authority is quoted in previous media articles saying the company would put 1 million in sales tax into the county's coffers in its first year of operation and employ about 40 to 50 people.

"It's not worth it.," says Kim Smith. "When I spoke with EPD officials two weeks ago, they said the plant permit process is not yet complete. No water discharge or air quality permits have been applied for. Please come to the meeting and help us stop the plant and protect our water."

Directions to the meeting: From Highway 341, between Brunswick and Jesup From Brunswick: Go North on 341. Approx. two miles after the Mount Pleasant community, take a right on Aiken Rd. (You will see Aiken Rd. sign and Union Baptist Church sign) Follow Aiken Rd. about 3 miles and you will come to the church. From Jesup: Go Southeast on 341. After about 12 miles, take a left on Aiken Rd. Go about 3 miles and you will come to the church. If you get to Mt. Peasant, you have gone too far. Turn around and take directions above.