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Monday, February 15, 2010
Environment - "Indiana Lawmakers support biomass plants' foes: Prospects unclear for legislation that would stop construction"
The ILB's most recent entry on the proposed biomass wood-burning power plants in southern Indiana was Feb. 9th, near the end of the entry, quoting from a story headed "State extends comment time on biomass plants."
Today, a report by Grace Schneider in the Louisville Courier Journal begins:
Opponents of proposed wood-burning power plants in Scott and Crawford counties in Southern Indiana have picked up support in the General Assembly this winter, although nothing that's been proposed has the potential to stop construction of the generating stations near Scottsburg and Milltown.And it's unclear whether any legislation aimed at the projects will emerge before the session ends March 12.
A bill authored by Democratic state Sen. Richard Young of Milltown aimed at regulating emissions from trucks that would serve the so-called “biomass” power plants failed to get out of the Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee, where it never received a hearing. Still, Young and other lawmakers interviewed last week wouldn't rule out the possibility of getting amendments to environmental and energy-related bills that could place more controls on the biomass industry.
“We're going to try to get something out of this session. We're working on it,” said Young, who declined to provide specifics. “We want these plants to be as clean as possible.”
During the past year, Liberty Green Renewables LLC of Harrison County has proposed building two $100million power plants, one near the intersection of Ind. 66 and Ind. 64 outside Milltown and another south of Scottsburg's city limits on U.S. 31. The partnership has applied to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for air-quality permits for both sites. The department recently held public meetings in the two counties to answer questions about draft versions of the state permits.
Acting on numerous requests from the public, the agency also extended the deadline to submit comments on the permits to Feb. 24. Regulators, however, have stressed that the department's role is to approve permits as long as the projects comply with all state and federal laws and regulations — and that Liberty Green's proposals appear to meet those guidelines.
Young said he's frustrated that both facilities will qualify for federal “green energy” tax credits even though they'll emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
“There's very little pollution controls on this type of technology,” he said. “Looking at legislation, if they (the plants) are built, they need to have the best technology.” But what is proposed by Liberty Green, he said, “shouldn't be built anywhere in the state of Indiana or anywhere in the country.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 15, 2010 09:13 AM
Posted to Environment