Opponents Say Biomass Plant Threatens Town's Water Supply
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Opponents of a proposed Candor biomass plant fueled by poultry litter now include Moore County residents concerned about potential pollution in nearby Drowning Creek.
That is the source of drinking water for Southern Pines, which also sells water to the county and Whispering Pines.
Dr. John L. Monroe told the Southern Pines Town Council at its monthly agenda meeting Wednes-day that the plant is a “disaster in the making.”
“Chicken litter contains significant quantities of heavy metals that are toxic, even in small amounts,” said Monroe, who lives in West End. “As a medical doctor, I know that concentrations of toxins in the air and water are harmful. In my opinion, this process of burning chicken litter upstream from our community should not be allowed.”
The plant would generate steam and electricity at the Mountaire Farms feed mill in Candor off N.C. 211 just over the Moore County line, with any excess power being sold to Progress Energy. The 18,000-square-foot facility, which would be constructed within the company’s current 140-acre footprint, would produce less than one megawatt of power.
Drowning Creek lies 1,500 feet from the proposed facility, a $7.5 million investment that would create three jobs and be operated by FLS Energy Inc., of Asheville.
In addition to questioning the safety and future use of the generator, opponents are worried about possible odors, property devaluations and potential air and water pollution.
“There’s no reason to set yourself up for that, particularly when it’s avoidable,” Monroe said.
Monroe and Bill Bruton, who lives adjacent to the feed mill, asked the Southern Pines Town Council to intervene on their behalf because the Candor Board of Commissioners is conducting a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday to consider two proposed amendments to its zoning ordinance.
One amendment would empower the board to conditionally permit the burning of chicken litter to fuel a power plant and enable the operator to sell the electricity to Progress Energy.
The other amendment would not allow chicken litter to fuel power plants but would allow commissioners to conditionally permit private power plants to operate and sell electricity in an Industrial District, if fueled by cleaner or more conventional sources.
Currently, Candor’s zoning ordinance does not allow private electrical power generation for resale. Even if the former amendment is approved Monday, there would still be a conditional use hearing. And the plant could not be built without an air quality permit from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“At a minimum, it would nice to delay Monday’s public hearing so we can gather more information and garner more support,” Monroe said. “Once our water is contaminated, it’s too late.”
The Southern Pines Town Council agreed to draft a statement asking Candor commissioners to postpone the public hearing until October.
“We want to respect the town of Candor,” council member Mike Fields said, “but we need to say that we have a concern.”
Council member Chris Smithson volunteered to attend the Candor public hearing and deliver the message.
“We’re not coming up with new water sources for the town, ever, so this is it,” Smithson said.
According to the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, emissions from poultry litter include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates, hydrochloric acid and arsenic.
“Our own studies indicate that poultry manure power plants would emit more pollution than coal-fired power plants now being permitted in North Carolina,” the group noted on an informational flier. “In other words, burning poultry waste would be a step backward.”
Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.
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Comments
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
I suspect that county next door will not like being told what it can or cannot do, no more than Moore County doesn't like the folks up in Raleigh telling what to do or not do. While everyone is concerned about pollution of Drowning Creek, perhaps the real concern is "more pollution."
tlm123 1 year, 8 months ago
If we value clear air and water we must prevent these toxins from polluting the air and water we and our loved ones breathe, drink and bathe in, could anything be more obvious?
People living near Candor no doubt have similar concerns. I believe the chicken industry should be required to dispose of wastes in environmentally sound ways that does not pollute. PERIOD.
And do not count on governmental environmental agencies for help. They are in the pocket of the chicken (and pork) industries. We fought for years against pulverized chicken processing wastes being injected into the fields near where we live between West End and Jackson Springs. We got copies of the permits, even the required standards of the permits were violated, and despite documentation of frequent abuse and blatant thumbing of their noses at the regulators, the regulators would do nothing. THIS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!
djcalaska 1 year, 8 months ago
There is a lot more research which needs to be done here. I am surprised any town would want to be know as the "Chicken Shick" capital of North America. Can you imagine the smell??
shamlaw 1 year, 8 months ago
You know I have lived in Moore County all my life, unlike most of the one's that are writing about the chicken smell. The chicken farmers have been here for years along with the pig farmers. The smell nor the litter has killed anyone in the 54 years that I have been alive. It is strange that not one of these individuals know the first thing about a farm. They never been inside a chicken house have no idea what is involved in the operation. But they have an opinion; you know they or like rear ends everybody has one. But these same people want the government to do something. I do to STAY OUT OF IT. And another thing have any of you ever thought about the chemical that are used on the golf courses that you love so much. WONDER WHERE THAT RUN OFF GOES TO?????. If you dont like the county living around here then go back to where you came from. We got along fine before you got here.
mooremedic 1 year, 8 months ago
You should probably see one of these plants in operation or at least do some research before you bash it....i'm not going to argue about it but what's the difference between polluting our air with coal and gas fired power plants and chicken manure power plants?....maybe it's an improvement. The bigger concern here is will out chicken producers really want or need this plant. Most of the litter is used to fertilize farmers crops or pastures (so we already have runoff into streams) with most farmers around here needing all of their litter and alot of times even purchasing more litter from other farmers. Of course this all depends on the amount of land the farmer owns and when this litter is removed from the houses. I would imagine this plant would have to haul in litter from farther away than 60 miles and that would increase our traffic and road damage more than anything....i'm not even sure they could get the amount of litter here they need on a daily basis...
Steve 1 year, 8 months ago
What is with this area it is always no from subdiv. (JOBS) to stores (JOBS) and any other progress (JOBS) and now this.
JoeGarrison 1 year, 8 months ago
Due to the hazardous nature of the project, the lack of significant job creation, and the other negatives, the project should be reconsidered for another location at least.
RmeMP 1 year, 8 months ago
My only question is why is this article so one sided, surely someone could have/should have gotten a few quotes and or facts from the proponents as well.
It would be a lot easier to form an opinion if we had both sides represented instead of only from the opponents of this project.
Just one of many questions: I know Drowning Creek is the water source, but does the water not get processed being ending up with the consumer - would this process clean up the "toxins"?
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
How close is this plant going to be to the new regional/global industrial park? Perhaps if there is an environmental concern related to toxicity, then it might cause failure of that enterprise. If in fact there is and odor and health concern certain industry and business might not want to locate nearby.
ncsnafu1 1 year, 8 months ago
@Bflat:
I'd forget about how close the proposed Mountaire plant is to the NC MegaPark and really worry about the proposed FibroWatt power plant that is planned to be sited in the industrial park on the southern border of it. This plant, if ever built, will be several times the size of the proposed Mountaire plant and most likely burn of upwards of 500,000 tonnes annually of you guessed it : chicken litter! It will be interesting to see how the respective county commissioners from Montgomery and Moore counties "sell" the plant as being "green" in keeping with the overall goal of the park.
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
Thanks for the info. I'm concerned about all of it and anything that will affect the environment and water quality. There was another megapark idea that failed long ago that was to be a global type enterprise. The land is still sitting basically undeveloped.. There was to be an airport for fly ins, railroad and other things for this distribution & manufacturing center.
We should not allow our "neighbors" to pollute the drinking water source that comes through our county. I have been told by wild turkey and deer hunters that saw "purple stuff" in drowning creek several years ago, so one does truly wonder about the ongoing water pollution.
Bflat 1 year, 8 months ago
It was announced on WRAL tonight that there is a proposed Landfill at the old sand mine out 24/27 west of Cameron. in edge of Harnett County. Neighbors out there are already protesting and putting up signs.