Received today. -jsq

From: “Matt Flumerfelt”
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:58:56 -0500

My Dear Mayor, City Manager, and City Council Members,

You who I know to be men and women of principle, you should know by now I have no axe to grind, no agenda except to see justice done, no desire but to benefit the people of this fair community. I ask you to please put the brakes on the Industrial Authority and convince them that the Wiregrass Power Biomass Electric Generating Plant may be complying with the current laws and clean air requirements of Georgia, but it is still not safe. Opening this plant is not in the best interest of our community.

We are at an important crossroads in our nation’s history,

when we must choose between our own economic self-interest and the interests of ordinary men, women, and children. We can either go forward with the kinds of safe, clean, renewable energy sources we know will do the least damage to our environment and the health of our citizens, or comply with those who would take advantage of economic hard times to sell us technologies that will leave us sicker and less able to care for ourselves.

I know there are powerful economic forces at work that urge you to take immediate action to provide jobs, reduce energy costs, and help reduce the costs to the city of disposing of waste. But those who stand to profit most from this plant are putting their own economic self-interest before the health of this community and turning a blind eye to the very harmful impact this Biomass plant will have on our air, water, soil, and the health of our citizens. There is a lot of science to back up this statement, none of which the Industrial Authjority wants you to consider. We can and must do better.

There is a lot at stake here, too much to risk on the assurances of one or two Industry-paid experts. As Dr. Zeller pointed out at the recent VSU forum on the potential health hazards that will result if this plant opens, Sterling has taken advantage of every loophole in the permitting process to by-pass stricter safety regulations and emissions controls in the operation of this plant.

I am writing because I respect and care about every one of you. Valdosta is being sold a bill of goods. Please don’t wait until the health of this community is severely compromised by emissions from this plant to realize that this technology is a step in the wrong direction. Please have the political and personal courage to do whatever it takes to keep biomass from coming to Lowndes County.

Sincerely,
Matt Flumerfelt

Writer, musician, quondam journalist, longtime resident, friend, neighbor, and community partner

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