The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

State News

Discussion

September 22, 2007

Kansas: Planned ethanol plant generates public resistance

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposal to build a $200 million ethanol plant in Shawnee County met stiff resistance at a public hearing, where nearly all of the 29 speakers opposed the plan.

About 150 people attended a public hearing Friday evening on whether the state should grant an air permit to Emerald Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Cargill, which wants to build the plant on a 300-acre site in northwest Shawnee County.

Opponents said the ethanol plant would create pollution, use too much water and hurt a nearby residential area. One supporter said the plant would meet or exceed government safety regulations and would have special devices to restrict odor.

Representatives of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said the state would provide written response to the speakers’ questions but did not say when a decision on the air permit might be made.

Mick Mines, a representative of Emerald Renewable Energy, met with opponents before the public hearing. He said the proposed ethanol plant would release 300 to 400 tons of emissions per year, noting that most cars emit about 6 tons of pollutants per year.

The proposed plant would produce 100 million gallons of ethanol per year and 330,000 tons of distillery grains, he said, using 1.2 million gallons of water per day, most of it for the cooling towers. Mines also said the plant would employ about 40 people.

The Joint Economic Development Organization has already offered Emerald Renewable $290,000 in incentives, $50,000 in land acquisition options and has offered an incentive of $5,714 per job created.

Mines acknowledged that the ethanol-making process produces an odor, but said thermal oxidizers at the plant will break down odor-producing compounds.

But Sean Teel, a member of Rural Water District No. 2, said at the public hearing that he was concerned the plant and its emissions could hurt water quality in the area.

“It stinks,” Teel said. “It’s going to be detrimental to our health.”

Sherril Boyer said the plant would be within sight of the official residence of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

“I can’t imagine her having her parties (with visiting dignitaries) in her backyard with these odors,” Boyer said.

Paul Meierhenry said he supported the ethanol plant and argued that the water used by the ethanol plant would equal water used by five center pivot irrigation systems.

“It’s not going to ruin your water supply,” he said.

Dave Stremming, who lives a mile south of the proposed site, said he was disappointed that KDHE did not answer the public’s questions at the meeting.

Stremming, former president of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, said he has helped bring several businesses to Topeka but he never helped attract a business that benefits a few but hurts many.

The crowd applauded when Stremming said the proposed ethanol plant would bring a few jobs at the expense of thousands of area residents.



———

Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com

Text Only
State News
  • Lions climb into share of MIAA men's basketball lead

    Without taking the floor, Missouri Southern has climbed into a first-place tie in the MIAA men’s basketball race.

    February 22, 2012

  • 2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Oklahoma

    The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake near Wellston in central Oklahoma.
    No injuries or damage is reported.

    January 19, 2011

  • Audit: $108,000 taken from Missouri Veterans Commission JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A former employee of the state auditor’s office embezzled nearly $108,000 while working as an accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission, the state auditor alleged Monday.

    Stacy Griffin-Lowery was fired by the Veterans Commission in March 2008 and pleaded guilty three months later to a misdemeanor theft charge. She repaid the state $17,665, the auditor’s office said.

    But Missouri Auditor Susan Montee on Monday accused Griffin-Lowery of swiping an additional $90,192 by getting reimbursed for cash advances and purchases made on her personal credit card.

    April 12, 2010

  • Race in Kansas’ 2nd District could heat up for GOP incumbent TOPEKA, Kan. — A conservative Kansas legislator said Monday he will announce in a few weeks whether he will challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Republican primary.

    State Sen. Dennis Pyle’s actions in recent months suggest the Hiawatha farmer, who’s served in the Legislature since 2001, is running against Jenkins in the Aug. 2 primary. He set up a campaign organization in November and has a Web site featuring a brief video of him on his farm, asking viewers for support.

    April 12, 2010

  • Oklahoma tea party leaders, lawmakers envision militia OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

    Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force

    April 12, 2010

  • Missouri: Senate panel cuts $500 million from proposed budget JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Senate committee declared Thursday that it has sliced more than $500 million from Missouri’s proposed budget for next year — meeting a target set by Gov. Jay Nixon to bring it in balance.

    April 8, 2010

  • Kansas: Wichita-area casino in doubt after governor’s decision TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposed casino south of Wichita was in doubt Thursday after Gov. Mark Parkinson refused to grant its developers a regulatory reprieve. Partners in the $225 million Chisholm Creek project wanted to delay a state board’s decision on their plans.

    April 8, 2010

  • Oklahoma: Groups oppose education spending initiative OKLAHOMA CITY — A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.

    April 8, 2010

  • Missouri: Gov. Nixon affirms support for tuition freeze COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state’s dire financial status was fully known.

    April 7, 2010

  • Kansas: Agency uses YouTube to illustrate road woes TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It’s another to see how the two are connected. That’s part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

    April 7, 2010