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First Midland Planning Commission meeting on the MidMichiganLLC Site Plan Review held March 11, 2008
Coal-fired plant draws more questions, comments in Midland
Posted by Cathy Heng | For the Saginaw News March 13, 2008 07:23AM
The comments kept coming and kept Midland's Planning Commission busy for five hours Tuesday in a marathon session.
Several hundred people attended the overflow meeting while Keith Baker, the city's director of planning, outlined the 201 pages of background for the electric-generating plant proposed by Mid-Michigan LLL, which is proposed for 4201 South Saginaw.
Baker covered 21 different points from site design characteristics to sequence and development to coordination with adjacent sites.
He said the site is proposed to have 11 buildings, two access points, internal road networks, and take four years to construct.
Janet Vanderpool, project development manager for the company, said the $1.9 billion plans would create 100 full-time jobs and 141 spinoff permanent jobs for Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties.
She added the plant will produce $13.7 million in new earnings yearly and produce $4.2 million in taxes each year for Midland.
Mid-Michigan LLL is developing the plant with LS Power and Dynegy.
"Even with a 1 percent slowdown in Michigan-based industry, there is an increasing need for energy," Vanderpool said. "Now coal is cleaner, safer and more efficient."
Baker said the city and the project leaders met with neighbors to discuss concerns about noise, road improvements, wetlands, trees, berms and trains using the plant.
Richard Fosgitt of Wilcox Professional Services in Zilwaukee outlined the plant's footprint from wetland mitigation to rail line placement and plant operations.
"The rail line encircles the site so it will not obstruct traffic on Waldo Road. We are also using a rotary car dumping building for rail cars to contain noise and dust," he said.
Fosgitt outlined the plant's need for 10 million gallons of water per day, the control of noise, the new sanitary lift station and storm and water discharge for the plant, which will burn soft coal from Wyoming.
But two dozen Midland-area residents who supported the project and 14 who peppered the developer and planning commission with questions wanted answers.
Supporters said the proposal will bring jobs to the area, the state needs electricity and energy and coal is a safe option.
"Now is a time for technology, industrial interests, plants and the environmentalists to join hands and support the plant," said Eldon Graham, a founder of the Chippewa Nature Center. He called it a "golden opportunity" to use coal in an environmentally friendly way.
A number of residents said the plant is proven technology that will keep Midland growing.
Scott Walker, president of Midland Tomorrow, said the plant can attract new industry.
"We have already had inquiries from other industries based on Mid-Michigan Energy. It will leverage new investment," he said.
But, others were opposed. They said coal burning was short sighted, some 40 truck loads of ash to the landfill daily is a problem, and coal is in short supply.
The plant will release toxic chemicals -- as much as 108 pounds of mercury a year into the air -- and there are health risks, they said. Carbon capture also needs a look, they continued.
Jenea Little, an employee at Chippewa Nature Center, asked about possible toxic discharges into the river near the boat launch. Several nurses, meanwhile, questioned the health ramifications from asthma to lung cancers. Others wanted to know about evacuation plans.
Dr. Daryl Zelenak said incredibly small "particulate matter" can enter the lungs. He added a school is near the site, putting children at risk from passing coal cars and sludge and fly ash.
Resident Nancy Janoch came armed with 46 different questions from rainfall diversion to toxic chemicals and waste management at the landfill.
"Consider the 40 trucks full of waste, times 365 days a year for 50 years. That is a lot of waste. I cannot comprehend how Midland officials are binding us to this huge quantity of waste and danger and expense," she said.
Vanderpool said plant officials will answer all the questions in writing. The planning commission expects to take additional comments and consider the issue at its March 25 meeting and eventually send a recommendation to the City Council.
Locals Citizens Put on their Own Open House
As Public Opposition Mounts, Local Group Promotes Seeing Both Sides of Coal Issue
Midland,
What: Alternative Energy Open House
Where:
Valley Plaza, Great Room D, 5221 Bay City Road, Midland When: March 5th 5pm – 9pm
The event will be free and open to the public to investigate both sides of the coal issue. Informed
The group has very serious concerns about the sustainability of coal as an energy source, the effects of coal burning plants on health, Global Climate, and the long term economic future of the region and state.
“
This event is just one more sign of the growing opposition to the proposed coal plant and follows a national trend in which communities, states, and the nation are turning away from dirty coal. In just the year 2007, 59 coal plant proposals were rejected or cancelled.
Last spring New Jersey-based LS Power and Texas-based Dynegy announced their plans to build a new pulverized coal plant with a price tag that has now risen above 1.9 Billion dollars. During the past year, a number of local citizens and groups have begun to question the need for the new plant, and ask what its impacts on the community will be. They have been unsatisfied with the answers that these coal giants have been providing. Commenting on the side-by-side events, Zelenak stated that “in the marketplace of ideas, this is one stop shopping”.
Midland Daily News Articles covering event:
LS Energy: LS Power lays out its site plan
MidlandCares: "MidlandCARES offers infosession on alternative energy strategies"
DEQ Permit to Install submitted by Mid-Michigan Energy
Mid-Michigan Energy LLC has submitted its Permit to Install Application to the Michigan DEQ Air Pollution Permits System. This application is being reviewed by the DEQ and then a period for Public Comment will begin. The Public Comment Period will likely begin in April 2008. In the meantime, the DEQ is appreciative of public input regarding your concerns about this proposed plant, and any others in Michigan that you are concerned about.
They Want to Build A Coal Plant in
Mid-Michigan Energy LLC has proposed to build a 750 megawatt pulverized coal plant in
A Public Hearing has been conducted on August 13, 2007 by the Midland City Council related to three petitions that will be needed for this coal plant to be built in our city.
Zoning Text Amendment No. 144A, concerns Electric Generation Stations on land zoned Industrial B. We strongly urged that this be allowed ONLY as a “Conditional Use”. By allowing this as only “Conditional Use”, it will require the prudent scrutiny into health hazards and risks of certain industries, such as coal plants and other electrical generating stations which are known to carry higher potential risks to public health.
We are also opposed to the rezoning of the 5 acre parcel currently zoned Residential A-1 at 4389 S. Saginaw Rd.into Heavy Industrial B. This parcel is adjacent to established residences and the public boat launch at the river. Heavy Industrial B areas typically involve industries with smokestacks, large warehouse operations dependent on heavy rail, and/or heavy trucking. There will be significant noise to the nearby residents and increased traffic from rail(120 carloads of coal per day, if these Petitioners of this zoning change build their Pulverized Coal Plant on this site). Furthermore, there is a public boat ramp and agricultural land in the immediate area.
We believe that this 5 acre Residential parcel would serve
MidlandCARES wants to protect the Health and Socio-Economic Future of Midland and
A Pulverized Coal-burning Power Plant will do nothing but hold
The City of
By Michigan law, Municiple Power companies are Tax Exempt. If Mid-Michigan Energy, LLC. sells this proposed coal plant to any Municiple Power Cooperatives, the City of Midland will bear the cost of supportive, infra-structure expenses, such as road wear and tear, emergency services, etc, but will not collect any property tax on the plant. Now, however, as the City Council voted to change the text to include E. G. S. as a Principle Permitted Use, the city will not be able to legally use this criteria during the Site Plan Review. Here are documents regarding the Tax-exempt Status of Municiple Power companies. Act 448 of 1976. and The General Property Tax Act-Act 206 of 1893.
Important Michigan State News
Mid-Michigan Energy LLC has submitted its Air Pollution Permit Application to the Michigan DEQ. This application is being reviewed by the DEQ and then a period for Public Comment will begin. The Public Comment Period will likely begin in mid-February 2008. In the meantime, the DEQ is appreciative of public input regarding your concerns about this proposed plant, and any others in Michigan that you are concerned about. You can send an electronic letter via the DEQ website right now. You do NOT need to wait until February 2008.
The Michigan DEQ Air Quality Department is currently reviewing the Public Comments Related to Consideration of Coal Technology in Air Use Permitting. Why is the DEQ wanting IGCC to be considered? Learn more now. See the DEQ Report on IGCC.
Please note that the time limit has been extended to Sept. 14, 2007. See DEQ information
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