Somerset County Speaks...Is Ethanol Listening???

Even though I was on vacation, I had been expecting a phone call from CAO Daniel Powell with Somerset County. He called me late Monday morning and we had a nice conversation about the proposed Ethanol Plant as I drove through North Carolina.

Mr. Powell made it clear that he and the Commissioners are equally concerned about not affecting the Pocomoke Aquifer (a primary concern) and that he was meeting with Chesapeake Renewable the following day and was going to discourage them from attempting to use the Pocomoke Aquifer. He also agreed that it would be good to sit down with the Commissioners at their September 4th meeting regarding my concerns for the city.

I appreciated his response and his support. He encouraged us to be diligent regarding our water issues so as not to suffer the same fate as what they currently are experiencing in northern Somerset County. I could not agree more!

Many communities have not embraced ethanol plants around the country. They are having particular difficulty in the northeast. As mayor of Pocomoke City, I am not interested in, nor have I argued the value of ethanol as a commodity to be produced. I am concerned about:

1. Water consumption (1 million gallons per day) from local aquifers

2. Public Safety, to wit: my Fire Chief has not been consulted on plant fire suppression, etc.

3. Public Safety, to wit: we have not been presented with an evacuation plan.

The "courtesy" meeting that we had with representatives from Chesapeake Renewable Energy last year was simply that: a "courtesy". We have not been involved (as I believe we should) in the approval process for this plant. I do not believe my concerns regarding the water consumption of this plant are irrelevant. Nor is the fact that the plant is in Somerset County and politically removed from Pocomoke City and Worcester County relevant as it relates to natural resources.

We, Pocomoke City, do not own the Pocomoke Aquifer or the water contained therein. Neither does Chesapeake Renewable Energy. However, thousands of folks who already live here and have invested here rely on the water from that aquifer. Any company that wants to be a partner in our community should not be ignorant of what this area has already experienced from a lack of proper planning in the past.

We are not taking this lying down anymore! Let the studies prove it before we embrace it: whatever "it" is. Have some common sense about speaking with the folks that are going to put their lives on the line about your corporate impact on local public safety. Don't tell me, a public official, that you are going to do "A" and then turn around and do "B".

There are others more expert than I to debate the basic merits of ethanol, but when a public official raises a flag and asks a few questions, "me thinks thou dost protest too much..."

Here is what I ask:

1. Publicly commit to not accessing the Pocomoke Aquifer-no matter what!

2. Meet with our Fire Chief, Police Chief, and EMS Director and have a candid discussion on issues such as: fire suppression and containment; potentially new equipment that you may furnish; formulation of an evacuation plan and relative information on chemicals contained at the plant site.

These would seem like very good places from which to start.