No Due Process, NO Development Plan, No Problem

[Bubba]

I would hope that they appeal and get it in a different court.

AP Wire | 03/24/2007 | Ethanol boom creates dilemma for farmers and small towns

"Gary Harshberger, president of Boothill Biofuels, which will run the Wright, Kan., ethanol plant once it gains final approval, said he was not concerned about using too much water because the aquifer in Ford County is "in better shape than some" counties."

Not only big, but dumb too.

[lurker]

The day will come when the alcohol producers will be begging for every drop of water.

A state water board on Wednesday (April 4, 2007) unexpectedly pushed reducing groundwater consumption in western Kansas toward the top of a priority list of the Kansas Water Office's new five-year strategic plan.

The Kansas Water Authority, in Hutchinson for its quarterly meeting, approved an outline for the five-point plan, but not before bumping the start of the western Kansas issue forward by at least a year.

.........................

In a lengthy discussion on the plan, members of the 24-person authority expressed concerns about the potential for even more rapid decline of the Ogallala Aquifer, part of the High Plains, because of rapid, massive growth of the ethanol industry in the region and its demand for irrigated corn. Renewal of or changes in the U.S. farm policy also will have some impact.

Part of the effort, said board member Lisa French of Partridge, will explore what barriers there are to reducing consumption of the groundwater and how to reduce those barriers.

"There are policy barriers, and a lot of social and political barriers as well," French said. "Four-dollar corn is certainly a barrier. But at some point, reductions are going to be forced."

The plan calls for establishment of a High Plains Aquifer Management Advisory Committee to review research and programs already under way or proposed, to examine potential future impacts on water needs, and to make recommendations on proactive actions that would improve management, conservation and diversification efforts.

The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kan., | Regional News

[lurker]

Normally it's the HutchNews' Editor who is out of touch with reality but I'm beginning to see a pattern of out-of-touch-ness from Ethanol Promoters coupled with a severe lack of logic from the News' reporting:

Rod Kreie, project manager for Nexsun Ethanol, said ICM was chosen because they wanted a Kansas company and because Nexsun is familiar with ICM's work on some of their other projects.

The design work won't be too complicated because ICM has a standard 40 million gallon facility model. Kreie said they will have to fit the model to the location chosen for the plant.

The land belongs to the Grant County Economic Development Corp. Nexsun signed a deal in January for the option to purchase the 94-acre plot.

Beyond the 35 well-paying jobs, the plant could boost the Grant County economy by encouraging spin-off business, Kreie said. He didn't have a dollar figure for the economic impact but said it's substantial.

Kreie said the company is predicting the plant will generate $90 million in revenue annually.

The biggest drawback cited has been the use of water. With the depleting aquifer, any significant new water usage raises questions. Kreie said the facility will use around 600,000 gallons a day, and while that might sound like a lot, he said, in comparison, an acre of corn uses 1 million gallons of water a day.

For those of you who went to publick scruwell and don't understand the absurdity in this reporting: a million gallons per acre per day would require one adequate (694 gallons per minute) irrigation well ............... for every acre.

Rod Kreie, project manager for Nexsun Ethanol, is not a very good liar; or he truly doesn't understand his industry.

[Value Pack]

Kreie said the facility will use around 600,000 gallons a day, and while that might sound like a lot, he said, in comparison, an acre of corn uses 1 million gallons of water a day.

That is stupid and shows a total disregard for our water and the future of our water. Kreie needs to go back to school.

100 day growing period is 350,000 gal. according to the US Ag.

[Value Pack]

Dodge City Daily Globe Letter | Dodge City Ethanol Plant

[Note: following letter was held over six days by the Daily Globe: when published, three letters were in the next day's edition attacking it.]

To the Dodge City Daily Globe Editor regarding Dodge City Ethanol Plant:

The statement in the Daily Globe, Dec. 4, 2006, concerning ethanol production that "all-in-all, ethanol production is consider a "no-waste" process, because all the bi-products of its production can be used..." overlooks current research.

In fact (from Cornell University News), "turning plants such as corn, soybeans and sunflowers into fuel uses much more energy than the resulting ethanol or biodiesel generates, according to a new Cornell University and University of California-Berkeley ethanol study. "There is just no energy benefit to using plant biomass for liquid fuel," says David Pimentel, professor of ecology and agriculture at Cornell. "These strategies are not sustainable."

And of course the hundreds of trucks going into Wright and the water that will be used have to be considered as part of a true review on whether the plant would benefit SW Kansas. None of these issues seemed to be part of the Daily Globe article by Ashley Nietfeld. Those involved in the review process must consider all of the facts, not just a few individuals' financial gain.

Best, George Laughead Jr., Dodge City, KS
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Related Dodge City Daily Globe Links
What is ethanol and how does it affect you? By Ashley Nietfeld, Dodge City Daily Globe (note lack of any negative affects)
Letter to the Daily Globe Editor from Steven R. McNinch, general manager, Western Plains Energy, Oakley (ethanol plant manager; note lack of any sources)
Ethanol Pollution Surprise; EPA Finds Worrisome Levels Of Toxic Air Pollutants At Ethanol Plants, 2002
Suit filed vs. Wright ethanol plant builders Plaintiffs claim officials didn't follow zoning regulations, By Tim Vandenack, 18 January 2007, Hutchinson News
Ethanol plant's opponents seek restraining order, by Ashley Nietfeld, Dodge City Daily Globe

[Jolly Rancher]

I already reported it. Hope it comes down soon.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Just what we need! Spam on Dodgeboard.

What's wrong with it Bubba??

[K C Muffin]

I don't follow....which post was spam?

[Bubba]

The post that is now deleted. So, I deleted my post.