Citizens of Mascotte:
I have been following the Mascotte Council’s consideration
of a Waste Management landfill facility to be located within the city limits.
The council and the city have been sued by the landowner for lack of due
process and other issues associated with their decision to deny the proposal. A
proposal that would have brought over $10 million of new revenue to the city
and created 30+ permanent direct jobs and many construction related jobs and
many indirect jobs. A project of this magnitude with a fortune 200 company
would no doubt breed many other revenue producing opportunities for the City. I
also understand the proposal included a new sports field complex and annual
money for special events in the city.
So why did the Mascotte council turn this down? Why in a
time of financial crisis at the city where the very survival of the city is in
doubt did the council turn this proposal down? I think whoever cares about the
City of Mascotte continuing as a City with its own council, police, fire and
public works and ability to govern itself should be asking this question, Why?
I have asked the question and here is my take. I think a
majority of the council wanted to approve the project for all the benefits
stated but were bullied by Lake County and loud voices apparently from land
owners with other agendas. These opposing parties were able to get a few
citizens to oppose the project using fear tactics. The applicant addressed all
the fears in its presentation materials but the loud voices drowned out the
facts with emotion.
I have posted below on the blog site several links with examples
of green energy from landfills.
I have looked at some of Waste Management’s materials and information. They proposed a state of the art facility in Mascotte. The amount of state and federal oversight for the permitting, operation and closing phases of a project like this are extensive. They estimated a 20 year life to the operation phase after which the site would be a green area suitable for a park. They showed examples of closed landfills that became parks in other cities.
Green energy from landfill: http://thinkgreen.com/bmw-drives-forward
More Green energy from landfill: http://americancityandcounty.com/waste/will-countys-landfill-gas-energy-plant-turns-garbage-gold
More Green energy from landfill: http://www.alliedwastekent.com/Divisional%20Documents/RS-Naturally-Sm-Bro-3.pdf
More Green energy from landfill: http://www.abc27.com/story/18309808/waste-management-mahoning-landfill-to-produce-green-energy-from-everyday-waste
I have looked at some of Waste Management’s materials and information. They proposed a state of the art facility in Mascotte. The amount of state and federal oversight for the permitting, operation and closing phases of a project like this are extensive. They estimated a 20 year life to the operation phase after which the site would be a green area suitable for a park. They showed examples of closed landfills that became parks in other cities.
The fact is people produce waste that must be
processed. The Lake County council
understands this and is moving to meet the need of the citizens. Meeting that need is profitable for Cities
and Counties that have the opportunity to do so. Mascotte had the opportunity to meet that need
and get the revenue from it. To have the
number 1 waste company in the world choose a site in Mascotte was a God
send. All the citizens of Mascotte who
care about the survival of the city should let the city council know that they
support them approving this project. I
hope it is not too late.
Now I am just a simple man but this situation reminds me of
a story I heard in Church that seems to fit here.
A man was on his roof top waiting for rescue form the flood
waters that had invaded his neighborhood and chased him to his roof top. A
neighbor came by in a canoe and invited him to get in, the man said no, I am
waiting on the Lord, He will save me.
The water continued to rise to his waist, A little later a power boat with fireman and
other rescue people came by and invited him in, the man said no, I am waiting
on the Lord, He will save me. The water continued to rise up to his chest, At
that point a Helicopter hovered over him, dropping a rescue basket down with
instruction to get in, the man said no,
I am waiting on the Lord, He will save me. Well the water continued to rise and the man
drowned. He stood before the Lord and
asked, Lord, I don’t know what you were thinking, I trusted that you would save
me from that flood and you let me drown.
The Lord then said to the man, my child, I sent a canoe, a boat and a
helicopter to rescue you, why did you not get in?
Below is the contact information for the City of Mascotte City Council
Barbara Krull 352-429-0873 barbara.krull@cityofmascotte.com
City of Mascotte web site: www.cityofmascotte.com
City of Mascotte web site: www.cityofmascotte.com
Will County's landfill gas-to-energy plant turns garbage to gold
Public-private partnership builds
power plant at landfill to generate green energy and revenue
Wed, 2012-04-25 10:39
Late last year, Will County, Ill., opened a landfill gas-to-energy
(LFGE) plant that is generating 4.8 megawatts of power, enough for 3,000 homes
in the surrounding area, and has room for expansion. Built through a
public-private partnership and with the help of federal grant dollars, the project
is turning methane gas from the landfill into electricity that is sold to the
local utility, generating revenue for the county.
Will County built its Prairie View Recycling and Disposal Facility
in 2004 and contracts with Waste Management of Illinois to operate it. When it
was built, plans called for the eventual construction of an LFGE plant to put
the landfill’s methane gas to use. In 2010, the county received a $3 million
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy
and entered an agreement with Waste Management to build the plant. The county
dedicated $1 million from the grant, and Waste Management contributed $8
million to the 7,000-square-foot plant’s construction.
Opened in December 2011, the LFGE plant is equipped with three
20-cylinder, 2,233-horsepower Caterpillar engines. As
the landfill grows and produces more methane, more engines will be added, and
the plant will increase its power output. When fully equipped, the plant is
projected to power 7,800 homes annually.
Will County owns the rights to the landfill gas and sells it to
Waste Management to use at the plant. The company also shares the profits from
the sale of the electricity with the county. The revenue stream for Will County
is expected to be $441,000 for the first year and should grow to average $1
million per year when more engines are added. The county will use the revenue
to fund other green infrastructure projects. “Not only will this plant help
protect our environment by creating a green energy source, it also creates a
new revenue source that can now pay for important green infrastructure projects
in the future without placing an additional burden to county taxpayers,” says
Will County Executive Larry Walsh.
Source URL: http://americancityandcounty.com/waste/will-countys-landfill-gas-energy-plant-turns-garbage-gold
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