Gulf County, FL Biomass Opponents File Three Legal Challenges

Press Release

http://www.gulfbiomassincinerator.org/

December 22, 2011

Three legal challenges have been filed to stop the Rentech, LLC biomass incinerator planned for in Port St. Joe, Florida.  On December 19, six Port St. Joe residents filed two separate lawsuits in circuit court seeking to rescind the City of Port St. Joe development order issued November 17, 2011.   In early December, three other residents filed a complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  This complaint claims the State of Florida committed civil rights violations by issuing an air pollution permit for the incinerator in close proximity to a predominately African-American neighborhood.

“This incinerator project is a toxic nightmare that will emit some of the most deadly air and water pollutants known to science.  It will use up precious potable water at a time when Port St. Joe residents cannot even drink from their own taps.  There has been a concerted misinformation campaign by politicians and the developer in an attempt to convince the public that this project will create good local jobs and that it is “clean and green.”  This is just not true,” said Marilyn Blackwell, spokesperson for Gulf Citizens for Clean Renewable Energy, Inc.

“Although there have been some reports that Rentech is cancelling the project for lack of funding, the City’s development order and the state’s air and water permits remain in effect.  Rentech is still searching for funding, and it can transfer the development approval to another company,” said Landy Luther, one of the plaintiffs in the development order appeal.

During the local permitting process, City and Gulf County officials claimed that the incinerator will be “quiet” and “clean.”  They based these claims on reports by County officials and a local resident, Kenny Strange, who visited the biomass gasifier at the University of South Carolina campus.  That project suffered numerous near-fatal explosions and was shut down at the time of the visit by Gulf County officials and Mr. Strange.  The “debacle” at the USC campus over the biomass incinerator was the subject of an extensive investigative report in The State newspaper.