CLEARFIELD – Residents and citizens, concerned and curious, turned out for an information gathering session regarding the proposed BioEnergy International LLC ethanol plant and a pilot cellulose project in Lawrence Township.
The site is currently in an extension of the county’s professional office park on Leonard Street and is zone suburban residential. For the ethanol plant to be built at that site, the supervisors would need to change the zoning to light industrial. Before any decision was made, the Lawrence Township Supervisors decided to gather information from the public.
Before the public comment period, representatives from BioEnergy presented the plans for their plant. The plant would be constructed on nearly 75 acres of land. A rail loop would be built to transport the corn and cellulose material for production into the facility as well as shipping the finished product out. The main plant would employ 55 mostly skilled workers, who would make around $45,000 to $75,000 yearly. To train the employees, BioEnergy plans to work with local education centers to train them properly.
The proposed sight is not a Keystone Opportunity Zone or any other tax free zone and would be taxable by both the county and township.
“We’re excited about Clearfield County because of the quality of workers here,” said Corinne Young, director of government affairs at BioEnergy.
Sam McConnell of BioEnergy said that one of the company’s goals was to have as minimal community impact as possible. One of the reasons the Cornfield Site was chosen was because of its size and the buffer zones it would provide the community from the plant. The site would also provide them the acreage they needed, had an acceptable cost, was close to rail facilities, was adjacent to the river, and had gas and electric nearby.
“It’s almost an island,” McConnell said of the sight.
For more information on BioEnergy’s proposed project, click here.
Residents brought up issues regarding sound, smell, water usage from the river, traffic and other issues. Residents from the township, including Goldenrod and River’s Bend offered comments.
Bill Rischel asked about the water the plant would take from the river, and whether it would be cooled. He was informed that the water would go through an extensive cooling process before the water would go back into the Susquehanna River.
Kim Shaw, resident of Goldenrod, asked whether a traffic study had been done. Currently the plant intends to use Beauty Road off of U.S. Route 322. McConnell said that a traffic study was in the works.
Shaw said that she feels like the project is a done deal.
“I don’t feel like our comments are going to make a difference,” said Shaw, who expressed her displeasure over the proposed site.
Bill Lawhead, chairman of the Lawrence Township Supervisors said that the rezoning was not a done deal.
“We made it known to them (BioEnergy), up front, if there is strong opposition, it’s over,” said Lawhead. “We don’t want to impose something on you that you don’t want.
“Your comments matter to us.”
Shaw also asked McConnell whether BioEnergy was prepared in the event that rezoning was not an option. McConnell said they had other options, but he could not discuss them.
One of the biggest topics discussed was why BioEnergy was not considering the Firemen’s Industrial Park. Many of those who commented said they were not against the proposed plant, just the location.
McConnell said that the Firemen’s park was not suitable because of the rail spur there was on a three percent grade.
Tim Potts of RJ Corman Railroad said that if BioEnergy were to build in the industrial park, a conveyor belt would need to be made to move the corn from the rail to the plant.
“I’d like nothing better than to put it at the industrial park if it fit our needs,” said McConnell.
Another man questioned what BioEnergy’s long term plan was. McConnell said that after five years, the plant should be nearly paid off. He said the economic outlook was rosy.
Carolyn Smeal questioned whether her property would be reassessed. Lawhead said that would be up to the county.
Janet Coons brought up the fact that not every person who wanted to comment could or did. She questioned what kind of timeline officials were looking at before a decision was made.
Lawhead told her that concerned citizens could email the supervisors at ltbos3@verizon.net, call them, stop in or drop them a note. McConnell explained that they would like the situation decided as soon as possible.
Jim Naddeo, solicitor for Lawrence Township, explained that before any decision could be made, the proposal would have to go before the township’s planning commission, the Clearfield County Planning Commission, and public hearings would need to be held, among other items. Lawhead said that once the process starts, it would take between 60-90 days.
At the end of the meeting, Lawhead asked for a show of hands from people who were for the proposed site. More than half of the more than fifty people in attendance raised their hands. The others raised their hands to the question of who did not want it at the proposed site.
After the meeting Rex Read, chairman commissioner, said that he felt everyone had legitimate concerns. Read said that he felt that those concerned would never have their fears realized. He also added that there some other issues that needed to be looked at.
“I still think it’s an excellent project,” said Read, who also commented that he Clearfield Municipal Authority has a sewage plant, another industrial project, in the same area.
Read also commented that the money from the sale of the land could potentially be put toward county capital projects.
Lawhead also offered his comments after the meeting.
“We’re in a tough spot,” said Lawhead. “We have to look at the people out there, but we also have to look at the rest of the county.”
Lawhead said he thinks that the ethanol plant is the spark the county and Lawrence Township need.
Young, of BioEnergy, said she was pleased with the evening. She also commented that the cellulose pilot plant could become an international destination
“It was a very productive start to detailed dialog,” said Young.