Mayoral candidate Todd Cowan has come out in opposition to the proposed biogas facility for the north end of Elmira.
Cowan, making an appearance at a public meeting planned by the Elmira Bio-Fuel Citizens Committee, told approximately 40 area residents that while he is in favour of green energy, the Martin’s Lane (near Elmira Pet Products) location is simply not a good one.
“One of the biggest issues for me is traffic,” said Cowan. “I like green energy. I love green energy, but I don’t agree with where it’s located.”
Cowan suggested that the township itself could have been more proactive in finding another location for Woolwich Bio-En, perhaps even going as far as being co-investors and providing land for the plant.
Woolwich Bio-En has submitted its application to the Ministry of the Environment, after holding two public meetings as well as providing an opportunity for area residents to visit an operating biogas facility in Virgil, Ontario.
Now, the approval process rests with the province, under the Green Energy Act, which has streamlined the process for a variety of “green energy” projects to receive approval. The township is now a commenting agency, and they have already submitted their concerns to the MOE, citing traffic as a major issue.
For residents at the Elmira Bio-Fuel meeting, however, the traffic is the least of their concerns.
Jerry Heidbuurt, an Elmira resident who has spent the better part of 40 years dealing with odour issues through his work at the Rothsay rendering plant, said he has some very real concerns about how much odour will come from the biogas plant.
“(The plant) is not a bad idea,” said Heidbuurt. “I just feel strongly that it doesn’t need to be in town. This is a large country with lots of land.”
Residents who attended the meeting talked about various ways of fighting the proposal, including sending letters to local MPPs, and signing a petition against the development.
Many also picked up lawn signs that said “Stop the Stink,” in hopes of raising public awareness about the plant.
Derek Potma, one of the organizers of the meeting, told the Independent that it is likely more meetings will be planned, using the Woolwich Memorial Centre community room as “headquarters” for the movement against the biogas plant.
In the meantime, Woolwich Bio-En has already started holding meetings with its community liaison committee, something that will be a requirement for operation, should the proposal be approved.
If the biogas plant gets approval, the township could see approximately 200 tonnes of raw material — anything from manure to food waste — arriving on a daily basis to be processed at the facility.