Amador County – More than 50 people attended a public hearing Tuesday as part of the permit amendment process for the Buena Vista Biomass Power plant in the Jackson Valley.
Amador County Planning Commission Chairman Ray Ryan asked speakers to stay on point, reminding them that comment should be about the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report.
Ascent Environmental principal Gary Jacobs gave a presentation on the EIR, saying the company was hired by Buena Vista Biomass Power, but the EIR was prepared under the direction of the county. Once the comment period closes (today, September 30th), they will prepare written responses.
Jacobs said the study found some “significant and unavoidable impacts” that “can’t be mitigated.” Those include operational noise, light affects on the dark evening sky in the Jackson Valley, traffic impacts on the small roads, and emission of greenhouse gasses.
He said there would be cumulative visual and air quality impacts, the latter including nitrogen oxides and Particulate Matter emissions. He said “during excavation and grading, hazardous materials may be found.”
The EIR listed three alternatives, being: To have no project and no operation; to have no project and operate under the existing permit; or to reduce the size of the operation. Jacobs said “the plan is to buy or procure residual waste at the forest sites,” and to run the 18.5 megawatt power plant with “solely renewable woody waste biomass.”
In the public hearing, Ray Stacey of Big Horse Ranch on Camanche Road, said he was undecided about the plant and wanted more information so he could evaluate it. He said: “I would sure love to be plugged into that system,” but said he heard Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which will purchase the plant’s power, “will be selling it for half of what PG&E charges.”
Donna Ogilvie of Camanche Parkway North, “downwind from” the plant, said the “no project, no build” option was the “only alternative that is environmentally superior.” She asked who would pay for road improvements, or monitor wind and the plant’s “five-minute idle times.”
Rob Scott of Coal Mine Road said he is torn by the project, but believes everyone should be able to use their property as they want. He worried about excessive nitrogen oxide emission, and its effect on sensitive receptors.
Ryan said comments would be addressed in writing by the applicant. Planner Susan Grijalva said after the comments comes the Final EIR, for which the turnaround might be two to three weeks.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
