Hart County is actively pursuing a poultry litter incinerator, Fibrowatt, which will be located just outside of Lavonia in the Gateway Industrial Park. The citizens of Hart AND Franklin counties will be directly affected by this decision. Counties in Virginia and NC have already turned down this company. Why?
The following info and MUCH MORE, with references, can be found online at www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/fibrowatt under the "Facts about Fibrowatt" at the bottom of the page. There are numerous other negative articles, studies, and research on the internet concerning this company.
In 2002, researchers at the University of Maryland published a study showing that generating electricity from poultry litter is economically unfeasible without government price supports. These price supports force local power utility companies to pay higher-than-market rates for Fibrowatt's electricity. The local utility companies then pass the increased costs on to customers in the form of higher electricity rates.
All three plants built by Fibrowatt in the United Kingdom are ranked among the worst polluters in that country. Their Benson, MN plant has been fined by the MN Pollution Control Agency for air emission violations. The air quality permit for their plant in Benson, MN states: "The proposed source will be a major source for hazardous air pollutants."
The varieties of known pollutants that get emitted from the Fibrowatt 300 foot smokestack at the permitted rate of 4.8 million pounds per year include:
Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxides, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrochloric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, Volatile Organic Compounds.
Most of these emissions will be invisible and odorless.
A Fibrowatt spokesperson stated that the plan is to use a ratio of 70% poultry litter to 30% other waste products, but no independent controls are in place to ensure the content or exact mix.
A poultry-litter incinerator and its associated industrial truck traffic, at the count of around 140 18-wheeler truck trips per day in and around the area, will also emit more pollution.
According to the product label, the resultant ash that Fibrowatt sells for fertilizer is a very hazardous material that causes caustic burns and should only be handled when wearing full-body suits and a respirator, and livestock must be kept from accessing the land for at least 21 days following application.
There are conflicting reports of how much water will be used.We have received estimates between 180,000 gal (from Fibrowatt VP Terry Walmsley,) to up to 1.1 million gallons per day (from Fibrowatt's Benson Siting Permit). Regardless of the amount, Where will this water come from? NOTE: Please see Fibrowatt's response to water usage and other info on "Official emails" page.
Another major concern for anyone who owns a home or land in the region is the anticipated decline in property values. Historically speaking, property values have been proven to DECREASE 20% in areas with an incinerator. This negative impact begins even BEFORE operation and continues for many years.
In closing, Fibrowatt will bring to our area a 300 foot tall smokestack, toxic air pollution, heavy truck traffic, decreased property values, higher electricity rates, loss of tourist dollars, loss of high tech industries and most important of all, negative health consequences. These problems won't stop at the county line!
