10/5/2009 6:00:00 AM Supervisors tackle hot topic today Two issues regarding biofuels plant on agenda
JC AMBERLYN/Miner
The area of the proposed biofuels plant is near Mile Marker 69 on Route 66, pictured Tuesday. Valle Vista can be seen in the distance.
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KINGMAN - Today's Board of Supervisors meeting is sure to draw a crowd, with a minor amendment to the County General Plan and a zoning use permit - both for a proposed biofuels plant on Route 66 northeast of Kingman - on the agenda.
The plant has caused considerable concern for some residents in the Valle Vista area.
Will it work?
One major concern is the viability of the project. Residents point to news stories of biofuel plants across the country closing down because they are unable to sell their product.
Residents are asking why someone would want to go into an industry that is already saturated with product that it can't sell.
Many are concerned that the plant could go out of business and leave the area with a possibly dangerous eyesore on a historic highway.
There are many reasons why biofuels plants are going out of business, said Rick Neal, owner of the property and a partner in SunWest Biofuel, the company that would build and run the plant. One reason is the price of soy has gone through the roof recently; many of the older plants can only use soy oil in their process, he said.
The difference here, he said, is his plant would be able to use any material that could be processed into biofuel. This would give the plant the flexibility to use the most reasonably priced fuel available.
Also, many plants do not have the equipment required to certify that their fuel meets federal standards, he said. His plant will have that equipment.
Neal also said that he had at least two buyers for the fuel from the plant. He declined to disclose who they are.
"When you spend tens of millions of dollars, you would think that I would have done some research and have a game plan," he said.
"We've done our homework. We wouldn't have been able to obtain the money needed to do this without it."
A number of states, including California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada, are requiring stations to blend regular diesel fuel with biodiesel in the near future, he said. This will increase the demand for biodiesel across the country. He expects to see more biofuel plants sprouting up around the country soon.
Another question raised by residents regards the manufacturer of the closed-loop system SunWest will use to produce the biofuel. A diagram Neal used to illustrate the system is nearly identical to one from Greenline, a company that manufactures such systems. Greenline recently filed for bankruptcy.
There is no one company that manufactures and installs a complete biofuel system, Neal said. The system is put together by the work of several independent contractors.
SunWest never planned to use Greenline to build its system, he said.
A former Greenline employee, who now works for Menlo Energy, did speak to the County Planning and Zoning Commission about how the system works, Neal said. SunWest has no plans to purchase its system from Menlo.
Residents are also concerned that once the zoning for the property is changed to heavy industrial, Neal will never build the plant and instead will sell the property to the highest bidder.
Neal pointed out that the zoning use permit recommended to the Board by the County P&Z Commission is conditional. If the Board approves the permit, the property could only be used for a biofuel plant.
Another concern is the risk of fire or explosion at the proposed plant. The plant would be located near milepost 69, less than two miles from one of the entrances to Valle Vista.
Residents point to recent news stories about biofuels plants in other states exploding or catching fire. The most recent story involved a fire at a biofuel plant in Florida on Sept. 25 that was caused by a lightning strike, according to Channel 13 Central Florida News.
Valle Vista residents are concerned that a fire at the plant could close Route 66 to traffic, leaving them trapped in the area. It could also release toxic chemicals into the air or explode.
The company plans to use the latest and best firefighting and safety equipment in the plant, Neal said. The plant and its fire systems will have to be approved by the fire district and the state fire marshal before production can start.
Residents have also pointed to Cerbat Water Company, which is owned by the Neal family. The company has had some problems supplying water to residents in the past and the lines have several leaks, according to residents.
"The water company and the plant are two separate companies," Neal said.
The system does have some leaks and the company is working on them, a Cerbat representative said. However, none of the leaks are large enough to affect the pressure in the system, she said.
Another concern is if Cerbat Water Company can furnish enough water pressure to put out a fire at the plant.
Several residents have pointed out that homes in the Valle Vista area have problems with water pressure.
A representative from Cerbat Water Company agreed that some houses do need pressure pumps, however, the pressure problem lies in the line that connects the house to the main water line, she said. The company's main water lines exceed the minimum pressure requirements set by the state. The state requires 20 psi; the lines carry about 60 psi. The higher pressure is due to the gravity feed design of the system, she said.
If the Board approves the plan amendment and the zoning use permit, SunWest will still have to get several permits for air and water quality from the state and federal government, he said.
The Board meeting is at 9:30 a.m. today at the County Administration Building, 700 W. Beale St.
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Article comment by:
j
Please see your 10/5 Article on Cerbat Water Co. They can't even provide water to 250 customers (see Articles on 10/30 and 11/1 and 11/2) but say that they can provide sufficient water for the proposed biofuel plant and any fire disaster.
Posted: Friday, October 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Lauer
You can file a lawsuit for ANYTHING, it doesn't mean you're going to get anywhere with it. Filing a lawsuit doesn't mean that your problem goes away. If all the people here throwing the word lawsuit around represent everyone elses knowledge on the matter, you might as well not even waste your time even thinking about filing suit. Like willie who smells two lawsuits but counts three and all ridiculous at that!
This plant is going to happen, nothing you can do about it, let it be!
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
newcomer screwed
JUST ANOTHER HOME TAX PAYER SCREWED BY OUR SUPPOSED FINEST SUPERVISORS..
THEIR DAY WILL COME WHEN IT IS TIME TO VOTE AGAIN
Posted: Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
"Many are concerned that the plant could go out of business and leave the area with a possibly dangerous eyesore on a historic highway."
Are you kidding me? Have you seen some of the dumps along 66? No one seems to care about these "eye sores".
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009
Article comment by:
willie
I smell two lawsuits. The first against the County for the illegal vote at the Planning and Zoning Commissioners August 19, 2009 meeting. It appeared tha Chairman Hamlyn violated his Loyalty Oath. And because he violated his Loyalty Oath all the other P & Z Commissioners Loyalty Oath was also violated. Therefore anything voted on that day is illegal. Ans the second lawsuit against the County is the violation of the Mohave County Area Plan, by allowing the Biodiesel Refinery to go in. And the third lawsuit could be also against the County, at the meeting that the County Assessor attended, he publically stated in front of a room full of people that their individual property values will decrease as a result of the Biodiesel Refinery going in. If he changes his wording publically again that is grounds of another lawsuit. Anyway you look at it the lawsuits will make the individuals property owners on the class action lawsuit very rich. Can anyone spell time to recall Supersize Watson, before he costs this County any more money and shame. Maybe his wife the Vice Mayor of Kingmand can put in a good word for him to work for the City! Just a thought.
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009
Article comment by:
Chris
I provided evidencs to the board that waterless biodiesel plants use water and produce chemically contaminated effluent but because Neal denied it they are going to allow him to run this plant with a septic system so where do you think he will put his waste? Where will it end up? What happens when the aquifer is contaminated, all good questions and just a lie for a response.
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I smell a lawsuit!!
Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I have lived in Valle Vista for 15 years. I feel no more threatened by the proposed biodiesel plant then I do of a train derailment. The railroad posses a far greater threat then the biodiesel plant would, due to the amount of hazardous material transported each day by the railroad. As far as lightning strike causeing a fire that might close down 66,there is an equal chance that lightning would strike your home. If there is a car wreck or a train derailment, they would and have closed 66 down. The water issue I can only say that in the 15 years I have lived in Valle Vista I have never experienced a problem with water pressure other then normal maintenance. Having built 2 trucking companies in the Kingman area over the years I have run into similiar opposition. It has always amazed me that a county which is in desprerate need of jobs which this proposed plant would bring, tax revenue to the county and more secondary jobs people oppose it.I see only benefit for the county and the people that live within it of the proposed plant. Not all residents of Valle Vista are opposed to this proposal.
