Soul Snatcher, Productions ™ Democracy Wall

Hey, hey–spread the news. We just lost the biomass blues!

Adage is DEAD!

Adage has withdrawn its proposal to proceed with BioMassacre in Mason County…states no market for its ‘product’.

Port Commissioner Tom Wallitner confirmed, early this morning, Adage has abandoned its proposal to set up its BioMassacre shop in Mason County. Adage has claimed in a prepared statement the market for its product was insufficient to warrant its investment outlay.

Commissioner Wallitner expressed disbelief that carbon credits had been the driving force behind Adage’s proposal all along, that generating electricity was a transparent fig leaf obscuring Dupe Energy’s true agenda. Now, with a critical Washington State official (Peter Goldmark) publicly on board in opposition to this scheme, the Emporer’s New Clothing has been revealed: Adage was naked!

With the Thurston County moratorium on biomass permits, that makes 2 down and 1 to go in the immediate vicinity of Shelton.

Commissioner Wallitner claimed credit for the Port in bringing about this result due to the ‘stringent terms’ of the contract they negotiated with Adage. Legal expenses and demonstrated community hostility to Adage’s proposal may have had more to do with it abandoning its plans. Peter Goldmark (the elected head of Washington’s DNR) publicly expressed opposition to the scale of Adage’s proposal, portending an inadequate fuel supply for the planned BioMassacre.

Regardless of the details, a celebration of the power of grass roots is in order.  Tell yer ma, tell yer pa, tell all your friends and neighbors, not only in this community but in those others facing similar monsters. Surrounding communities should be invited to the celebration.

Adage Quits

p.s.  Some smug liberals hold the Republican Party in very poor esteem for a variety of reasons–some are persuasive.  But the problems associated with BioMassacre went all the way to the top including the Obama administration throwing money at corporations like Adage in the name of ‘cap and trade’ (carbon credits).  Without the promised federal largess, Adage couldn’t have been drug here kicking and screaming.  Now, with conservatives taking a bigger share of Congress, the federal pork has begun to dry up–hence Adage’s new found reluctance to pursue what was always a bad business model except for the taxpayer furnished dollars they were counting on.

MORAL: A balance of viewpoints is healthy for the democratic process (including those with which you disagree), and, the race goes not to the swift, but the strong!

Adage get its just dessert in the end

ONCE BY THE PACIFIC

...and He set His bow in the sky as a sign of His promise...

The shattered water made a misty din.

Great waves looked over others coming in,

And thought of doing something to the shore

That water never did to land before.

The clouds were low and hairy in the skies,

Like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.

You could not tell, and yet it looked as if

The shore was lucky being backed by cliff,

The cliff in being backed by continent;

It looked as if a night of dark intent

Was coming, and not only a night, an age.

Someone had better be prepared for rage.

There would be more than ocean-water broken

Before God’s last Put out the Light was spoken.

-R. Frost-

Melt Down

Concerned Citizens of Mason County attempts to muzzle reporter:

Fran's Power-Point

CCMC, a non-profit corporation chartered to deal with the BioMassacre threat to area residents, held an informational meeting and fund raising drive at the Shelton Civic Center at 6:30pm this Wednesday, 3-9-11.  As usual, yours truly arrived about 15 minutes late to cover the event, so the small room already contained those seated attendees interested in hearing Fran Prescott’s presentation on recent events affecting the Adage proposal so roundly criticized by the community.  Accordingly, this reporter set up camera and tripod adjacent to a side door near the front of the room containing perhaps 5 dozen people in order to document/photograph the public as well as the presenters.

Laura Lewis - Jack Miles

Gonzo journalism was the order of the evening (with apologies to Hunter S. Thompson) while what began as a typically pedestrian civics exercise almost became a brawl in the wake of heated confrontations and exchanges of fighting words.  Unfortunately, no drugs were involved and we were nowhere near Barstow. Still, with a measure of profanity laced confrontations mixed with the asserted vulnerability of elderly grandmothers thrown in, it’s difficult to know where to begin.  Perhaps chronologically will do?

Theresa Jacobson discussed BioMassacre

Beth McBain recently yielded the chairmanship of the CCMC to Fran Prescott due to demands on her time conflicting with keeping Beth’s business running as her family’s primary earner.  So Fran was new to her role as chair and it’s unclear what position Theresa Jacobson holds as an officer in the non-profit. Both were at the head of the room conducting the meeting.

Beth McBain, outgoing chair of CCMC

Commissioner Miles listens to constituents

As Fran worked her way through her slide/power-point presentation displayed on the wall, it seemed there was a free flow of questions and answers befitting an effort to rally community support. Interestingly, after her slide show, Fran explained CCMC was interested in focusing on the larger polluter (Adage) rather than Simpson. This logic is suspect due to the dirtier older unmonitored stack Simpson currently utilizes in the heart of downtown Shelton. Fran went on to describe how Simpson was an acceptable part of the community, unlike Adage, and was a major provider of jobs (no longer true–Fran hasn’t done her homework and is reacting to old cliche’s) rather than the filthy dirty anachronism it has become.

Fran Prescott, incoming chair of CCMC

Adage is now in a position to allege xenophobia and NIMBY politics, not to mention the question of environmental social justice not given the poorer segments of the community who live near the Simpson plant. The wealthier contributors tend to live closer (or downwind) from the proposed Adage site. So a non-profit (CCMC) created to challenge the corruption of politics by corporate money is seen (by this logic) to be tailoring its own suit using whole cloth derived from the same warp and weave. For a moment, Fran sounded all too much like Brenda Hirschi in this regard. Give money to CCMC at the expense of poorer residents who continue to breathe shit?..and with accolades to Simpson from Fran, no less?

This bigotry is at the very root of why CCMC officers condone harassment of an unaffiliated reporter at large whose editorial policies they question. They’re convinced they’re targeting an easy mark…for the same reason downtown residents receive the dirty end of the stick…elitism–not that there aren’t those below the poverty level who’d love to trade places and lick whatever boots necessary to transition there. The poor often are gulled by myths of social mobility. And too often they give up the simple dignity of the poor for the illusion of acceptance by the swells.

The feel-good give and take appeared to continue throughout the meeting although yours truly noted a certain glowering in Theresa Jacobson’s countenance spotted at previous community events. Given Theresa’s obvious brilliance and activism, it was hoped there was nothing personal in it…ahh, but how sharper than a serpent’s tooth. This was nothing but personal, as it turned out, no matter how incongruous that seemed. Schoolyard politics were rife only inches below the surface.

Solidarity & Networking counts for more than egos or $

There was some whining, as the meeting wore on and questions were fielded, about the lack of ‘media coverage’ from the likes of The Journal and KMAS.  Although the observation that WE ARE THE MEDIA today was interjected in response, Theresa Jacobson and Fran Prescott shamelessly allowed one eyed Gary to bully yours truly for photographing the event. Ms. Prescott added this blog’s reporting of names as justification for the objection along with ‘preying’ on helpless old ladies. Most members of the media just can’t resist preying on helpless old ladies or subpoenaing them to court proceedings as material witnesses.  Pat Vandehey comes to mind only because she feigned amnesia when asked to testify to an assault she witnessed committed by ‘mad dog’ outside a Mason County courtroom on 12-13-10 and could (from mere appearances) be construed as a little old lady. She’s the same little old lady that groused about Beth McBain during her tenure as chair. Pat and Fran spend time talking.

THE 'little old lady' in question?

Fran invites strategies of obscurity over transparency. It would have been more productive if Fran had been more genuine about just which ‘old ladies’ she was referencing. But that might have required listening and openness…something CCMC claims it wants from our elected officials. One wonders how keen an ear CCMC itself would have were it holding the reins.

Community Youth (Erik Soper) learn about BioMassacre & Grass Roots

Theresa Jacobson first came to light less than a year ago when she challenged yours truly during the setting up of microphones and a video camera in preparation to cover that event featuring Dr. Greg Helms at the very same Shelton Civic Center. After being asked, “Who gave you permission to tape this event?” she was told, “Duff Badgley.” She temporarily retreated then returned with Duff in tow and insisted no taping take place. When the fair number of other video cameras present in the large gathering were pointed out and she was asked if it was something ‘personal’, she responded the presenters didn’t know who Duff had invited and were uncomfortable.  Theresa was informed in blunt terms, given the public nature & forum of the event, it would be recorded regardless. Subsequently, Theresa ran a spirited campaign for the position of PUD #3 commissioner and lost.

Mr & Mrs John Cox attend CCMC info meeting

As an aside, in the wake of so many dedicated candidates who supported the community view on BioMassacre having been soundly defeated, Kathryn Price wondered out loud in a reflective post how such genuinely intelligent hopefuls could fare so badly at the polls.  She criticized those who were more comfortable with a candidate like Jerry Lingle and a glass of beer than the somewhat thoughtful but brittle Brenda Hirschi. Brenda’s opined take was the community had little choice between her and Jerry. The voters demonstrated their choice was big enough to make a difference. Similarly, voters chose Linda Gott over Theresa despite Ms Jacobson’s spunk and dedication to such an important issue as BioMassacre. Perhaps the collective wisdom concluded a righteous cause won’t substitute for or displace an egotistical attitude in the candidate–something apparent in both women correctly aligned with those opposed to BioMassacre. Arguably, neither could have overcome a reluctance to communicate evenly or an inability to negotiate through civil discourse/dialog. You don’t have to have a college education, collectively, to recognize the candidate seeking your vote is likely to be an asshole in office. We have too many fitting that description holding office now.

Bob & Mary Chilton, goatherd, attend CCMC info meeting

Despite their many cardinal and egregious sins, the local elected villains of BioMassacre have never attempted to stop coverage of public events as have some of the better known BioMassacre radicals like those cited.

Kathryn Price (behind) listens to man speak out at CCMC event

Immediately following the CCMC sponsored meeting, Theresa approached. She had been talking to a one-eyed man named Gary who will be quoted below.  Theresa expressed irritation and disapproval regarding questions asked from behind the camera near the front of the room.  She went on to say they were inappropriate because, she asserted, some might confuse the questioner with ‘authority’ from the CCMC.  She was reminded the community needed as much calcium for those with backbones as it could get. She leveraged her argument by claiming some questions were asked out of turn. When reminded there were many such that came from the midst of those seated, she reasoned the few coming from behind the camera were more objectionable because it was too near the sacrosanct seating of those in the CCMC chairing the meeting at one end of the room.

One Eyed Gary picks fight & bullies photographer anonymously

In a good faith effort to maintain civility at a community event, Theresa was offered the explanation it was important to stay near the camera capturing the images of the meeting. She suggested the camera could have been set up in the BACK of the room (that seemed important to her) although it was pointed out this would have revealed little but the backs of people’s heads. She had little to add but was informed 1st Amendment guarantees would be aggressively cherished. The conflicting views about the same had come full circle right back to where they began a year earlier, and in the very same place. Then Gary, the one eyed man (he refused to give/repeat his name), approached with a chip on his shoulder. His profanity laced belligerency didn’t daunt him a bit when asked his name. “None of your business!” he retorted.  All he wanted known was his dislike and largess.

Carol Hepburn, dance studio business owner attends CCMC meeting

Gary was full of invective, profanity, accusing yours truly of being ‘obnoxious’ and worse. He announced he had given large sums of money to the cause for which we had gathered and would refuse to attend any events where yours truly was present or to give any more money for his favored purpose. This was a transparent effort to marshal support from those he viewed as eager to receive such sums.  He complained bitterly of the pictures having been taken and those acquired at the public 1-31-11 ORCAA hearing at the Shelton Civic Center as well.  He appeared nonplused to the response (sans profanity) offered explaining how the 1st Amendment bore on such objections.

I want that hat!

Fran’s Hyperbole:

Following this round of nose thumbing, Fran Prescott was asked to discuss the issue due to her position as chair of the CCMC and the many preceding telephone conversations. Theresa attempted to join in but was dismissed. Any expectations of solidarity or collegiality were quickly dashed by Fran.  The big surprise came when Fran invoked the ‘little old lady’ red herring. She glibly asserted the reason elderly grandmothers and little old ladies weren’t coming to meetings was due to yours truly taking pictures AND posting ‘names’ on this blog, that THEY WERE AFRAID. She went on to allege that these seniors were being PREYED on. When asked if that was the key word she wanted to use and given an opportunity to select another, she insisted it was the one she wished to apply. But when told that all aspects and remarks during/after the meeting would be published, she forbade being quoted. Her tone & demeanor became mean, hostile, and threatening. Fran acidly demanded to know if yours truly thought he had some God Given Right!?  When told, “Yes,”  she ordered/demanded not to be quoted. She was reminded such had never been a given unless confidentiality was sought and agreed to in advance.

(Fran and friend’s BS is typical of the kind of tactic seen so often in male vs. female krap. The woman feigns fear to gain advantage or, as in the case of ‘Mad Dog’, is suffering from mental illness with paranoia being one of the symptoms.)

[Advice to budding/aspiring journalists: Keep the subjects of your story at a proper distance, avoiding the entanglements that come with familiarity…as it invites contempt and presumptuousness. You can’t be an effective reporter and your subject’s “buddy”.]

Fran then stated she would share NO further information/news and would accept no phone calls. Some residents have been aware of and objected to the allegedly secretive strategy of CCMC operatives. While such confidentiality can arguably be defended, here the tactic was threatened without qualification. Gary presumed (perhaps correctly) that his largess gave him license. But some are uncomfortable with this logic and have said so. (Perhaps CCMC has become too petty to be effective?) An equally powerful (perhaps more so) argument can be made for transparency. Stealth certainly doesn’t lend itself to edifying the larger community. Contributions for attorney fees are helpful, but ultimately the public will be left to itself after those funds are spent.  However, what is invested in the citizens themselves cannot be taken/destroyed. More emphasis/money should be put/spent educating our neighbors, Fran’s pique notwithstanding.

Woman gasps when told of new law permitting burning of sludge/sewage

Following this trio of confrontations and unlikely assertions, several older women were asked if they had been frightened by the taking of photographs at the various events. None asked confirmed Fran’s assertions.

Tom Davis behind John Cox attends CCMC info meeting

The fact of the matter is, ~85% of those attending these meetings have been senior women, grandmothers, who have been doing most of the heavy lifting and had the strongest language for their elected officials. Little could be more admirable or inspiring. This story is being spelled out in our midst and receiving national attention. This community blog will continue to tell that story and those who are part of it.  It will not succumb to threats, intimidation, or demands to do otherwise or to seek editorial control over how that story and its component events are covered.

Christine Armond & John Cox, Tom Davis, Kathryn Price, et ux

Others have attempted to chill the environment for open reporting or criticism without much success, including the talented, locally notorious but mentally ill Shawnie Vedder when she censored an article covering Brenda Hirschi’s candidacy on her blog.  That article ended up here with further comments about the censorship.  It can be found by searching this blog.

'Mad Dog' Shawnie at public CCMC info event

As always, this blog remains true to its promise to cover ALL the news without editing out the uncomfortable parts, hiding the identity of community participants, or shielding candidates worthy of criticism. Yes, that will include names (when thought relevant), pictures, and refusal to yield to external attempts to censure or control editorial policy/coverage. Some have tried to compromise this community blog by marginalization, specious legal assaults, and even the poisoning of 2 Nubian bucks (mushrooms) and the vandalizing of a mailbox.

...Certain inalienable rights: We hold these truths to be self evident.

This blog reflects a passion for the principles on which America was founded. Those who would pervert these principles are toe jam. There will be NO ‘toning it down’ in defending such principles and holding those who would destroy them accountable.  If you are one who cannot abide these ideals, then go back home to the rock you crawled from, lick the hands of those who feed you, and we will try to forget you were once our countrymen.

Ill tempered Gary becomes part of the 'story'

Open Observation to Theresa & Fran, et al:

Jay Hupp and Tim Sheldon may be greedy bastards and slobs wanting to profit from pollution of the environment, but you guys are control freak Nazis with no respect for civil rights or American values.  I can’t decide which, morally, is worse. But you do remind me that Hitler was a vegetarian.

Possible factors contributing to self delusion in arrogant control freaks & elected officials (Vanity makes them stupid?)

The Photographer’s Rights

Mike Dorsey fires Monty Cobb; Retaliatory Politics Reigns as usual:

After longtime Mason County prosecutor Gary Burleson announced his retirement, Michael Dorsey and Monty Cobb chose to run for election to the position. Mr. Dorsey prevailed in that electoral contest and assumed the position as Mason County Prosecutor. Not so long after the fact, he fired the eminently qualified and philosophically constructive Monty Cobb (who is now collecting unemployment benefits), apparently for having opposed him while running for election, though he’d be quick to reach for a more palatable excuse. A number of others were fired contemporaneously. Curiously, all had supported Monty Cobb in his bid for the prosecutor’s post.

Disturbingly, Monty reveals (had he won) he would have required Mr. Dorsey’s exit. He went on to observe this kind of ‘tit for tat’ politics is not unusual…especially among attorneys. Yours truly believes it ought to be! In fact, there oughta be a law.  The fact there isn’t invites this kind of retaliation where the arbiter of alleged campaign ethics violations goes to the winner, arguably a party with distinct conflicts of interest and self serving reasons in such a scenario.

The trouble with this all too human state of retaliation for alleged campaign excesses is the chilling effect it has on the choice of candidates to run a spirited campaign for office, or, indeed, to run at all.  The recent election for Mason County Sheriff comes to mind. Many elected judges run unopposed because area attorneys fear retaliation, should they lose, when filing motions before these same judges. Not only does this undermine our democracy and the political process, clients end up having their access to the courts effectively reduced if not eliminated. This kind of abuse of the democratic system MUST STOP. Citizens are urged to hold their elected officials accountable for this kind of abuse. In the end, it is the public that receives the greater injury.  Politics is entirely too vital to be left to the politicians.

“Charge a man with one misdemeanor, and all his peccadilloes are raked up and assorted before him.” -Herman Melville-

Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Danielle Rickards arrested Port of Shelton Commissioner Jack Miles for DUI early Sunday morning, 2-27-11.  The police report noted Jack Miles blew a field breathalyzer reading of 0.184, over double the legal (0.080) limit. The deputy’s report also noted plainly visible skid marks crossing the oncoming lane ending at the Oldsmobile resting over the embankment which Jack admitted he’d been driving. Commissioner Miles is insulin dependent (diabetic) and was chewing gum according to Deputy Rickards.  She reported smelling a moderate amount of alcohol from Mr. Miles.

Commissioner Miles released a statement expressing confidence he would be exonerated, and asking residents to allow full Due Process before reaching any final conclusions about the incident.  Much of that may hinge on symptoms associated with diabetes and the side effects of medication to treat it.

Regardless of the outcome, yours truly is compelled to ask certain material questions regarding Commissioner Miles’ bid for reelection to the Port of Sheldon board:

Should the community support Jack in his bid for reelection for having stood by it in resisting the Adage BioMassacre proposal, or condemn him for putting the public at risk while driving under the influence? Are the two positions incompatible? Does the community have a better alternative at this time? Is Dick Taylor a better alternative to Jack?

Perhaps the last question is the easiest to field.  Currently, Dick Taylor is the ONLY alternative to Jack, and will be unless someone else decides to enter the race.  Mr. Taylor is eagerly supported by Commissioner Jay Hupp (and associates) though reveals a distinct lack of perspicacity about current Port of Shelton controversies when questioned. Although Dick Taylor, a local business owner, has had prior experience as an elected official, he seems decidedly uninformed about what many in the community have taken time to learn regarding how their Port is being run and its inevitable impact on residents. Mr. Taylor is beyond the age most folks look to for retirement.  During a recent interview, he seemed tired and unfocused.  His knee-jerk support of Adage is likely the primary basis for the encouragement he’s received from Jay Hupp & associates.

The first two questions are more difficult.  Many regard Bill Clinton as having done a credible job as US President despite his indiscretions.  JFK remains beloved and the largest number of applications for the Peace Corps followed the day of his assassination.  Dr. Martin Luther King is known to have been flawed as a philanderer. Ghandi was said to have been a better father to his country than his family.  Mayor Barry was reelected to office despite the sting operation conducted against him in a Washington, D.C. hotel room. Governor Lowery once admitted to a packed room of his constituents that he’d been getting into trouble since he was a kid and being governor hadn’t relieved him of his predisposition.  Attendees appeared to forgive and warm to him instantly.

Yes!  Jack remains able and committed to his love for this community and its residents. Few local officials are in a position to cast the first stone.  Jack has demonstrated his desire to lock arms with citizens who have been stonewalled, marginalized, insulted, sneered at, labeled, and ignored by their other local officials.  Commissioner Miles has been a loyal friend to the community in its hour of need when no other official would stand beside us.

Loyal Friends

Jack isn’t perfect.  No politician is.  There are no ‘perfect’ politicians; nor are there any ‘perfect’ voters!  He is flawed.  He is human.  But he has been there, for us, when it counted.  He deserves our support and to be reelected…not so much for his sake, but for ours–especially ours.  His kind of courage doesn’t come along every day.  And he won’t be the last official in our district to make a mistake.  But we’d be foolish to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Remember that when you consider who you want representing you on the Port of Shelton board.

Friends we can count on

Everybody has heard of Julian Assange and Wikileaks by now.  They’ve read about his extradition to Sweden and the US desire to prosecute him.  The federal government contends it’s because Mr. Assange has compromised the security of the nation by releasing a massive quantity of US diplomatic cables.  The argument for prosecuting a fresh faced US Soldier, Bradley Manning, implicated by convicted hacker Adrian Lamo of providing the material, for a capital offense follows the same rationale.  But a closer examination reveals the true reason private Manning is being used as an example to other potential whistle blowers and facing a life sentence, if convicted.  That motivation is contained in the following embarrassing videos displaying the US military acting in as callous a manner as what BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE documented.  The vicious disregard of human values contained in the videos puts our military in an extremely bad light, but a candid one. The audible remarks made by the soldiers at the scene reveal a shocking indifference to life, even children.  The perpetrators of this kind of collateral murder are returning home to our neighborhoods and workplaces.  We have created a monster!  Julian Assange and Bradley Manning have warned us of this monster in the manner of Daniel Ellsberg’s THE PENTAGON PAPERS.  They should not be punished for having done so. They ought to be congratulated.

Full Video of Collateral Murder

Unedited Video of Collateral Murder

US Soldier Ethan McCord speaks out as to what he witnessed:

TWO Soldiers apologize for their part in the Collateral Murder

2 former US Army soldiers have written an open letter to the people of Iraq. In it Josh Stieber and Ethan McCord apologize for the attack on the van and more broadly for the war in Iraq and what they call the destructive policies of the US Government.

“The Wikileaks video only begins to depict the suffering we have created.”

We are both soldiers who occupied your neighborhood for 14 months. Ethan McCord pulled your daughter and son from the van, and when doing so, saw the faces of his own children back home. Josh Stieber was in the same company but was not there that day, though he contributed to your pain, and the pain of your community on many other occasions.

Amy Goodman Reports

The Plan: Citizens rise up–fight The Power, Corruption

A Matter of RESPECT: Citizens Demonstrate Creative Non-Violent Resistance

The particle size from wood fire/biomass is much smaller than from other combustion processes.

Such fine (PM2.5 and smaller) particulates cannot be effectively filtered out with existing (‘baghouses’ and BACT) technology.  Even worse, the surface area of such particles are disproportionately larger.  This surface area is where toxins such as heavy metals, Dioxin, radioactive isotopes, etc. bind, though the particles themselves give rise to cancer, athma, lung and heart disease as well as diabetes.

Air Date: Week of February 4, 2011 Biomass power plants don’t have visible emissions pouring from their smokestacks, but the wood they burn can release as much carbon dioxide as fossil fuels. (Photo: Mitra Taj) The country is looking for alternatives to fossil fuels, and some power companies are seeing a solution in biomass – electricity from the burning of wood and plant materials. While regulators consider biomass a renewable energy source, some scientists say it could be worse for the climate than coal. Living on Earth’s Mitra Taj reports on the ongoing debate over biomass’ emissions. RealAudio for this Story (Requires RealPlayer) Download this Story (mp3 format) Links Related to this Story

GELLERMAN: It’s Living on Earth, I’m Bruce Gellerman. Generating electricity produces about a third of the nation’s climate changing emissions. Much of that comes from aging coal-fired power plants. Now, for the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to stem the flow of greenhouse gases from utilities. But NOT those that come from burning biomass – wood chips, forest waste and other plant material. Biomass is widely considered a renewable energy source, but its green credentials are being called into question. Living on Earth’s Mitra Taj reports. [SQUEAKY NOISE, INDUSTRIAL SOUND UP AND UNDER] TAJ: Not far from the heart of coal country in Virginia, a power plant is busy churning out the kind of energy that lights up your home, eighty mega watts of electricity—enough to meet the needs of about 20,000 households. [GENERATOR NOISE] TAJ: In the boiler room, giant stoves heat water – producing steam – to turn a turbine that creates electricity. It’s the same system that converts fossil fuels into power, but what’s burned here – is wood. [OUTSIDE SOUND, TRUCKS PASSING AND BEEPING] TAJ: Just outside the plant, it smells like cut pine, and truck after truck drives into the yard bearing big loads of little pieces of wood. They’re dumped onto a giant pile that’s fed into the plant’s boilers. HELTON: That’s about seven days of fuel for the plant. TAJ: John Helton is the station manager for this Dominion biomass power plant near a small town called Hurt. The wood chips, he says, are a byproduct of nearby logging operations. Trees that would otherwise be burnt or thrown out as waste come here. HELTON: We’re buying the wood that comes in, and they scale in. It has a barcode system, so it’s automatic, and then they scale out. This is the largest biomass plant in the state, and one of the largest in the country. At Dominion’s Pittsylvania biomass plant in Hurt, Virginia, a truck dumps wood chips into a pile to be burnt to generate electricity. Each truck carries about 22 tons of woody material. (Photo: Mitra Taj) TAJ: Dominion bought it in 2004, and is building another biomass plant in southern Virginia now. Nachy Kanfer of the Sierra Club says biomass has caught the eye of power companies like Dominion that are watching as new regulations on pollution turn their inefficient, coal-fired power plants – into liabilities. KANFER: Coal power is more expensive to run and it’s still just as dirty as before. So, a company like Dominon or like most utilities in this country are looking at their coal fleets and saying—how do we get this coal power offline before it starts really doing damage to our bottom line? So they’re looking at biomass as one possible solution to that. TAJ: With a few fixes, instead of working with dirty coal, a utility can work with trees. Instead of contributing to climate change, it can be part of a clean energy solution. At least, on paper. Most regulators treat biomass as a renewable, but some scientists say it shouldn’t be. After all, carbon dioxide makes up about half of most trees, and burning them releases it. Growing trees back to be big enough to suck up substantial amounts of carbon takes decades, and that’s if they’re replanted at all. Mary Booth, a carbon cycling scientist with the Massachusetts Environmental Energy Alliance, says in practice biomass can be worse than coal. BOOTH: Trees and forests are really our best defense against climate change right now. Forests currently sequester a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels right now, so cutting those forests and burning them and liquidating that carbon into the atmosphere makes no sense at all from a climate change perspective. TAJ: The key to whether biomass can be truly renewable is whether the wood burned in power plants would go to waste anyway. If a logging or pulpwood company burns its waste wood as trash or lets it decompose, it’s already emitting carbon dioxide. So no harm done from using the material for electricity. No additional emissions to the atmosphere. But there are no federal regulations that require biomass come from waste wood, and even if there were…. BOOTH: The definition of what is to be considered waste wood is really in the eye of the beholder. And we’re seeing a lot of things defined as waste wood that might otherwise not be considered to be that. TAJ: Biomass started as a money saver for the paper and pulp industry in the 1980s. Instead of throwing away woody waste, companies started burning it to save on their electricity bills. But today biomass has become crucial to efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. More than 20 states mandate utilities supply more renewable electricity. There are state and federal tax credits for renewable energy production – and regional cap-and-trade programs on both coasts discourage CO2 emissions. CLEAVES: It’s widely believed that without biomass we won’t get near our goals. TAJ: Bob Cleaves is the head of the industry-lobbying group the Biomass Power Association. CLEAVES: Take the commonwealth of Massachusetts as an example. Right now biomass is 40 percent of that state’s renewable energy supply, and so if biomass were to go away, that would make it nearly impossible not only to meet future targets but you’d see it would set back the effort to green the country’s energy supply significantly. TAJ: But Mary Booth, who led a study on biomass emissions for the Environmental Working Group, says renewable energy goals mean nothing if emissions aren’t actually reduced. BOOTH: Indeed, it is discouraging to think that a large fraction of the renewable energy that we’ve been promised we can deploy isn’t going to help with our need to reduce carbon emissions but the best tonic for this is just to deal with the reality and go back to the drawing board and redouble our efforts in other arenas. Because the last thing we would want to do is incentivize something as renewable energy that actually makes climate change worse. TAJ: Half of the country’s renewable electricity now comes from biomass. There are about 100 plants generating power from biomass in about 20 states, and consumption of biomass power to more than double by 2020. That biomass is given the same incentives as solar and wind frustrates some environmentalists who fear the growing demand for it won’t just help heat up the planet, it could also wipe out the country’s forests. But Bob Cleaves says that argument doesn’t make any economic sense. Biomass power plants don’t have visible emissions pouring from their smokestacks, but the wood they burn can release as much carbon dioxide as fossil fuels. (Photo: Mitra Taj) CLEAVES: If you were to clear cut forests, causing deforestation, I don’t think anyone thinks that that’s sustainable, and no one would say that’s — quote — carbon neutral. Fortunately, no one does that. It’s not economically rational to take a tree, chip it and burn it in a boiler, because you would never do that from an economic standpoint. And we don’t think the economics are going to change substantially. TAJ: Even in a carbon-constrained future? CLEAVES: Certainly in theory if the country placed a price on carbon that was dramatically different from what people are modeling right now, or if carbon were valued at $100 a ton for example, could that in theory happen? Sure. Do we think it’s going to happen? No. Nor do we encourage it as an industry. TAJ: The EPA says it needs until 2014 to study the science of emissions linked to biomass before deciding how to regulate them. In the meantime, it can issue permits for biomass plants that will be exempt from greenhouse gas regulations in the future. The agency’s decision has pleased the Biomass Power Association, and the more than two-dozen members of Congress who petitioned the EPA in support of the industry. Many are swing votes for the kind of clean energy legislation the Obama administration hopes to pass in this Congress, which could, in turn, give another big boost to biomass. For Living on Earth, I’m Mitra Taj.

For more on Mary Booth’s work on biomass, click here. The Biomass Power Association Learn more about the EPA’s recent biomass decision. Click here to read about how a power company in Ohio backed out of its plans for more biomass.

The Journal, Mason County’s weekly community newspaper, has a distinctly arrogant tone and editorial policy toward critics of BioMassacre.  But in the 21st century, WE are the media!  The Journal is unlikely to be around in 5 years judging from the thinness of its advertising section, its antipathy toward its own readers, and pending legislation allowing legal notices on the internet.  Accordingly, this community blog/news site attempts to provide that which The Journal cannot or will not.

Having insufficient time to adequately edit the video tapes of the many speakers who contributed their views at the recent ORCAA Hearing held at the Shelton Civic Center, they will be uploaded to youtube.com with links to the same listed below in chronological order.  Any comments helping identify the unnamed speakers will be appreciated.  As uploads to youtube.com take considerable time, please check back often to monitor progress toward posting them all.

The public hearing was a legally required charade.  ORCAA can’t recall ever denying a permit application.  Adage imported a bevy of outside union members eager for the temporary jobs they anticipated building the BioMassacre scaffold on which the company seeks to hang the community for corporate profits.  The visitors ignored a plea to stand in solidarity with the community rather than adopt the corporate agenda.

Retired Health & Toxicologist Expert criticizes Adage proposal

One of the 1st speakers (name?) recounted her career as a health and toxicology expert who found the Adage proposal alarming and failing the standards needed to protect the health of the community.

Matt awaits reincarnation as Jay Hupp

Mr. Matoyoshi reads a prepared statement extolling ORCAA while advising any who may criticize it state their credentials while failing to mention the basis for his own exultation. He goes on to herald the jobs presumed but ignores mention of those that will be displaced along with the damage to the environment, our health, community and quality of life.

Retired Health and Toxicologist expert criticizes Adage BioMassacre proposal followed by Matt Matoyoshi, EDC director and  wannabe in waiting for reincarnation as Jay Hupp/Tim Sheldon.  (Tim is currently undergoing auto beatification.)  Matt attempts to divert attention from the negative health impact by focusing on 24 promised jobs while ignoring the 100’s that will be displaced/eliminated if the project goes forward.

Toxicologist vs. Matoyoshi

Shelton resident, Linda Brewer, questions ORCAA’s competency

Shelton resident, Linda Brewer, questions ORCAA’s competency and nebulous statistical references followed by expressions of concern for her family’s health and our air quality resulting from the proposed Adage BioMassacre project.

Linda Brewer questions ORCAA competency

Retired Construction lawmaker Marvin Slawson overstates Adage case

Retired construction lawmaker Marvin Slawson overstated the case for Adage’s BioMassacre incinerator by claiming its high temperatures and bag-house would eliminate any toxins and pollutants from its exhaust.  Mr. Slawson omitted mention of the fact that high temperatures exacerbate NOX emissions (contributing to acid rain and lung disease), while bag-houses fail to remove the most dangerous PM2.5 particulates, radioactive Cesium and Strontium 90 along with hundred of tons of other toxins/pollutants admitted in Adage’s own permit application.  Mr. Slawson destroyed much of his credibility by failing to acknowledge those facts.  He went on to characterize the BioMassacre proposal as a ‘money maker’ but never claimed residency in Mason County.  He wore a boilermakers union T-shirt like those worn by the other visitors from that labor organization.

Marvin Slawson overstates case for Adage BioMassacre proposal

Local resident Warren Hoffman challenges BioMassacre logic

Local resident, Warren Hoffman, argues the Adage SEPA permit application admits plans to discharge hundreds of tons of toxins and pollutants into the already compromised air and local environment.  He points to the effects the resulting acid range will have on our watershed, streams, and estuaries.  He asks if this will destroy shell-fish farming in our area.  Mr. Hoffman criticizes the overwhelming influx of diesel truck traffic expected to accompany a massive BioMassacre incinerator such as Adage proposes.

Warren Hoffman speaks against BioMassacre siting and pollution

Ralph Drexler reads vote of confidence in ORCAA from Realtors assoc.

Allen resident Ralph Drexler reads prepared statement attributed to Realtors association applauding ORCAA.  Allen will be downwind from the Adage BioMassacre incinerator’s plume if it is built.

Ralph Drexler endorses ORCAA

Leon Leonarard, air quality consultant and registered engineer

Leon Leonard, an air quality consultant and registered engineer criticizes the slack air pollution standards Adage proposes for its BioMassacre facility.  He contrasts these with the far more robust standards implemented in other biomass incinerators around the country.

Leon Leonard, air quality consultant, criticizes Adage

Paul Jones and Union visitors violate Hearing rules while plugging ‘jobs’

Paul Jones of Olympia, Union rep, and his visiting membership offended local residents with an orchestrated violation of the hearing rules while plugging for temporary ‘jobs’ they believe Adage will furnish them.  Scant attention was given by any of their scripted testimony to community sentiment, health, or quality of life.  It was entirely about the money.  The pleas of the community fell on the deaf ears of our visiting brothers and sisters in organized labor who turned their backs on local residents.

Paul Jones of Olympia, union rep, turns back on local community

Curtis Winters pumps ‘jobs’ from Adage in face of community opposition

Curtis Winters, a visiting painter by trade and native American, pumps ‘jobs’ promised by Adage from its BioMassacre planned project.  The words in Chief Sealth’s letter to the President have long been forgotten if ever encountered by this citizen.  Now, rather than the environment, it’s all about the money.  The corporate agenda trumps community values.

Curtis Winters, visiting painter & native American, disregards community values

Mike O’Connor foretells death of Oakland Bay

Mike O’Connor, environmental consultant, forecasts the effect acid rain and heavy metals from Adage’s BioMassacre incinerator will have on Oakland Bay, its shellfish and estuaries.

Mike O\’Connor, environmental consultant, foretells death of Oakland Bay

Steve Bloomfield, oblivious to Dioxin/heavy metal impact on his product

Steve Bloomfield, Oakland Bay shellfish farmer, remains oblivious to the economic impact heavy metals and Dioxin contamination will have on his product.  Despite Washington State Dept. of Ecology’s glib assurances, Shelton Harbor is a hotbed of Dioxin contamination…the highest in the Puget Sound region…with sediment samples ranging from 175 ppt to as high as 902 ppt.  Few distant markets are currently aware of this extremely high incidence of Dioxin contamination in our local bays and estuaries.  No monitoring of current stack emissions for Dioxin is being done or scheduled in the future.  No cleanup effort is envisioned.  The plan, according to Washington’s Dept. of Ecology is to simply leave the Dioxin where it lies.  The Army Corps of Engineers refuses to allow the Port to dispose of any dredging material in open water, requiring upland disposal at 10x/20x the cost instead.

Steve Bloomfield, shellfish farmer, incongruously welcomes Adage pollution

Mary Chilton protests impact Adage incinerator will have on her home

Mary Chilton, a resident goatherd and gardener in the Grapeview area, protests the impact Adage’s BioMassacre incinerator pollutants will have on her home and coming generations.  She is a retired school teacher who taught biology and health care, master gardener, and expert Nubian goat breeder.

Mary Chilton, resident goatherd & gardener, protests Adage pollutants

April Heron cites existing pollution & electricity needs

April Heron (sic?), local 26 pipe-fitter, argues existing pollution, electricity needs, and few alternatives justify Adage’s BioMassacre.  She also repeats the ‘jobs’ mantra.  She omits the adequacy of the Pacific NorthWest’s hydro electrical capacity for its needs while suggesting that because automobiles in the area aren’t required to undergo regular air pollution certification, BioMassacre is the answer to a problem we don’t have in western Washington.  Yes, Dupe Energy has a problem.  It’s a filthy, predatory, rapacious anachronism squatting on innumerable coal plants across the nation.  It’s CO2 footprint is monstrously huge.  It knows the jig is up.  It’s dying gasps for corporate immortality rest on burning NorthWest forests to acquire carbon credits in a regulatory Cap and Trade arena.  But BioMassacre is DIRTIER than coal!  That’s right.  Wood incineration generates MORE CO2 per kilowatt/hour produced than coal…by about a factor of 2x.  Carbon-Neutral?  Hardly!  Unless you’re in the habit of cashing post dated checks you’ll wait 50-100 years or more to have honored…if ever, assuming this kind of instant long term carbon debt is the height of folly straight from The Emperor’s New Clothes.  Yet educated fools repeat the fool’s refrain in every direction.  They will, unfortunately, continue to do so until the MONEY runs out…because that, in the end, is what this is all about.

Finally she resorts to the ‘jobs’ rationale, implying we effectively should sell our children and ignore community opposition to Adage’s permit application. Adage’s electrical generating capacity will be sold to California while local residents endure the pollution, decline in health, and environmental destruction.  April could be a soul mate of Interior Secretary James Watt, who believed environmental conservation was superfluous because Jesus was coming soon.  April’s reasoning goes something like this:  Things suck.  Until they’re better, there’s no sense in trying to make a difference now.  Besides (she says), she hasn’t had her car inspected when she buys tabs, so that means Adage should have a place at the table while the rest of us choke on its hubris.  April’s critical reasoning ability is now apparent…a single dimensional analysis that ignores the multitude of other critical factors including forest sustainability, community sentiment, health warnings from medical experts, existing Dioxin contamination, PM2.5 emissions, proximity to densely populated residential areas, non-point diesel truck traffic emissions, traffic fatality statistics, public infrastructure burden, forest based cottage industry and tourism displacement, real estate value decline, acid rain, and the bankrupting of the community’s quality of life.  April’s analysis is a bit like listening to a school girl’s evaluation of her maiden aunt’s virtue.  Don’t quit your day job, April!

If yours truly sounds more than unusually irritated with April, it’s because her argument is especially vacuous.  Residents deserve better from a young woman who should be thinking about the world she’s creating for the community’s children.

April Heron, local 26 pipe-fitter, adopts Adage and Dupe Energy agenda

dissembled residency from Lake Cushman vacation cabin

Mr. Letinich, a labor council rep from the Vancouver, WA. area implied he was a Mason County resident by mentioning ownership of a Lake Cushman vacation cabin.  He suggested that because laborers receive training in Kingston on how to dispose of asbestos, etc. the community should trust them and our government to protect us from the hazardous materials and toxins that will be emitted by Adage’s BioMassacre facility, so not to worry. He mentioned no special expertise in this regard and did not address the medical community’s warnings along with other health experts about the health impact on residents and children from the proposed incinerator and associated diesel truck traffic.

David J. Letinich, labor council rep from Vancouver, WA. embraces Adage

Bob Stone objects to ‘green’ washing as all about the money

Local resident Bob Stone objects to use of the misnomer, ‘green’ as simply a ruse for those standing to profit from the destruction of the local environment, our health, and quality of life. He asks that the Adage permit application be denied, and our quality of life be preserved. Unlike the visiting proponents waiting to profit from Adage’s BioMassacre scheme at the community’s expense, Mr. Stone has lived in Mason County 40+ years.

While the ORCAA hearing was designated as a forum to discuss air quality and Adage’s proposed permit application on the same, the visiting proponents repeatedly opined about the ‘jobs’ and money they might receive, disregarding community sentiment against it and the destruction of what residents hold dear.

Local resident Bob Stone objects to ‘green’ washing

Randy Netherlin pumps jobs & law, ignores call for quality of life & air

Randy Netherlin heralded ‘jobs’ promised by Adage provided its BioMassacre proposal meets legal requirements.  He emphasized no party or interest group should be above the law.  He made no comment on how the existing laws governing the permitting process were created under the likes of Tim Sheldon and other politicians corrupted by corporate money/consideration and conflicts of interest.  One resident called on him to address the pollution issues for which the hearing was being held.  Randy brushed her off and failed to do so.  For him, it was all about the money.

Randy Netherlin, Port of Allen Commissioner, focuses on jobs over air pollution

Ms. Schumacher, local shellfish worker, tells of weakened shellfish

Ms. Schumacher, a local farmer & shellfish worker, tells of weakened shellfish, polluted bays and estuaries, and reminds attendees of the recent Gulf of Mexico disaster.  She votes no confidence in our goverment agencies charged with environmental oversight of Adage’s BioMassacre scheme. She cites the poor track record of corporations and regulatory agencies in reaching her conclusion.

Ms Schumacher votes no confidence in agencies charged with environment

Jeff argues smokestack will improve environment, need for electricity

Jeff Nichols, a Montesano union electrician, argues Adage’s smokestack will improve air quality and the environment because he saw slash being burned in Ocean Shores.  The relatively tiny amount of slash currently burned in the Chehalis Air Gab (28,000 T/yr and slated to go to zero) escaped mention.  But Jeff found time to extol the virtues of the ALTA coal burning plant in Centralia.  After questioning local residents about their sincerity over air quality, he went on to pronounce the electricity anticipated from Adage’s BioMassacre scheme had to come from somewhere and claimed ‘we’ needed it.  Currently, the Pacific NorthWest does not need additional electricity and pays about 1/3 per kilowatt/hour what Adage will be demanding for its generating capacity.  Mr. Nicholson would be undaunted by the fact woody biomass incineration is dirtier than coal since he favors both irrespective of how the material to fuel either is extracted.

Jeff Nichols, Montesano union electrician, questions community sincerity

Kathryn Price objects to ORCAA’s failure to publish/acknowledge health warnings

Kathryn Price, local activist, resident, and blogger criticizes ORCAA’s failure to publish hearing in a local newspaper of general circulation or to acknowledge the many warnings from medical experts regarding the health impact Adage’s BioMassacre pollution of air quality will have on residents.

Kathryn Price objects to ORCAA\’s failure to publish/acknowledge medical warnings

Donald Jones rhymes for clean alternatives to BioMassacre

Local resident Donald Jones urges clean alternatives such as wind and solar to Adage’s BioMassacre scheme.  With rhyme and verse, he portrays a vision that could save the community from choking on the exhaust of criminal corporations such as Adage and Dupe Energy.

Donald Jones urges clean alternatives to Adage such as wind and solar

Charles Schwartz, union carpenter, says jobs trump seniors/retired

Charles Schwartz describes himself as a local union carpenter.  He disparages the concerns of seniors and retired residents as secondary to ‘jobs’.  Mr. Schwartz gave no mention of the children and community health residents sought to protect.

Charles Schwartz, union carpenter seeking work, disparages seniors/retired

Resident Debra Soper cites poor track record of agencies and industry

Deborah Soper, local resident, condemns government agencies and industry based on their poor track record, failure to protect, and inadequate safeguards.  She argues more emphasis needs to be given to preventing disasters such as the Gulf of Mexico disaster rather than management by crisis after the harm is realized. She pleads with an indifferent ORCAA to protect the community.

Connie Simpson cites government misfeasance, failure to protect

Local registered nurse Connie Simpson warns ORCAA of the death and sickness she has witnessed as a result of air pollution induced illness.  She opposes Adage’s BioMassacre project on that basis while pointing to children and the elderly as the most vulnerable. Connie cites expert medical opinion about the harm done by the pollutants Adage concedes it will be emitting.  She notes her own asthma didn’t materialize until she moved to Mason County.  Ms Simpson debunks the ‘slash’ burning myth by pointing out very little is now burned, even less will be in the near future.  She criticizes such projects as fueled by incongruous profligate government funding, characterizing Adage’s BioMassacre proposal as a cynical ‘greenwash’ sham.  Connie characterizes BioMassacre as caveman technology and calls for an EIS (environmental impact study).  The anticipated increase in diesel truck traffic is damned and the unspecified schedule of monitoring/logging pollutants is criticized.

Ros tells of husband’s tragic poisoning by ASARCO and lax regulations

Roslynn Reed (native American and local resident) tells of how her husband was crippled by air pollution and ASARCO when she and he lived in Ruston (the site of the ASARCO smokestack and smelter).  He incurred the injury while attempting to build a greenhouse, via the contaminated soil in their back yard to which he was exposed, for his wife by their home.  He suffers and continues to be in pain to this day. ASARCO ceased to exist when the lawsuits started to roll in.  She and her husband never received compensation from ASARCO or the government for the debilitating injury just as Adage as an LLC is poised to evaporate out of existence when efforts are made to hold it accountable.  Dupe Energy (Adage’s owner) has anticipated such liability and sought to insulate itself by creating a shell holding company…ADAGE.

Debra Soper condemns agency failures, Connie Simpson cites resulting deaths, Roslynn Reed tells of ASARCO poisoning husband

James Bell cites Dupe Energy’s poor record of honoring union agreements

James Bell, a Union resident, warns of a decline in tourism if the smokestack Adage proposes in its BioMassacre scheme is built.  He references Dupe Energy’s (Adage’s owner) poor record in adhering to terms reached with unions across the U.S.  He suggests they should not be trusted to keep promises made.

Resident paralegal John Smith invites union members to stand with the community against predatory corporate agendas.  He argues the community and unions are each others natural allies who should seek solidarity through common cause.  Natural rights/guarantees to Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness and how air quality is an essential ingredient under those designations are emphasized along with the sham ORCAA is orchestrating without any real consideration of community values/sentiments and objections.  He warns the community ORCAA can’t recall ever denying a permit application.

John Smith invites unions to stand w/community; James Bell argues Adage can’t be trusted

Ken questions numbers and doubts future of Adage project

Ken Latimer cites his family’s long history in the community. He challenges the meaning of ORCAA’s data while predicting a failure of Adage’s proposed project based on stale assumptions. Ken pleads for the health of the community and its children.  The audience applauds for his stirring expression of community sentiment.

Ken Latimer calls BioMassacre a dinosaur

Kevin forecasts forest fire disasters without BioMassacre

Kevin argues BioMassacre needs to be implemented to avoid disastrous forest fires.  He beams with reports of European nations and eastern schools burning their forests to extract energy/heating.

Kevin Morris supports BioMassacre

Dorothy and her family object to Adage proposed air pollution

Dorothy Miklin and family object to BioMassacre induced air pollution proposed by Adage. She suggests the community does not need another area air polluter.  She points out several other corporations are waiting to follow suit should the Adage incinerator be permitted.  Given Adage’s electrical generating capacity (but not the pollution which is dirtier than coal) will be sold in California, she asks why the facility isn’t being built there…or, she continues, are their environmental laws/regulations better than ours?

Dorothy Miklin and family condemn BioMassacre

Jane Clark miscalculates slash burning proportions

Jane Clark admits she isn’t as invested in the community as residents, but expresses an affinity for clean air.  Yet she bases her conclusions on the erroneous assumption that the BioMassacre Adage proposes would be fueled by woody material slated to be burned in our forests as ‘slash’.  In fact, only 28,000 T/yr are currently burned in the entire Chehalis Air Gap (Lewis, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason) which is slated to go to ZERO under proposed more stringent regulations.  Adage proposes to burn 604,00 T/yr which, combined with Simpson’s proposed 400,000 T/yr will total over a Million T/yr burned in our community alone.

Jane Clark miscalculates BioMassacre slash impact on air quality

Janice says ‘jobs’ not worth risk to community

Janice Charles expresses regret on having moved from Camano Island to an area considering BioMassacre siting.  She believes the ‘jobs’ promised are not worth the risk to the community.

Janice Charles regrets moving to BioMassacre site

Tammy cites sons taking out of area jobs as green light for Adage

Tammy St Paul appreciates clean air and trusts Adage’s BioMassacre scheme.  She feels the risk to air quality and the community’s health is worth the promised ‘jobs’ payoff.  She does not speak of the forest based cottage industries and tourism that will be displaced nor quality of life or community sentiment. She cites her sons taking out of area jobs as the basis for her conclusion.  Presumably they will be tempted to return to Mason County and Shelton once it becomes a gateway to industrial slums.

Tammy StPaul trusts Adage, feels BioMassacre jobs worth risk

Dianne emphasizes importance of seniors to community’s quality of life

Having moved here from California to retire, Dianne reminds listeners of the importance of seniors to the economy and well being of the community.  She states, had she known of a pending BioMassacre facility, she would never have become a resident.  She argues the regional quality of life is as dependent on seniors like her as the youth.

Dianne Rosler regrets moving to BioMassacre site

Joel says wood stoves and jobs justify BioMassacre incinerator

Joel Perry of 750 Pickering states he favors the Adage BioMassacre scheme because residents have wood stoves and some commute to out of area jobs.  He alleges area youth will find not only jobs, but careers with Adage despite the poor labor relations and pay track record of Dupe Energy.  Adage’s current PR reps, Jim Gaston and Tom DuPonte, are paid a relative pittance (~$35,000/yr?) for their work.  It is anticipated Adage employees will receive less than Washington State’s median income for their family size. One could ask for a look at their health care plan provided by Adage.  Judging by Mr. Gaston, it’s sub-par if it exists.  These assertions would be consistent with the criminal history and environmental scofflaw behavior of Dupe Energy.

Joel Pickering of 750 Pickering favors BioMassacre and Adage, cites wood stoves

Mr. Watson lists reasons why Adage incinerator will morph into monster

Harstine Island resident Conley Watson warns of how the ‘design & build’ specs submitted to ORCAA are subject to unregulated change orders.  He gives the example of how Adage now plans on using diesel as a startup fuel rather than the less noxious natural gas previously proposed.  Adage PR rep Jim Gaston defended the change by citing the cost of the cleaner fuel.  Before Adage has even left the starting gate, it is already cutting corners at the expense of the community and its air quality contrary to one proponent’s claim Adage would use only the ‘best’ technology in order to protect the environment.  The distinction between ‘BACT’ and ‘MACT’ technology was lost on that supporter.  Adage refuses to use the better more expensive MACT process.

Mr. Watson challenges ORCAA by asking how they can approve a boiler that has not been built or tested yet.

Resident Conley Watson warns of design & build changes in store

Ms Byrd recalls becoming violently ill swallowing government assurance

Resident Susan Byrd criticizes the slated BioMassacre and predicts the Adage incinerator’s obsolescence becoming a dinosaur with which the community will be stuck.  She recalls becoming violently ill as a child when swallowing government supplied fluoride tablets after receiving agency assurances.  Susan references the poor health and property values suffered by Tacoma residents as a result of becoming an industrial slum. She failed to mention Shelton is already the cancer capital of Washington State, i.e. has the highest incidence of that illness which experts reckon is caused almost exclusively by environmental hazards/chemical pollutants.

Visitor Todd Mitchell welcomes Adage, Resident Susan Byrd condemns it

James asserts slash will fuel Adage while meeting air quality guidelines

Local James Chavez reads scripted statement favoring Adage.  He argues ‘slash’ will fuel the incinerator and government regulations will protect the community.  He urges the permit be issued to allow it to be built.

Local James Chavez reads script favoring BioMassacre

Ms. Hartley cites and gives expert testimony against Adage project

Local Nurse Practicioner Deborah Hartles cites and gives expert testimony against the proposed Adage BioMassacre.  She warns there is no safe level of exposure to the massive amounts of PM2.5 particles which will escape Adage’s ‘bag house’ unimpeded.  She tells of how exposure leads to lung and heart disease as well as diabetes.  She describes the non-point unregulated pollution from the expected fleet of diesel trucks which are predicted to emit 7x the pollution from the Adage incinerator itself, how this will sicken children and the elderly among the most vulnerable.  Finally, Deb adds that Mason County ranks 35th out of 37 Washington Counties as almost the worst for the health of its residents.

Local Nurse Practicioner Deborah Hartley testifies against BioMassacre

Wendy concludes BioMassacre avoids shipping slash to landfills

Wendy Ervin recalled her family history in the area dating back to Teddy Roosevelt.  She reasoned disposal of forest slash involved shipping it to landfills which incurs transportation costs.  She cites the need to dispose of waste by some means, concluding incineration is just the ticket. It wasn’t clear whether she was including urban waste streams in her reasoning.

Local Wendy Ervin argues forest duff/slash is risky

Union Steward John Cox cites long term harm done for temporary jobs

John Cox, resident and union steward, argues too few temporary jobs don’t justify the long term (decades) harm and environmental disaster Adage’s BioMassacre scheme would visit upon Mason County residents.  John and his wife, Christine Armond, live downwind directly across the bay from the area’s worst current air polluting corporation (Simpson/Green Diamond) atop Puget Sound’s worst hot spot of Dioxin contamination.

Local John Cox opposes BioMassacre as too few jobs for harm done

Eric mis-characterizes BioMassacre as ‘green’ and carbon-neutral

Struggling to interpret Adage’s scripted talking points, visiting boilermaker Eric Grivin, lionizes BioMassacre as ‘green’, carbon-neutral, best technology, environmentally responsible and beneficial despite expert testimony to the contrary and obvious community hostility to the proposal. He labels residents’ complaints as ‘bashing’. Eric glibly asserts the craftsmen are concerned about air quality, calling them ‘environmentalists’. Basically, he asserts BioMassacre will improve/clean the environment through a smokestack built by union labor and Adage.

Visiting Boilermaker Eric Grivin struggles to lionize Adage from script

Tom Davis condemns ORCAA’s misfeasance and irresponsibility

Tom Davis, a lifelong union member and local realtor, challenges ORCAA to meet its responsibility to residents slated to be exposed to the BioMassacre and air pollution proposed by Adage.  He cites shifting regulatory requirements and the 3-year federal EPA moratorium imposed to consider the merits of biomass air quality pollution. Tom suggests ORCAA’s rush to judgment in the face of community opposition, expert medical opinion, new science on the devastating health impact of micro-fine particulates impossible to remove from wood fueled incinerator emissions, destruction of the local forest based cottage industries and quality of life reveal the agency is a sham subject to pressure from vested special interests, politicians, and wealthy corporations like Adage.

Lifelong Unionist & Local Realtor Tom Davis condemns ORCAA

(More as uploads progress…)

Because Adage is a limited liability company, by definition it is hedging its liability bets. Many arguments by its apologists were heard this night claiming the public was at little or no risk and it was going to be a boon to the community. But if that were so, why would Ariva and Dupe Energy feel compelled to distance themselves so completely from accountability for its impact? Like Asarco, when the damage is tolled, the company will vanish under law.

Packed Shelton Civic Center ORCAA hearing

Turnout was heavy (250+) for both the afternoon and evening session of the ORCAA Hearing held for public comment on 1-31-11 in the Shelton Civic Center.  The convenience of a local venue contributed to the numbers.

Visitors bored by community town hall meeting

Many familiar faces were present along with some not so much.  The least of these were the members of organized labor unions from surrounding counties urged by Adage reps to attend in a show of support it knew was lacking in the community.  The visiting union members were easily identified by their hard hats, orange T-shirts, union logos and Adage stickers liberally festooned in every conceivable space on their outer garments including those that proclaimed “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.”

Visitors encounter distant drummers

Tom Duponte and Jim Gaston (Adage PR shills) attended.  Notably absent were our elected County and Port Commissioners with the exception of Jack Miles despite a recent invitation extended for them to come to the barrio and listen to the community.  This hearing, intensely moderated, would have been an ideal opportunity to do so if they had a scintilla of desire to represent residents in a responsible way.  Commissioner Jerry Lingle was absent despite his vow of willingness to listen.  Failed candidate Brenda Hirschi was absent, as was Nancy Williams, Justin Stang, and a host of others.  Whether this was a result of ennui or resignation isn’t clear.

Duff demands ORCAA comply with EPA CO2 standards set in July, 2010

Duff Badgley argued for ORCAA abiding by federal and State law with respect to CO2 emission regulations/constraints imposed by the EPA as of July, 2010, thereby making its 3-year moratorium on the same moot under Washington law.

Mr. Bricklin, CCMC attorney, speaks out against BioMassacre

Mr. Bricklin, the environmental attorney hired by CCMC (concerned citizens) spoke out in opposition to the Adage permit application, characterizing ORCAA’s preliminary permit recommendation as premature and unlawful.

Shawnie Vedder, shutterbug

Yours truly reached out to our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, challenging them to stand with the community rather than ally themselves with a predatory corporation such as Adage.  Reference to our inalienable rights described in the Declaration of Independence was made.  Jack Miles reminded ORCAA the people do not cede their sovereignty to the instruments of government conceived to serve them.

Gordon Lance, ORCAA engineer, recommends Adage application be permitted

The union members gulled into attending were as identifiable by their rhetoric as their appearance.  Unlike the varied testimony by residents, much was thinly veiled/coached arguments from Adage’s well worn play book.   As the meeting wore on, visible boredom overtook the visitors while residents remained singularly focused on the proceedings.

Ros tells of husband's tragic poisoning at the hands of Asarco

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During the break, one boilermaker opined tradesmen had more expertise on air pollution generated by industry than the Mason County medical community who (along with national medical expert organizations) had issued a formal declaration warning of the health effects Adage’s plant would bring as a result of the toxins released.  Another spoke of how boilermakers were ‘environmentalists’.

They have no voice, they have no choice.

Many of the tired arguments advanced by Adage apologists, such as carbon-neutrality, jobs, smokestack prosperity, and vilification of environmentalists displayed the gap remaining to edify all the stakeholders in this ongoing saga.  It is huge.   The corporations are the enemy!  Sadly, some of our working brothers and sisters have forgotten this is so. It was a page torn from the final chapter of Animal Farm.  One had difficulty distinguishing between the union business reps and Adage’s corporate stooges.