THIS IS OUR HOME!

Mason County, WA USA

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis

Environmental activism is a messy affair, wrought with differing personalities and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But the recent decision requiring Adage to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is clear evidence that power still resides with the people.

Everyone involved in the movement to protect the air quality, property values and general quality of life of Mason County residents can take heart in the fact that our system of governance still works for the people and by the people.

True, the fight against those industries that would sacrifice our health and welfare for profit is far from over. But wars are won one battle at a time, and this battle belongs to us. We must, however, remain vigilant and totally involved if we are to prevail in the final outcome, as the forces against us are formidable and well financed.

Our county is in the midst of a crisis brought on by poor management and exploited by special interests. Conditions for a plutocratic government are fertile, and there is no shortage of players willing and able to use the current economic downturn to advance their agenda.

Some would describe our efforts to protect the right to breathe clean air as anarchistic. But we are simply individual Americans who have banned together to fight those who would contaminate our environment for profit.

We live in a county built by strong, independent minded men and women. But the challenges we face are unlike any of the original settlers. Native peoples held the land in reverence, and utilized its bounty with humility and respect. The original Anglo settlers viewed the forests as something to beat back, log and clear for farms and businesses.

Traveling from Portland to Seattle, one sees how so many small communities have surrendered their identities to strip malls and cookie-cutter subdivisions, with little to inspire wonder or stoke the imagination. This is not our vision for Mason County.

It is often said that people just can't seem to appreciate what they had until it's gone. But it doesn't have to be that way.

At a recent meeting, Port Director John Dobson was asked, "Why Adage? Why not something less environmentally damaging?" He answered, "Beggars can't be choosers."

Is that the way our officials view the people of our county? As beggars, hungry to embrace any industry that comes along, no matter how destructive?

What Mason County has is a gold mine of natural resources. What we lack is leadership with the imagination to capitalize on those resources without destroying them. There are many ways to do this, but the incineration of biomass is not one of them. Adage and the new Simpson co-generation plants are not good "fits" for our community. Hell, they're not even good fits for Pittsburg.

For the moment we have prevailed. I don't know why, or who should get the credit, and I don't care. What I do care about is the next battle. The battle to preserve that which others seem so willing to destroy.

This is our home, our air, our families and our lives. If the local power structure thinks we will give these things up without a fight, I say, bring it on.

Photo by Christine

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

EIS Required for ADAGE!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Katherine Price

Great news, fellow air-breathers!

In today's mail is a document titled "Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on Scope of EIS Adage Mason LLC."  We now have a twenty (20) day window for comment:  "Written comments on the scope of the EIS ... can be submitted... and must be received by November 19, 2010."

The document states in part:

"EIS Required.  Mason County, acting as lead agency, has determined this proposal is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment.  An environmental impact statement (EIS) is required..."

The document goes on to state:

"Mason County has identified the following areas for discussion in the EIS:   Air quality, including odor; water quality; wildlife and wildlife habitat; impacts to residential areas and parks from construction and use of the relocated access road; noise; transportation impacts on existing public uses from added truck and employees vehicle traffic on access routes, impacts from fire, explosion, or accidental release of chemicals."  And, lastly, "Other areas that may be determined in the scoping process."

That last item is where we come in.

If they missed a point that we have been hammering home (and I don't think they did!), we need to be sure it is included in the scoping process.

We all need to put on our thinking caps and start drafting those letters to:

Barbara A. Adkins, AICP
Mason County Department of Community Development
411 North 5th Street
Shelton, WA  98584

I think we should all send and/or deliver flowers to Barbara Adkins on Monday, but that might make her look partisan... then again, she might be a fellow-air breather!

Keep it light...

Link to Complete Document

EVERGREEN INCINERATOR DECISION MADE!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Duff Badgley

Evergreen's Incinerator is #1 on WA Commerce Dept. Grants for Energy

We said it in July. We'll say it again. Evergreen and the highest levels of WA government have long since decided to build the highly-polluting biomass incinerator next to the Evergreen campus daycare center. The fix has been on for a long time. College administrators denying this obvious truth are either colluding or dupes.

So glad to see the rising tide of students aggressively opposing the burner. These young students know what their elders have forgotten--burning our forests in the name of "sustainability" is a lethal lie. And the $3,700,000 WA grant to build the incinerator mouths the same old deception:

"Install a biomass gasification plant that will allow the college to significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels..."

Studies accepted by the EPA and reputable scientists around the world show replacing fossil fuels with biomass fuels INCREASES carbon emissions. The Evergreen biomass incinerator would DOUBLE carbon emissions compared to the current natural gas boiler heating campus buildings.

Here is the link to the list of awards for the Governor's $31M grant for energy savings.

www.governor.wa.gov/news/Commerce_Grants_Oct_2010.pdf

The press release can be found at:

http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1588&newsType=1

Evergreen will get $3.7M to build their burner. If they tell you they are still in the "thinking about it stage" tell them to let you hold the money until they are done.

Duff Badgley
No Biomass Burn

The Power of Thought & the Power of Action

Mason County, WA USA

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Linda Gruer

My message is one of encouragement for all of us that want to maintain and improve our environment here in Shelton and Mason County. I don't think we realize, sometimes, how much energetic power we have when we work together to get this done. The power of thought, and the power of action.

The more we focus our intent, the power will magnify. Of course we cannot be sure that we will succeed, though I think we will. Whatever the outcome, there has been created a new and needed coalition that can be a positive force for the solving of our problems here where we live.

So when we "win", a real responsibility will present itself -- to heal our divides and to use that same creative energy to help our community, jobs, health, children, the elderly, etc. This effort against a dark force may just be the impetus for larger changes than we can imagine. Bear with me, sometimes it helps to think lofty! Keep up the good work.

Photo by Christine

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

SEMPER FI, JACK!

PORT of SHELTON TOWN HALL MEETING 10/26/10

"I am here to represent the interests of the people who elected me."

"I respectfully request you resign from the Commission, Jack."

"Why aren't Mr. Dobson & the other 2 Commissioners here tonight?"

Elucidating the virtues of Commissioner Jay Hupp

Apologising for derision from back row at an attendee's question

Jack keeps his cool...

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox

I guess that the local “good ole boys” club feels threatened. The Washington Pilots Association and friends arrived en masse, in attack formation, for Port Commissioner Jack Miles' Town Hall meeting on Tuesday evening. Their intent seemed to be to disrupt the meeting, rather than contribute to it in any meaningful way. Plenty of hot air. Maybe these pilots are balloonists too.

The questions and statements from the pilots' group seemed to be concerned with the legitimacy of Commissioner Miles holding the Town Hall meetings. Commissioner Miles pointed out that it is his duty to receive input from citizens, and Town Hall meetings are one way to do that.

Steve Bloomfield ”respectfully” requested that Jack Miles resign from the Commission because the Commission hasn't been doing a good job bringing business to the area, etc. Steve apparently doesn't understand how the Port functions. There are three Commissioners and they vote on matters that are within their jurisdiction. If the Port Commissioners haven't been doing a good job, then a request for all three Commissioners to resign would be the appropriate request. Maybe the Chairman of the Commission would be a good place to start.

One pilot made repeated strafing runs, loudly exclaiming that Commissioner Miles was being “rude” whenever Jack said anything. After 3 or so repetitions of this, another participant at the meeting pointed out that if anyone was being rude, it was the pilot. The pilot, apparently out of ammunition, peeled out of formation and left the meeting in a huff.

If anything, Commissioner Miles was the antithesis of rude at the meeting. He was very cool under fire.

Semper Fi, Jack!

Link: Jay Hupp Recall Petition

Photos by Christine

ADAGE Demonstration Photos 10/26/10

RETURN of the KOOKS!

Rain stopped for 15 concerned "kook" protesters

Activist sisters!

Do you like the sign I made?

Proud to be a Mason County kook!

My alligator says ADAGE GO AWAY!

SAVE OUR AIR!

Photos by Christine

Proud to be Mason County Kooks!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John & Christine

Some of our elected officials, ADAGE representatives, Simpson, and their friends like to refer to biomass incinerator opponents as “Kooks”. Here in Mason County we have Physician Kooks, Dentist Kooks, Nurse Kooks, Microbiologist Kooks, Artist Kooks, Cook Kooks, Shopkeeper Kooks, IT Kooks, Lawyer and Legal Aid Kooks, Farmer Kooks, Logger Kooks, Student Kooks, Photographer Kooks, Teacher Kooks, Mother Kooks, Father Kooks, Children Kooks, Construction Kooks, Politician Kooks, Real Estate Kooks, Security Guard Kooks, Significant Other Kooks...here a Kook, there a Kook, everywhere Kooks and more Kooks (thousands, actually).

But we still weren't sure what makes someone a “Kook”, and after thinking about it for a while, we came up with this list of "Kook" characteristics:

• Kooks like breathing clean air.
• Kooks care about the welfare of fellow citizens.
• Kooks don't want tax dollars supporting greedy corporations.
• Kooks care about the health of their families.
• Kooks care about the health of your family.
• Kooks want elected officials to listen to them.
• Kooks think global warming is a serious problem.
• Kooks don't want to see more smokestacks.
• Kooks want elected officials to remember who they should be working for.
• Kooks don't want their property values to drop because an incinerator has been built next door.
• Kooks don't want to breathe pollution especially when it is concentrated by weather inversions.
• Kooks don't want to be exposed to micro-size particles which are a well documented health hazard.
• Kooks don't want to be exposed to dioxins which are one the most toxic substances on the planet.
• Kooks want elected officials to stop making backroom deals.
• Kooks don't want firewood that is used for home heating to become scarce.
• Kooks don't want forest product related businesses to be leave the area for lack of materials.
• Kooks want to be treated by elected officials with respect.
• Kooks don't want corporations creating pollution here and exporting the power and profits out of state.
• Kooks don't want corporations to be greedy.
• Kooks consider progress to be more then an increase in infrastructure.
• Kooks want elected officials to stop acting as agents for corporations.
• Kooks want elected officials to obey the intent and letter of the law.
• Kooks want truly green businesses to come to Mason County, not corporate profiteers.

And then we thought about the main characteristics of the people and corporate representatives that like to call us “Kooks” and all we could come up with is:

• One way or another, it's all about $$$$$.

And ADAGE Makes Three

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox

I was talking with one of my co-workers at the lab yesterday. She has 5 kids and lives in downtown Shelton near Lumbermens (Pro-Builder). She has heard about the proposed new Simpson incinerator, and wonders how much of a problem it will be for her and her kids having a new neighborhood incinerator next door. I mentioned that another woman I know (Shawnie Whelan) and her family also live in the same area, and are extremely concerned and active in the county-wide no biomass incinerator movement.

The proposed Simpson biomass incinerator, if built, will shorten the lifespans of all the people who live and/or work in the downtown area. Inevitably, there would be an increase in the occurrence of illnesses that have been directly correlated to increased exposure to toxic biomass incinerator emissions (such as heart disease and respiratory ailments).

The affected population would be, of course, much larger than just those residing in downtown Shelton, but it is easier for most people to understand a problem when the problem is in their faces, literally. My wife, Christine, and I live in Shorecrest, which is directly across from Simpson, separated only by a narrow body of water. Like Shawnie and the others that live even closer, we would not welcome having to look at another smokestack. We would not welcome having to breathe more pollution. We would not welcome the sight of a smokestack continuing to belch pollution during burn bans and the normal winter inversions, knowing that the emissions being sent our way would be even more concentrated at those times. It will not make us feel better to know that an increase in Simpson's profit$ is the primary reason for all of this happening to us and to our community.

We were all initially lead to believe that when the new Simpson incinerator became operational, the old one would be shut down. Many people, including some Adage incinerator opponents, concluded that as the new incinerator was "cleaner", all would be well, and that there would be an overall reduction in emissions from Simpson when the old incinerator was shut down. But Simpson seems to have had a change of heart. At a public meeting several weeks ago, Simpson revealed a new plan. They would keep the old plant operational, but just for "emergencies", which would amount to maybe a couple of weeks per year, so they said.

I see no evidence that the City of Shelton would or could be able to put restrictions on Simpson's use of the old incinerator. The admitted purpose of the new plant is to generate “green” power which could be sold at very high prices to utility companies. The more power sold, the more Simpson would profit. If the old plant continued to operate to provide for Simpson's internal needs, all of the new plant's output could then be sold. Simpson would profit, and we'd pay with our health and lower property values, etc. If the proposed incinerators are built, what I see is both Simpson plants operating all the time...and ADAGE makes three. It's beginning to feel like a Charles Dickens novel around here.

I admit that this is only supposition at this point, but where there is smoke...

And I see lots of smoke.

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

Hupp Recall Highlight of Legal Fund Benefit

SAVE OUR AIR!
Mason County, WA USA

The announcement of Port Commissioner Jay Hupp's Recall Petition at the 10/22/10 Concerned Citizens of Mason County Legal Fund Benefit was met with deafening applause from a packed house.

Submitted Petition Summary:

October 19, 2010

TO: Mason County Auditor, Karen Herr

RE: PETITION DEMANDING RECALL OF PORT OF SHELTON COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3, JAY HUPP FROM HIS OFFICE

Summary

The Recall Committee, by and through the undersigned legal voters of the Port of Shelton, County of Mason, State of Washington, do hereby demand the recall and discharge of Jay Hupp, Commissioner District 3, of The Port of Shelton pursuant to the provisions of Article 1, section 33 and 34 of the Washington State Constitution and RCW 29A.56.110, et seq., for acts of misfeasance and acts of malfeasance while in office, and for violation of his Oath of Office.

The entire petition, replete with 8 allegations, will be made available after the process to determine the legal status of the petition has been completed.

In a way, we find this sad. Not the petition, just the reason for it. Our elected public servants at the Port are attempting a coup d'etat. They are attempting to bypass, ignore and usurp the will of the people. We the citizens, are not willing to let this happen without a fight. This petition is another tool that will be used to stop their arrogant power grab, and protect our community from the Adage incinerator and anything else the Port is planning for our future without our consent.

Heartfelt appreciation to Al Brotche and the entire petition committee!

John Cox & Christine Armond

UPDATED 10/29/10 Link to complete document: Jay Hupp Recall Petition

Photo by Christine

ADAGE DEMONSTRATION Tuesday,10/26,12PM

ADAGE OFFICE DEMONSTRATION

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26th at 12 NOON

1510 N Olympic Hwy

Let's show ADAGE some LOVE!
(We hear they MISS us!)
Let's wave our signs again!

Photo by Christine

Banner Drop at Evergreen College 10/25/10

Olympia Climate Activists Hang Banners Against Biomass

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2010
Contact: olympia@risingtidenorthamerica.org

Olympia, WA – On October 25, activists from Olympia Rising Tide hung two banners at the Evergreen State College in opposition to a proposed biomass gasification facility. Olympia Rising Tide opposes biomass because it is a false solution to climate change and would lead to a massive resurgence of clear-cut logging in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere.

The Evergreen State College is considering a biomass gasification facility as a replacement for the current natural gas facility that heats the school. The Washington Department of Natural Resources claims that biomass is carbon-neutral because emissions from the gasification process contribute to the already cycling stock of carbon that is being exchanged between the biosphere and the atmosphere as part of the earth's carbon cycle. Using this logic, even burning coal is carbon-neutral because the emissions contribute to the already cycling stock of carbon.

The biomass facility at Evergreen would supposedly only source slash (leftover scrap wood) from Forest Stewardship Council-certified small-scale woodlots. But Washington House Bill 2481 allows the Department of Natural Resources to create provisions in a biomass supply contract that are periodically adjusted for market conditions if the supplier invests over $50 million in the project. In other words, DNR can change the agreement to allow clearcuts if they are more economically feasible. This provides Evergreen with a back-door strategy to get the cheapest wood possible, no matter the environmental cost.

The timber industry loves biomass because it could breathe new life into a failing market. With the housing slump limiting the options for selling wood, Big Timber sees biomass as the innovation that's going to save their bank accounts.

Olympia Rising Tide opposes biomass in solidarity with residents of Shelton, Port Townsend, Port Angelos, Forks, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Tacoma, who are also facing potential biomass facilities. We say no to biomass in Washington and no to biomass anywhere!

“Cutting down and burning our forests is not a solution to climate change,” says Jo Lillian of Olympia Rising Tide. “Biomass is a greenwashed false solution that distracts from the real work that needs to occur to stop climate change and curb energy consumption, namely ending war and dismantling capitalism. Natural gas isn't a viable heating fuel either, but replacing one form of pollution and eco-destruction with another isn't progress.”

To get involved, contact Olympia Rising Tide at olympia@risingtidenorthamerica.org.

PORT TOWN HALL MEETING 10/26/10 at 6 PM

Come and Be Heard!

Several members of the public have requested a time change of the Town Hall Meetings held at the Port of Shelton. Therefore, I am modifying the schedule for the Town Hall Meetings. The second Town Hall Meeting will be held at 6:00 pm, this coming Tuesday, the 26th.

Thereafter, the Town Hall Meetings will be held every 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

I hope this is an acceptable change, and meets the needs of those who work and who want to participate. That is my goal! To make sure you have the chance to bring your concerns to the meeting and BE HEARD!

Hope to see you there,

Jack Miles

(360) 426-1151

jackbroadcaster13@yahoo.com

Let's Remember What We Are Trying to Do!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Roslynne Reed

I think that some of the attacks I’ve seen recently against individuals and the severe wording used, hurts the cause more than it does the person. And for that, I must speak up.

While I understand the viewpoint of single-issue voters, in the overall scheme of things, it is not helpful and sometimes very destructive to the cause to focus on just one particular issue. I agree that opinions should be expressed, but it is very important to know the impact and possible injury to the overall cause. I think we need to ask ourselves where we are going with our criticism and its timing.

For example, what good are the attempts to help Lingle win? It’s like not voting because you didn’t think Obama fulfilled every promise he made on the campaign trail. It amounts to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I have not seen Lingle involved in anything that suggests he is against biomass. He has said he is personally against it because of health issues, but politically has to be for the jobs argument, which sounds like weasel wording. That is irresponsible.

Brenda has spoken against biomass as the Incinerator Free Mason County speaker at a forum, as a candidate, and numerous times in her blog. She has attended Commission meetings and spoke up on behalf of the people regardless of the people attending such meetings. I understand that people work, but that isn’t a total defense for not attending any meetings. Our elected officials need to be held accountable for all of their work and the only way that can happen is for the people to do so.

With respect to the actual problem, my husband and I probably understand the dangers of industrial pollution more than anyone I’ve met since our experience with the ASARCO Smelter arsenic poisoning in the early 80’s. With maybe the exception of Greg Helms’ experience on the East Coast, although I’m not aware that he has any permanent damage.

Additionally, as a previous candidate, I know that keeping your eye on the prize (winning), which is much more than a single issue, is extremely important. Almost any reasonable candidate should be expected to weigh the stands they take and not fall on their sword for a single one.

A few things I think are important to remember that should keep candidates on target (winning) is to cover as many of the issues as are manageable; remember you don’t have access to all the information the sitting electeds have; and realize you don’t know how big your army is. The major point to remember is, if you don’t win, none of it matters and you’re not in a position to help effectively. You’re just one voice. Despite what the Army says, there’s no such thing as an army of one.

In this race against the monster, ADAGE, people are either with us or against us. Our words and actions do matter. Let’s all be responsible and remember what we are trying to do.

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

Heresy?

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox

I am really in a quandary.

I really, really, really want Tim Sheldon out of office, any office, every office.

I have never voted for a Republican in my entire life. Democrats, usually. Green, yes. Independent, yes. I even voted for a socialist once. But Republican? Never. But now, I am thinking about it. And not just any Republican...a tea-bagger Republican!

Surely. I will go to heretics hell for even thinking about this.

I can try to make myself feel a little better by blaming my predicament on the local Democratic Party. How did this happen? Why isn't there anybody anywhere to the left of Mussolini running against Tim Sheldon?

I have a way of looking at the left/right, liberal/conservative, democrat/republican dichotomies that goes something like this:

Imagine a scale that goes from -10 to +10. The scale measures empathy and compassion. To me this means the ability to put oneself in another's shoes, to see from another's point of view, and to feel sympathy for the plight of others.

On the extreme -10 side with a total lacking of these qualities would be sociopaths, evil dictators, Hitler, transnational corporation CEOs, etc. On the extreme +10 side would be people like Jesus, Buddha, saints, etc.

The middle ground, which most of us inhabit, is more difficult to characterize, but in general, progressive, liberal types would be on the positive side, and right wing conservative types on the negative side.

Some examples as I see it are:

This is, of course, just my opinion, and is based only on my observations of public or recorded behavior. (Who knows what's really going on inside of anybody?)

And now we come to Grandma Nancy (-5). I am actually considering voting for her this time, and I know I am not the only heretic out there. The problem with this is her positions. All of them. She rattles off all the cliches and views that are common to tea-baggers these days. On the majority of her positions, I can just add 'NOT' to it and there I am.

And yet, here I am still considering whether I can stomach voting for her.

So it goes...

More Business as Usual at the Port!

Submitted by John Cox & Christine Armond

Port of Shelton Fringe Parking

Yes, the Port truck was still parked on the grass Tuesday!

Al, the maintenance supervisor at the Port, claimed responsibility for parking the truck across the street from the meeting room. Why? Because seeing the sign (now hidden behind the truck) hurt the feelings of the Port staff. He said the Commissioners had nothing to do with the truck being parked there and that the grassy area along the fence was part of the Port parking lot anyway.

Sounds good to us. We believe it all. It makes perfect sense.


For Official Cover Ups Only!

Peek-a-Boo again!

The sign that hurt the feelings of the Port staff...

Here's another sign!

Take back our Port!

Vote "Yes" on all 3 Port Ballot Issues!

Business as Usual at the Port of Shelton

Tuesday's Meeting, October 19th, 2010

"Would someone please turn up the lights?"
(request after slide presentation was finished)


"I got the floor here Mack!"
(response to request)


It's JACK! Not MACK! HUFF!

Photos and captions by Christine

Concerned Citizens of Mason County Legal Fund Benefit, Fri., Oct. 22, the Pavillion at Sentry Park

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

The Wall Street Journal: (Bio)Mass Confusion

OCTOBER 18, 2010

(Bio)Mass Confusion

High costs and environmental concerns have pushed biomass power to the sidelines in the U.S.

By JIM CARLTON

CARSON CITY, Nev.—With all the plants and trees in the world, biomass energy would appear to have boundless potential.

Yet in the U.S., biomass power—generated mainly by burning wood and other plant debris—has run into roadblocks that have stymied its growth.

Here at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, officials in 2007 built a $7.7 million biomass plant to meet all the power needs of the medium-security prison. But last month, two years after the plant opened, prison officials closed it, citing excessive costs.

"This was a project that was well intentioned, but not well implemented," says Jeff Mohlenkamp, deputy director of support services for the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Across the U.S., other biomass projects have met similar fates.

In Loyalton, Calif., Sierra Pacific Industries Inc. on Aug. 20 announced it would close a 16-megawatt plant, citing federal logging restrictions that made it more difficult to get wood from surrounding forests.

In Gunnison, Colo., Western State College of Colorado in July shelved plans to install a biomass boiler on its campus amid high costs for supply and operation. And in Snowflake, Ariz., a local utility, the Salt River Project, canceled a long-term power-buying contract with a 24-megawatt plant after the plant's operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July. Another operator has since taken over the facility.

Is It 'Green?'

Biomass power costs more to produce than power derived from fossil fuels, largely because it requires more labor to chip up wood and truck it to plants, industry executives say. They argue that unless the U.S. adopts a national renewable-energy policy requiring utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources such as biomass, the industry will continue to struggle.

"As long as the biomass industry is forced to compete with coal and natural gas, we will not grow this industry," says Bob Cleaves, chief executive officer of the Biomass Power Association, a trade group based in Portland, Maine.

But also threatening the industry's growth are concerns that biomass power isn't as "green" as supporters say it is.

Backers say biomass power is a carbon-neutral form of energy: The trees that feed biomass plants sequester carbon when they are growing, offsetting the carbon that's released when they are burned for fuel. But some environmental groups have complained that biomass plants spew too much pollution into the air, while others worry that an expansion of biomass energy could lead to excessive logging, claims the industry denies.

Link below to view complete article:

WSJ (Bio)Mass Confusion article

It Worked for John Dobson and the WPA!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Dj

In a recent message to the Washington Pilots Association, John Dobson, Executive Director of the Port of Shelton accused the Anti-Adage contingent of hijacking the process “with lies, intimidation and personal attacks...”

From where I sit, it is a couple of the Port Commissioners and Mr. Dobson who have attempted to promote their agenda, contrary to the wishes of the public, by using lies, intimidation and personal attacks.

Commissioner Jack Miles who opposes Adage has been told he’d better “watch his back”, and has been threatened with censure and physical violence. Peaceful observers at public Port meetings have been told that the Commission has the power to “clear the room”. Commissioner Hupp bangs his gavel to get his own way.

At a hearing about the Adage project, out-of-town thugs were paid to fill chairs in the Commission chambers during a hearing, forcing Port residents to be outside the chambers. Citizens were told they must follow preset ‘rules’ in their testimony if they wanted to be heard, but the members of the outside interest group didn’t have to follow the same rules. And instead of answering the scientific evidence against biomass, the proponents continue to circulate the same old tired lies they’ve been circulating since April.

I did some more research on the WPA website and I was thrilled to find their strategies for fighting the government. It seems the state Legislature was proposing a .5% Excise Tax on aircraft values, and the WPA didn’t like that idea. So they organized in opposition. The first thing they told the members to do was to contact their local representative and the Governor immediately and ask them to remove that portion of the bill, and tell them why the bill was a bad idea.

Quoting from the WPA website, “Also, stay on subject! Some of the chicanery (procedural tricks) while very frustrating are nothing more than a distraction. You risk your credibility if you stray. One subject at a time!” (emphasis theirs). And they were encouraged to show up! Contact their State Representatives and State Senators as soon as possible! Write them, call them, and if possible, visit their offices to tell them how this would affect them! Also attend the hearing even if they weren’t going to speak, because their presence would show their opposition. Then they were advised to “Throw the bums out...”

They united in large numbers and contacted their representatives, repeatedly, and they didn't stop until that legislation was defeated. This is what WE have all been doing in our battle against biomass. We have been hammering the facts, and letting our voices be heard.

So let's take heart that we are on the right track, and not grow weary. Let's avoid the distractions they try to throw in our way and stay on subject. Let's continue to show up and exert the pressure it is going to take to get our message across. And let's throw the bums out who won't listen to what the constituents want!

It worked for John Dobson and the WPA, and maybe he's worried that it will work for us...

Cartoon for the Day

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Claude

VOTE SMART! VOTE YES!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox & Christine Armond

Today, we received a flier sent out by the Washington Pilots Association, Shelton Chapter with: STOP RAHN REDMAN'S INITIATIVES in large red letters, saying Vote NO on Redman's Initiatives 1 & 2, and Vote YES on Port Proposition 1. (Hmmm, wasn't it was hundreds of we, the people, who signed a PETITION to get Initiatives 1 & 2 on the ballot?)

There are radio ads too. That's not cheap...

Why would a bunch of pilots care this much about the structure of the Port Commission? Well, to start with...guess WHO is the president of the Association? Surprise! Surprise! Why no other than the Port of Shelton, Executive Director John Dobson!

Here's an excerpt from the WPA newsletter comment written by John Dobson:

"The attorney for the Port of Shelton and I were discussing political challenges regarding misinformation in the media over a rather large project we are working on. The “anti” folk (NIMBY folk) have hijacked the process with lies, intimidation and personal attacks...tactics used in the 1960s by most anarchists."

Do the Pilots Association and the present Port management have some special plans for our future that they are afraid we "NIMBY folk" might object to, like the above mentioned "rather large project"? Are they worried that a little new blood on the Commission might stall their plans?

And by the way, the flier says it was paid for by the WPA, Shelton Chapter. Why doesn't the WPA website list a Shelton Chapter? So if there is no "Shelton Chapter", who paid for the flier? Inquiring NIMBY folk want to know! And maybe a few anarchists too!

Vote YES on Citizens' Initiatives 1 & 2 and YES on Prop 1

Burp!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox

Profits don't just materialize out of thin air. There are always costs of some kind.

In the case of biomass incineration, our health and our environment are the costs that Adage, Simpson, Nippon and the rest refuse to acknowledge.

I do not want any of us to pay those costs. I do not want these fleshing eating corporations feasting on our bones, and my only goal, for now, is to give them indigestion.

Pull Your Heads Out of the Sand!

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Dick Curtis

CREDIBILITY: A Lost Virtue of the Port of Shelton

BACKGROUND:

• Commissioner Hupp, on 7/20/10, stated that he would provide me with an email from Kettle Falls that was to attest to his presence there to observe the noise level. The copy of the email he sent did NOT confirm his visit to Kettle Falls. (Keep in mind that Kettle Falls is a water-cooled quieter system, not the air-cooled noisy boiler planned for Shelton.)

• Commissioner Hupp’s email copy to me stated “We have plenty of Hog Fuel.” Nowhere did it indicate the operational status of the plant during the likely times that Cmsr. Hupp could have been there observing a biomass plant in full operation.

• Kettle Falls owner, AVISTA, stated that biomass incineration costs more per kW hour than does their dam, coal or gas turbine plant. In fact, they stated that “we shut down 2 1/2 months in 2009 due primarily to the cost of fuel.”

• Neither AVISTA nor the Kettle Falls plant would confirm for me their operational status for the entire month of July 2010 when Cmsr. Hupp stated he was there enjoying the peace and quiet.

• A retired Simpson expert on wood product availability presented at a Port meeting that “ADAGE will not be able to adequately source their plant in Shelton.”

• Commissioner Hupp stated at one of the Port summer meetings that they "...would not allow anything that’s a 'Bad Fit' for this community.” That this statement was made, was verified by Port Executive Directer, John Dobson, on 10/12/10, at the first Port of Shelton Town Hall Meeting (initiated by Commissioner Jack Miles).
  

COMMISSIONERS (Hupp & Wallitner):

3,200 citizens signed a petition for the right to vote and tell you what they wanted for a "Good Fit.” You denied them that right with numerous, varying reasons.

You did not want to know what the citizens required of you...

Presentation of documented scientific facts and figures were denied their importance.

You didn’t want to know...

You wouldn’t listen to questions on noise issues. Research indicates that there are no air-cooled incinerators the size of the proposed ADAGE incinerator for Shelton located within the USA. The closest comparison plant is located in Lockerbie, Scotland. Like Kettle Falls, all the operational plants in America are water-cooled and much quieter. (I guess this community will be the “guinea pig” for finding out that it's a "Bad Fit.”)

Once again, you didn’t want to know...

COMMISSIONERS (Hupp & Wallitner):

Not wanting to know is like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand! I suggest you pull your heads out of the sand. Become knowledgeable as to what is really a “Good Fit” for this community, and NOT just good for your “Personal Fit”. This unique concept of a “Good Fit” for the community should apply to all actions taken by the Port of Shelton now and in the future.