Mason County, USATreasure or Tragedy?
Our Community's Resources Are Precious Commodities
Submitted to Shelton Blog by John Cox Mason County Progressive
The Port of Shelton has a bad habit. It's called Biomass InSINeration.
Commissioner Jay Hupp and friends just can't let go of a bad idea. They are actively seeking a replacement for the recently departed ADAGE incinerator project. They have been talking biomass with a group from Oregon. As citizens and voters, I think we need to know what is going on with our Port.
We all learned a lot during our fight against ADAGE. We learned just how dangerous biomass incinerator emissions are for our health, and the health of the entire planet. We also learned how dangerous electing sociopaths to public office can be.
A sociopath is defined as someone whose behavior is antisocial, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. With all that we know about the inherent problems with biomass incineration, there are still at least two commissioners and a director at the Port who want to bring one or more incinerators to our neighborhood. I call that sociopathic behavior.
Massive polluting industry is not a virtue for any community, and would be a nightmare for a rural community like ours. It is truly difficult to understand the mentality that would want to turn this beautiful area into another Tacoma for the sake of "development". The Port should be focusing its efforts on low negative impact industry and tourism, not smoke stacks or toxic waste from plastic manufacturers.
As the I-5 corridor becomes more and more polluted, crowded and nightmarish, Mason County will look better and better to visitors. If the Port, the EDC, Simpson/Solomon, the County Commissioners, and the Chamber Pot don't screw it up, the visitors will come...but they won't be looking for smokestacks, PCBs or toxic oysters.
What visitors will want to find here is clean air, clean water, beautiful scenery, etc. These are our community's resources which are all becoming very precious commodities these days. These are our treasures and, if protected, also present great possibilities for our prosperity.
Photo by Christine
I keep wondering what has happened to "the will of the people"? Our elected officials seem to have forgotten that part of the fine democratic tradition. Remember that thousands of people signed the petition to put the Adage lease on a ballot.... not a handfull of kooks or out of county agitators, thousands.
ReplyDeleteFor my part, I don't feel any less negative than I did a few months ago about denying biomass incineration a welcome in Mason County. I haven't forgotten about it. I will oppose new facilities and encourage existing corporations to clean up their acts. I'll vote for politicians who agree that a healthy environment is their duty to protect. I'll ask questions and write letters, as Mr. Cox and many other local citizens have done.
I'd like to emphasize Mr. Cox's remark that as crowds and pollution grow on the I-5 corridor and in densely populated urban areas, tourists and visitors will be drawn to the beautiful environment of Mason County--- if we protect it.
I call that sociopathic behavior too.
ReplyDeleteLacking a conscience to help direct them to projects that benefit our community, and that fit our glorious natural wonders, two port commissioners (Hupp & Wallitner) and their director (Dobson) continue to seek ways to harm the citizens and enrich polluting industries.
The days of ignoring the health of the community in order to accommodate polluting industries are coming to a close.
This is happening all over the country and the planet.
Human beings are standing up and demanding to be put ahead of corporate profits. It is slow and tedious, but we are having successes here and there that make me believe the tide is turning against industry in favor of citizen health.
We need to continue monitoring all Port activities until changes at the federal level make biomass incineration, and the biomassacre of whole communities, illegal or so expensive that these companies will start to innovate rather than continue to look to their caveman ancestors for solutions to modern problems.
Thanks John, keep up the good work!
The picture for this post is absolutely amazing. It really shows how beautiful our community is!
ReplyDeleteAt today’s Port of Shelton meeting, John Dobson addressed the “rumor” that the Port is attempting to attract another biomass facility to replace the failed Adage proposal. He said it was not true, no such effort was underway and no such proposal had been received or entertained. He said the “rumor” likely stemmed from a visit, some months back, by a group of Oregon businessmen interested in purchasing the failed Atlas wood pellet plant, but the deal fell through when another concern purchased it first. Details were sketchy, and maybe not important. But true or not, few people take JD at his word, and therein lies the true shame and damage of losing the public’s trust. Sadder still is the fact that Hupp and Wallitner don’t seem to care. (My personal take on this whole biomass rumor mill is that Hupp got his cookies off by starting it.)
ReplyDeleteIf true, it is good to hear that the Oregon group was not visiting on biomass incinerator business. But, as you said Tom, it is a sad situation when we feel that we cannot trust what is being said at the Port.
ReplyDeleteIf some group walked in to the Port tomorrow with a proposal for an incinerator, what do you think would happen? I have no doubts. Do you?
Until we have public statements from all the Commissioners stating that they would not support a biomass incinerator project on Port property, I do not feel safe. Maybe it is pointless, because even if they promised and swore oaths, I could never feel 100% certain. Too much water under the bridge I guess.
SUBMITTED BY Pj
ReplyDeleteYes, and that is why the Port people (and County and City) will be replaced one by one until we finally get some people in there who will protect what we have left, and promote our county for it's beauty and it's recreation and will bring in some family orientated businesses that will support jobs and not impact health and the environment in a harmful way.
It can be done and there has to be some people running for office who have the brains to do it, as long as the County population has the brains to elect the right people. I think we do have the brains, if we only pay attention.
Maybe people are afraid of change---is it "better the devil you know" or something like that? I don't know that we could have any worse officials in office if we went searching for them. (There are a few here and there that give us hope)
The people who promote biomass will have years of opposition from the local population. We don't cave in to those who would bring pollution, which ruins our environment and makes us sick. We will fight with our pen and our vote and our dollars to protect our families and our way of life.
SUBMITTED BY Jack Miles
ReplyDeleteI was present at the all Ports Meeting at the Port of Allyn when Jay Hupp announced that the Port of Shelton was actively seeking a replacement company for the ADAGE biomass incinerator project.
In addition, I called Teresa Rebo to ask if she recalled any meetings that took place regarding biomass. She called me back after reviewing notes she took, and said 6 men met with John Dobson on May 24, 2011 in his office on that day. This was consistent with what Jay Hupp mentioned at the all Ports Meeting, saying the Port was in talks with companies to replace ADAGE, and that another meeting was scheduled. The All Ports meeting took place on May 11, 2011. Anyone wanting to request meeting minutes, make sure you ask for the secretary's original notes, because meeting minutes do not accurately reflect what Jay Hupp says.
Also, I would like to add that I just recently reviewed Dick Taylor's PDC reports on donors. Here are just some of the contributors of interest:
The top donor is...Tom Wallitner with $500. Next is John Dobson with $250. Next is none other than Rick Hoss, Attorney for ADAGE with a donation of $200. Next is Steve Bloomfield at $100, followed by Diana and Jay Hupp donating $100 each. Others on the list are reps from the EDC and the Chamber Board. I think you see the theme here of business people supporting the candidate who headed a group called "Citizens for a Prosperous Mason County" that supported the ADAGE project.
Don't be fooled. They are working behind closed doors to bring still another biomass facility to Mason County and are using the Port facility to promote their cause. Why are they trying to shut me out of the office? Because I smell a rat and it's Commissioners Tom Wallitner and Jay Hupp, along with Director John Dobson. They believe if they play politics, I will loose this election. The problem with this picture is: the Commissioners have no idea what the voters are thinking, but I do. Enough said!
Ballots come out next week. This is your opportunity to vote for the only Commissioner who has fought to protect you and your family. This is your opportunity to get the vote you never got last year on the advisory ballot. A vote for Jack Miles will show how many people were truly against biomass in this County. I need your help and your vote. Show the elected who is really in charge...YOU, THE VOTERS.