TOM'S TALES FOR THE WEEK
Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive
It was slim pickings for commission meetings this week as there were no County or Port meetings scheduled, and if the clock on the wall at the City Workshop hadn’t broke, there wouldn’t have been anything to talk about. But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening in our fair County. Read on:
BIOMASS PLANT TO OPEN ON EAGLE POINT?
OR
Seven Deadly Steps Toward Biomass
Is Simpson planning to build a biomass incinerator facility on Eagle Point? The Port owns some 20 odd acres out on the point and is looking into swapping it for a toxic piece of Simpson shoreline next door to the yacht club. The question is, why? Let’s look at the facts:
Fact 1: Simpson announced its intentions to build a biomass to energy plant in Shelton.
Fact 2: The Port announced it is looking into a property swap with Simpson.
Fact 3: The County assessed the Port’s Eagle Point property at $939,000; the Port has set its value at $232,000.
Fact 4: It’s easier to build a biomass plant on private property than on public property.
Fact 5: Currently, Simpson barges its wood chips (biomass) to Tacoma- Simpson Tacoma Kraft.
Fact 6: Over the water distance from the Shelton Harbor to Eagle Point is about 1,500 yards (a bit closer than Tacoma).
Fact 7: The Shelton Wastewater Treatment Facility on Eagle Point produces a steady stream of nitrate pellets as a byproduct of its operations, which can be used as fuel in a biomass incinerator.Of course, I’m just guessing here; there may be no plan to build a biomass incinerator on Eagle Point, and maybe Simpson has never considered the logistical advantages of doing so. Then again, you might want to keep a fry-pan on hand just in case it starts raining pork chops -- the chances are about the same.
One thing is for sure: Whatever is going on between the Port of Shelton and the Simpson Corp. is far larger than what we’re being told. And it is with that notion in mind I would rather appear foolish than be foolish.
Later….
You paint a pretty scary picture of our future. I thought it would be a lovely land swap so the Marina could do some expansion. I like the Marina and when I think of a "port" of anything, I think of the water, a marina, a place for boats and people. So that land swap at first blush looks interesting. It's when you look hard at it that it gets really strange.
ReplyDeleteAs you point out, Tom, the county has the Eagle Point property valued at nearly a million dollars. I have not seen the land, but believe it is tree covered and lovely. Unlike the Simpson Timber land the Port would accept in trade, which has modest to know "market" value, and is no doubt deeply and highly contaminated.
When one deals with folks who are sociopaths, it is best to remember that they have no conscience to guide them, and they have no empathy for the people who will reap the poisons of a biomass incinerator.
At present most, if not all, of our Port Commissioners (and their executive director) fit this description. No conscience to guide them and no empathy for the people affected by their actions. Their bottom line is $$$ and $$$ are all that matters.
And Simpson -- being able to bring us fire-breathing Solomon Energy Resources is their fervent desire; feeding their dragon will poison our community (and neighboring communities) on the scale of an ADAGE, and if will rain more poisons on the sea life and the shellfish beds (which have recently been declared "cleaner").
And that's just one of the dangers facing us in the future, brought to us by our elected officials.
We don't have the opportunity to replace the Port Commissioners in this election, but we sure do have the opportunity to elect people to the Board of County Commissioners who do have a CONSCIENCE and who do have EMPATHY for the citizens:
Roslynne Reed
Denny Hamilton
Ross Gallagher.
Without some compassionate commissioners, we are doomed fellow citizens, doomed!
What to do? What to do?
Use wisely your power of choice; talk to your neighbors about your choice and why you have made it; put up a candidate's sign; volunteer to wave candidate signs; volunteer to make phone calls for the candidates with conscience and empathy.
Act as if your life depends on the results of this election, because if you live in Mason County - it does!