Neighbors sick of noise from PGP plant

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Thursday, May 16. 2013

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Piedmont Green Power, which came on line May 1, is not proving to be a good neighbor, at least in the eyes of 24 people who signed a petition asking Barnesville city council to do something about the 60 decibel-plus noise they can hear from the plant.

Mike Lenhart presented the petition to council at its May 7 meeting.

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#1 Julia Heidbrink on 05/16/13 at 08:45 AM

This was supposed to be "green" in that it would be good for us. Turns out the only thing green might just be the $$ the city gets from it! Why do we just keep doing this kind of stuff in our county?

The plant was looking for a place to build when it came here. So was Greenco! Remember that one?

Everything cannot possibly be about money.... or can it?

Julia

#2 Tom Rauch on 05/16/13 at 01:22 PM

These plants are not "green". If you research plants like this that have been around a long time, and have a history, you'll find people in those areas woke up and now understand how they really work.

The supposition that they are "green" is based on the flawed logic that trees are planted and grown at a faster rate than the plant consumes wood.

What actually happens is wood that would have been left to slowly decay, and that would have replenished the soil, is burned in these plants at extreme temperatures. This normally gives virtually the same noxious output as coal, minus a few trace contaminants found in coal. The real catch is the EPA, under lobbying pressure from politicians who do not understand basic science, allows plants like this to have about 2.5 times the noxious output of coal plants. The results is the odorless and invisible but harmful gas emissions, like carbon monoxide and nitrogen compounds, is actually much higher than a coal plant of the same power.

The CO2 output is about the same.

So this thing really just depletes the forests just like cotton did to the soil, and has less filtering because lobbyists have convinced the poorly educated and under informed politicians they are somehow "green". What Missy and others seem to not understand is 15-50 mediocre paying jobs doesn't offset the environmental impact of things like this and "GREENco". If green is in the name, you better look close. Someone is probably hoodwinking someone.

#3 That's Life on 05/16/13 at 02:45 PM

Now you're catching on.

#4 Kelles Fleming on 05/16/13 at 08:52 PM

The noise from the plant can be heard in the Laurel Drive, Pine St, and Maple Dr area. The noise sounds more like blower motors or boiler feed pump motors than an exhaust stack. These sources of noise can have attenuation panels or structures installed to control their output allowing Piedmont Green Power to be a good steward of the environment and an equally good neighbor to those of us who live in close proximity to their facility.

#5 AMERICA - IN GOD WE TRUST on 05/18/13 at 11:03 PM

These 24 names were collected in less than 4 hours near Collier Road (almost 1 mile away). There are approximately 30-50 more in addition to this even closer and much further away spanning from Johnsonville road to Fredonia Chruch, Gordon Road, Brent Road, Bush Road and many more. This plant was sold a bad bill of goods by the city. A plant as large as it is has no business in the City Limits near residental areas. It should have been put near the landfill where there are already chip mills and other similar companies. This is just for the noise. There are still issues of odor and emmissions from the stack which are all uncertain not to mention runnoff into a Federal Waterway. Not sure what their the real plan is for our community - not seeing much real concern for the people just the paychecks for the few that make the (bad) decisions. I think we need to put a few positions on the chopping block or somehow to a vote for the leadership. We vote for the mayor why not vote a few more in and out of office.

#6 I Care on 05/20/13 at 08:47 AM

The plant noise is unbelievable at times. Saturday night it sounded like planes were taking off in my backyard. If you are having issues with the noise, please let the City of Barnesville know. We need people to stand up, otherwise it will never go away. My peaceful home has been taken from me. The power plant and the city must be held accountable. If you would like to meet with Mike Lenhart and sign the petition, please email PGPnoise@gmail.com.

#7 I Care on 05/20/13 at 09:08 AM

#8 Tamara Plaxco on 05/20/13 at 03:00 PM

The noise levels at my home are either annoying, very annoying, or extremely annoying. Only when the plant is off can I remember how my home used to sound before this plant came online and the difference is staggering!

To IDA director Missy Kendrick's comments noted above of “We need industry and jobs,It’s a tough balancing act sometimes.” I have a few comments.

1. I'm all for jobs. I all for improving the local economy...but not at the detriment to those several hundred people living within a mile or so of the plant.

2. PGP states at question #3 on its official website under the FAQ section:

Q: Will the plant make noise?

A: The plant itself will not emit noise noticeable from beyond the property line.

http://www.piedmontgreenpower.com/faq.php

Obviously they are in violation of their own stated facts about their facility. Who is holding them accountable? This is not a new issue. It has been going on for close to 6 months.

#9 That's Life on 05/22/13 at 10:04 PM

How come there was not a referendum vote on the PGP plant like the City Council wants on Sunday Alcohol sales ??? hmmmmmnnn.

#10 Missy Kendrick on 05/23/13 at 04:27 PM

Ms. Plaxco,

While I do not disagree with the statement attributed to me above, it is not my quote. I did not speak during that meeting.

Missy

#11 Tamara Plaxco on 05/24/13 at 09:55 AM

So your publically stating that the Herald Gazette made this statement up as noted in the above article? Please clarify. (I was not at the meeting and can only go by what I read in print)

The issue with PGP and their plant producing excessive noise pollution to the detriment of the local residents should be of concern to all of us as well as the Barnesville city council, since the plant is inside the city limits.

I hope this current round of noise testing by ATC out of California will finally produce some tangible recommendations for how PGP can install some sort of noise dampening components on their exhaust stack if that is the culprit. Then I hope PGP will act swiftly installing the needed fix so we as a community can move on from this issue once & for all.

#12 AMERICA - IN GOD WE TRUST on 05/25/13 at 03:06 PM

How many active jobs are here today from this plant? I believe it is under 20. How many locals? None that I know of. I have toured the property a few different times and do not recognize one person. STRIKE-

What is going on with this City. We do not need this type of industry in the city limits. This area would have been better for housing. I know we need jobs and tax money but this is a joke.

I was told by a high ranking PGP official that in all his years, he had never seen an Industrial zone next to a residential zone. It is usually Industrial next to Commercial next to Residential.

Missy in your position, I would think this would have been a huge RED FLAG to you and your counterparts. Everything is this area is or has been a flop.

THIS PLANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTY NEAR THE LANDFILL AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPE COMPANIES AWAY FROM THE CITY.

IDA AND CITY Please in the future, try to recruit smaller companies that will hire locals and not be such a burden to nearby neighbors. You have really put your foot in it this time.

#13 That's Life on 05/26/13 at 05:03 PM

....ask your city manager, he makes $116,000 plus a year, so he must know what he's doing, looking out for your health and welfare.

#14 Charlie Muise on 05/27/13 at 08:07 PM

While I am very happy about the existence of this plant, the money it brings the county, and the renewable methods of energy production, I do feel very sorry for the folks who live near it. I'd be unhappy, too. As "America..." stated, this should have been placed in the INDUSTRIAL AREA. Just like the plant that was to have been placed along US 41, this placement was a very bad idea. Some people simply don't appreciate that some of us want quiet, dark skies, and low traffic volume. Missy, et al, please stop putting industry in places away from the designated industrial park, until it is full.

Charlie Muise

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