Description

Greenpoint Energy Partners are developers. They've been arranging a deal to put a food waste/compost /methane gas facility in Ansonia on a 2.5 acre parcel next to the new water treatment plant. (This will include a 60 foot decomposing waste tank and continuous methane gas flame next to the new river walk, between the bridge and Duchess). Greenpoint Energy Partners already has some state permits & is proceeding w/its plan. (http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/11014/greenpoint-awaits-city-approval-for-connecticut-ad-project) Harvest Power will run the plant - they will lease the land for $1/yr from Ansonia. (They run one in Orlando and one in Richmond, British Columbia .) (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/24/bad-smells-in-bc-stinky-smelly-richmond-vancouver-kelowna_n_2179390.html )
•10 trucks of waste coming through Ansonia every weekday (possible spillage, definite odor, wear & tear on roads, extra traffic disruption, esp. by RR tracks.) (http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/ansonia_food_waste_plant_faces_uphill_battle/ ) Yearly, this will be 45,000 tons of waste coming in and 18,000 tons of compost going out. State law will require all food waste from hospitals, schools and other facilities within a 20 mile radius to be brought to Ansonia.
•Ansonia will be committed for 25 years to buy the methane gas energy – but what’s the price? Greenpoint ESTIMATES that Ansonia will save $250,000 a year on energy costs for 5 municipal buildings – but there is NO contractual guarantee that the price will be competitive. In other words, Ansonia might not save a dime, and in fact, might end up committed (for 25 years) to buying energy that costs much more than from other sources. (http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/ansonia_questions_food-to-energy_proposal/ )
•Potential for explosions (methane), sludge, accidents - all of these have happened in Europe & U.S. related to anaerobic digestion already. (http://tagnotowasteplant.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/methane-explosion-risks/ )
•Stench and stink - many towns across Europe are outraged at the horrible, blinding odors they must endure thanks to anaerobic digestion. Those folks have had to say goodbye to open windows and hello to sunken property values. (http://www.halno.com/incidents/ )
• Look at Board of Alderman minutes from June 14, 2011 & Sept.13, 2011. It looks like this deal was pushed forward very suddenly & with many assurances that the resolutions were not binding. (http://www.cityofansonia.com/content/2528/563/default.aspx )
Many Ansonia residents, both Democrats and Republicans are against this project – but is it too late? If Ansonia tries to stop this project at the local level, will Greenpoint Energy Partners file a lawsuit?
Where are the benefits? Maybe the benefits are for INVESTORS in Greenpoint Energy Partners and Harvest Power.