PSC hears from plant opponents [and supporters]
By Scott Loesch, Special to the Democrat Missourian
After a dozen people spoke in support of Aquila’s plans for a new peaking facility near Peculiar, members of the Missouri Public Service Commission heard more than two hours of testimony against the project during a public hearing Tuesday night at the Cass County Justice Center in Harrisonville.
Most of those in favor of the plant, which has been under construction for two months, were representing organizations that would benefit from the project. The majority of witnesses that spoke against Aquila’s proposal were residents of the area at 243rd Street and South Harper Road where the peaking facility is being built.
In early January, Circuit Court Judge Joseph Dandurand issued an injunction to Cass County that said Aquila did not have the required certificate of convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission to construct the plant in the county. On Jan. 28, Aquila filed an application with the PSC for the certificate to provide electric service in the area.
The commission will use information gathered from this hearing to make a decision on the case.
Some of the witnesses speaking against the proposed facility Tuesday said they were not opposed to the construction of the plant, but opposed to the location due to the number of residences in the proximity of the facility. Others questioned the need for another power plant in the area. Also, witnesses expressed concern with emissions from the plant.
During the hearing, Della January of StopAquila.org said she wanted to stress three points.
These included the fact that those affected were not given due process, that there was no objective review of the plant and that the delay is creating hostility in the neighborhood.
January’s remarks were met with applause from the crowd which had filled the courtroom to its capacity.
“This is an emotional issue,” she said. “We are concerned about property values, our health, the health of our children and our quality of life.”
January and others spoke of patrols by Aquila through their neighborhoods and in front of their house, questioning the need to patrol that far from the plant site.
Jeff Davis, chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission, asked about these patrols and also said he was not aware of any problems with emissions from natural-gas powered plants.
“I have never heard of emissions problems with natural gas plants,” Davis said as he was met with gasps from the filled courtroom.
Later Cindy Mayer, who resides near the Aquila property, described some of the possible health affects from the plant in detail. One of her major concerns was the emission of benzine.
“This is going in a neighborhood of 250 houses,” she said. “We don’t need this in our area. We didn’t want our children and grandchildren raised with this.”
Before Mayer left the podium, Davis asked her for directions to the Aquila site with the possibility that he would drive by the location on Wednesday.
The first person to speak during the hearing was Peculiar Mayor George Lewis, who is also a customer of Aquila.
“I am strongly in favor of this facility,” he said.
He went on to describe the recent increase in population for the Peculiar area and said this facility would help to attract new business.
George Bremer, who sold the land to Aquila, said that Southern Star, which has a natural gas facility adjacent to the property, had always been a good neighbor and assumed that Aquila would not cause any problems.
Gary Kemp, business manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Trades Council, and Mike Baker, business manager for IBEW, both spoke of the support Aquila has given to their workers.
Next, the Missouri PSC will have oral argument and hearings March 28-29 on Aquila’s application. The hearings are set for 10 a.m. in Room 310 of the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, in Jefferson City.
Copyright © 2004 – The Cass County Democrat Missourian – All rights reserved.
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