Chase City, Va. — A heated debate in Virginia just north of the state border in Virginia could impact North Carolina.
A bioenergy company wants to build an ethanol plant in Mecklenburg County, but some are worried about pollution they say might end up in Kerr Lake.
Chase City has been a community divided – split over a proposed ethanol plant.
“If you ain’t got one, you don’t want one,” said Ed Hall, with the Association to Preserve Mecklenburg.
Osage Bio Energy is looking to build the plant on a 600-acre site just outside the town. County administrators said it will bring dozens of jobs to the area and a market for farmers to sell their corn and barley.
“People need to remember that we are an agrarian area,” said Joyce French, with Southside Planning District. “We are a farming area, and this is going to help the farmers.”
The Association to Preserve Mecklenburg said the plant won't mix with the agricultural community – or any community for that matter.
“Anybody who lives within two miles of an ethanol plant doesn’t have a very positive experience,” said Margaret Maass, with the association.
They are also concerned runoff from the plant might end up in a creek that leads into Kerr Lake.
“Kerr Lake goes into Carolina, too. So, they should be concerned,” Hall said.
Supporters of the plant say the naysayers aren't telling the truth.
“They’re trying to scare people with their tactics,” said Monty Hightower, with Concerned Citizens for Progress. “They’ve been sending flyers, putting large ads in the paper. We like to back up the facts.”
Both sides say the other needs to do more homework. The Osage Company will decide by fall whether Mecklenburg County is right for their plant. Then, local commissioners will decide on an issue that's already splitting the community.
The Osage Bio Energy company began operating in January but has not built an ethanol plant. The company president said Osage would emit low levels of pollutants by EPA standards.
Va. ethanol plant debate could affect N.C.
- Reporter: Beau Minnick
- Web Editor: Kelly Hinchcliffe
Copyright 2008 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
28 Comments
-
- Tropical storm warning issued for all of N.C. coast
Updated 18 minutes ago - Hanna to blow through Triangle Saturday
Updated Sep. 4 11:38 p.m. |
- Ex-teacher who faces sex charges is arrested again
Updated Sep. 4 10:11 p.m. |
- Attorney general warns of scams, price gouging
Updated Sep. 4 10:03 p.m. |
- No public events for Edwards until after election
Updated Sep. 4 6:42 p.m.
- Tropical storm warning issued for all of N.C. coast
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Images of Sarah Palin & her family
Posted Sep. 4 5:56 a.m. - Pet Photos | September 1 - September 7, 2008
Updated Sep. 4 4:03 p.m. - Tracking Hanna
Updated Sep. 4 9:52 a.m.
- Images of Sarah Palin & her family
Ask Anything
-
10 questions with Crime Reporter Amanda LambWRAL Crime Reporter Amanda Lamb answers your questions about crime scenes, murder cases and much more.
-
10 questions with Wake school board memberEleanor Goettee answers your questions about teacher pay, year-round schools ...
-
10 questions with Cary EMS Chief Steve CohenSteve Cohen answers your questions about saving lives and what to do in emergency situations.
hot topics
(1 votes) hanna to blow through triangle saturday
(1 votes) drilling for oil a hot topic at gop
Multimedia
-
Tracking HannaMeteorologists have been tracking Hanna, which has been a tropical storm and a hurricane.
-
Gustav: The path of destructionView Hurricane Gustav's path of destruction.
-
Gustav-Katrina ComparisonSee a timeline comparing the two hurricanes.
-
N.C. Drought Maps Time Lapse AnimationView a time lapse animation of drought conditions since April of 2007.
-
Raleigh Convention Center InteractiveThe Grand Opening of the new Raleigh Convention Center is Sept. 5 and 6.




STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.