Church members air concerns about construction of biofuel facility in South Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. –
SOUTH AUGUSTA (WFXG)- A biofuel facility producing renewable energy could soon come to South Augusta. But, members of historic Spirit Creek Baptist Church, located less than a mile from the potential location have concerns.

More than 50 members of its congregation showed up to Tuesday’s commission meeting, pleading for  commissioners to reconsider a special permit that would allow Renovation Solutions LLC to open its facility.

The proposed plan faces opposition from environmental advocates as well because of the potential environmental and health concerns it poses.

Additionally, Jack Long, an attorney with Tucker Long P.C. representing the church claims there little data on the effects facilities like this have had on the communities nearby.

“We know from Georgia that some of the biomass plants that they have had, north of Athens, in Madison County and Franklin County have created all sorts of pollution problems,” says Long.

It’s a conversation that has stirred talks of creating an environmental justice ordinance that would require potential industries to provide information about its operation to city leaders and the community.

Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus says this would allow people to truly consider the impacts of such projects before granting special permits.

“The requirements of those special exemptions are pretty relaxed, to the point now where we’re considering a new biomass facility and asking the city to sign off an really no information on the pollutant loads, where drinking water are there historical markers nearby,”said  Bonitatibus.

Despite the opposition, it’s up to the commission to approve the construction and operation of the facility. However, Attorney Long is hopeful they will vote to put the community first.

“It’s not to keep people from building plants and economic development, we all want that,” Long says. “But, we also don’t want to have some type of economic development that creates a nuisance and then damages other people’s properties and ability to do something.”

The company will make its case to the full commission on Tuesday, August 8th.

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