Biomass Gas and Electric takes themselves out of the game

A bit late, I know, sue me



A once controversial issue, the Biomass plant that was looking toward Tallahassee to build has dropped the issue. In a letter sent to Mayor John Marks office, Commissioners Gillum, Katz, Lightsey,and Mustian, and City Manager Anita Favors-Thompson, Biomass Gas and Electric formally stated that they had “decided not to locate the proposed Tallahassee Renewable Energy Center in Tallahassee or Leon County”and to” take all appropriate steps necessary to remove the project from the Florida State University Campus development Agreement pending before the Commission.”

BG&E claimed that no other site other than the proposed site off of Roberts Avenue could accommodate the project. The company has opened formal talks with other leaders in interested communities to house the project that was “excited about bringing Tallahassee a state-of-the-art renewable energy project that would have been smart for this region's fiscal and physical environment.”

Biomass had laid out the points that they were going to invest $150 million in the creation process. The plant would have created roughly 200 jobs during the construction phase alone plus an additional two-dozen high wage “Green-Collar” jobs, while launching a clean tax paying business.

In the company's letter the continued on to state how the “Disgraceful pretense of leadership demonstrated by Bill Proctor was nothing more than old fashion demagoguery, fear mongering and race baiting”. They also pointed out that businessman Erwin Jackson joined Proctor to push their “smear campaign” while killing the truth. “Whatever profit these two men derived from their groundless attacks on this good project comes at the expense of the entire community.”

Comm.Proctor spoke out against the plant claiming concerns of increase pollution in the Tallahassee area, even though Richard Jensen, Senior Vice President of Biomass Gas and Electric said "This project has been fully reviewed, has met and not only meets, but is below all of the standards that they have set for air emissions."

Deeper in their letter they suggest that Mr. Proctor position himself at the unemployment line along with the 200 families that will be unnecessarily be relying on a Government check instead of a paycheck, to explain to them why jobs they could have had have now gone to another community. They also state the “Perhaps Mr. Jackson should allow his tenants who are now unemployed to live rent free until they can find work.”

Biomass praised the leadership of Mayor Marks, the City Commission and the City Manager while also thanking the County Commission Chair Bryan Desloge, the Chamber of Commerce, City staff and F.S.U. Claiming “ These leaders recognize the importance of clean, carbon neutral renewable energy, which remains a key component of President Obama's and Governor Crist's action plan to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, while combating climate change and creating millions of new jobs.”

Mayor Marks said " This is a particularly hard hit during a time of economic hardship when today's unemployment figures show Leon County's jobless rate has jumped by 3,000 over the last year." while Comm. Gillum released a statement claiming “ I feel that this decision was made in large part due to the escalating concerns raised by others regarding the various dealings leading up to this proposal. While I understand those questions, I believe that it would be a grave miscalculation to conclude that renewable and good green energy solutions should die in the wake of those questions. Such a move is non-constructive and flies contrary to the progressive and innovative problem-solvers - who are the citizens of this community. “