October 4th, 2009
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !
CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PETITION 5 : 0
AND MAKES BURNING OF SLUDGE ILLEGAL
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW CITY ORDINANCE
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THE PEOPLE OF BANNING HAVE PREVAILED !!!!!
USE OF THE INITIATIVE PROCESS HAS FORCED THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROHIBIT THE BURNING OF SEWAGE SLUDGE !!
THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THE VOTERS WHO SIGNED THE PETITION REQUIRED THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE INITIATIVE !
THE CITIZENS OF BANNING TOOK CONTROL AND REFUSED TO LET POLITICIANS DECIDE THEIR DESTINY
All of Banning recognized that this plant would be essentially a sewage incinerator, with wood and other fuels mixed with the sewage to allow it to be advertised and to obtain permits as a ”green power plant” . Hopefully other small communities in need of funds will not be confused by such false “green energy ” slogans.
Our City Attorney has stated that the new City Ordinance, which prohibits the burning of sewage sludge, can be expected to withstand any legal challenge. Other communities faced with the same problem can now use our initiative, our research and our subsequent success as an example.
Another community having to deal with a Liberty Energy toxic sludge incinerator proposal will most likely be Lost Hills, CA. We will stand by them in their fight for health and safety, so they too can have a “sludge-free” future.
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June 19th, 2009
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April 15th, 2009
THE PROPOSED “LIBERTY ENERGY XXIII” PROJECT IS AN OUTRAGE AND A NIGHTMARE FOR OUR CITY !
Here’s why :
- Liberty Energy is proposing an incinerator plant on 20 acres in the City of Banning that burns immense amounts of sewage sludge. This sludge, innocently called “Biosolids” - containing unknown quantities of toxins ( MERCURY and DIOXIN ) and human feces - is being incinerated with the result that deadly toxins will be emitted. For example, according to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), this facility will vaporize 36 lbs. of MERCURY each year.
- The facility uses huge quantities of industrial strength AMMONIA , a highly toxic chemical that damages lungs and even causes death.
- The plant will use large amounts of drinking water therewith depleting our fresh water resources.
- The incinerator will be operating within the City limits of Banning and within less than ¾ of a mile from residences.
- 132 semi trucks daily , making a total of 264 trips, will be delivering toxic sewage mass from all over California - nonstop 24/7. This equates to 1 truck about every 5 minutes coming down the freeway exiting Hargrave. How is this going to enhance our quality of life ?
- Falsely promoted as a “green” renewable energy solution , this facility does not even net 1 Watt of electricity. It is correct that sewage sludge contains energy ; however, in order to extract this energy from the sludge, its 80% water content first needs to be “boiled off”. This process requires more energy (in form of added natural gas) than the sludge is able to yield.
- The production of energy alone will NOT produce sufficient revenue to operate this type of facility. The revenue is almost exclusively generated by disposing of the sludge. Depending on toxicity levels, California communities will pay anywhere between $ 40 to several thousand Dollars per ton of sludge they dispose of.
- Whatever revenue this industrial plant would generate for the City of Banning will be offset by a destruction of property values (view) for it’s homeowners due to the presence of such a facility. Approval of this project practically amounts to confiscation of private property.
- Bottom line : This is by no means a “clean” project , this is HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USE posing great HEALTH RISKS ! It does NOT belong in any City ! And it certainly does not belong close to residences.
Don’t let them shove this nightmare down our throats !
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March 23rd, 2009
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