About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2015)
JULY 16, 2015 Madison County Journal Merged with The Comer News and The Danielsville Monitor, 2006 MadisonJoumalTODAY.com 50< Vol. 30 No. 28 • Publication No. 1074-987 • Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia 30633 • A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc. • 20 Pages, 2 Sections Plus Supplements BUSINESS Power plant planned 58-megawatt biomass facility expected to open in Colbert in May 2017 The old Weyerhaeuser/Trus Joist wood plant off Hwy. 72 is the site of a planned 58-megawatt biomass power plant by Georgia Renewable Engery LLC. Zach Mitcham/staff By Zach Mitcham zach@mainstreetnews.com A power plant is being planned in the old Weyerhaeuser/Trus Joist wood facility off Hwy. 72 in Colbert. The business, which will be called the “GRP - Madison Renew able Energy Facility.’' is expected to be operational in May 2017. Dennis Carroll, the own er’s consultant for Georgia Renewable Power, LLC (formerly Greenfuels), said that the company plans to use the old plant as a multi-purpose energy facil ity. which will include stor age for Georgia Renewable Power equipment as well as a 58-megawatt biomass facility that uses shredded forestry products to pro duce energy that will be sold to Georgia Power, along with “other potential environmental operations.” The plant, which will operate 24/7, is expected to employ 26 people full time. “That does not include support for fuel suppli ers, maintenance, etc..” said Carroll regarding the num ber of workers. Carroll said the facili ty will be valued at about $100 million. State Senator Frank Ginn, who has been in contact with Carroll about the plan, said a facil ity of that size will be a big boost to the Madison County tax base. “That’s 1,000 $100,000 homes,” Ginn noted. “Madison County needs business and industry to build the tax base.” According to county chief tax appraiser Robin Baker, a $ 100-million facil ity would generate rough ly $1.2 million in property taxes for the county. Ginn said the plant is a good way to recycle con struction material as a power source in a clean manner. “I see a lot of plus in it.” he said. Carroll said the plant doesn’t plan to use the rail way that runs adjacent to Hwy. 72 near the plant, but tracks will bring in “clean C and D (construction and demolition) forested prod uct.” He estimated that 60 tracks a day will transport material to the facility. “If you are building a house and you have cut off two by fours that aren’t chemically treated, that’s the kind of construction debris we’ll use,” he said. Asked if any materials besides wood could be used, Carroll replied: “No, under the definition of ‘woody biomass,’ we can not process other fuels.” He also said the excess debris from the facility is “only ash, which due to its nature can be landfilled or recycled.” Georgia Renewable Power is in the process of obtaining both air emissions and storm water runoff permits from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Asked if there were any specific emis sions estimates that could be provided, Carroll didn’t offer numbers but said the company will fall under the allowable threshold. “Our application refer ences ‘less than’ a specific criteria the state has estab lished for emissions limits,” said Carroll. Carroll said the type of power facility Georgia Renewable Power will open is significantly cleaner than coal-powered plants. “We understand the importance of being good neighbors and being part of the community.” said Carroll. Eric Cornwell, manager of the Stationary Source Permitting Program Air Protection Branch of the EPD, said Georgia Renewable Power’s air-per mit application does include specific emissions figures. “Yes, the application (No. 23292) contains emissions estimates.” wrote Cornwell in response to The Journal’s request for numbers. “The application is in paper format, so it is not avail able on-line. The applica tion is publicly available for viewing and copying at EPD’s Air Branch office in Atlanta.” Cornwell said the time for public comment on the facility has already passed. He said the EPD posted an announcement for its air permit subscribers in June. “The public advisory for GRP was emailed to sub scribers Wednesday, June 10.” wrote Cornwell. He said citizens can sign up to subscribe to such postings at http://www. georgiaair.org/airpermit/ html/subscriptions.htm “When EPD received this application, we posted a public advisory announcing this project and allowed the public to comment for 30 days (this public comment — See “Power plant” on 2A RELIGION CITY NEWS INSIDE Index: News — 1-3 A Opinions —4-6A Crime — 7A Socials — 8A, 10A, 12A Obituaries — 11A Sports — 1-2B Churches — 9A Classifieds —4-5B Legals — 6-7B Contact: Phone: 800-795-2581 Mail: P.O. Box 658, Danielsville, Ga. 30633 Web: MadisonJournalTODAY. com Mailing Label Below ‘Faith and Carlton Baptist to celebrate 215th family’ anniversary in August Several longtime members of Carlton Baptist Church, along with their pastor, met to talk about the church’s long and varied history since it was established in January 1800. A number of prominent county citizens helped to establish the church and contributed to its history. Pictured (L-R) is Rev. Lee Adams with parishioners John House, Pauline Drew, Mary Jo Simmons, Alex Faulkner and Ronnie Faulkner. Margie Richards/staff By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com Walking into Carlton Baptist Church's century- old sanctuary is like taking a step back in time. It’s one-of-a-kind stained glass windows, dedicated to the memory of former church and community leaders such as the Moore, Eberhardt, Powers and Hobbs families, along with the intricate hand-carved woodwork and unique sanctuary design gives one a feeling of reverence and of history. Rev. Lee Adams, who took over as pastor at the historic church last fall, says he feels those same things every time he climbs the steps to the podium to lead a service, “I am just in awe and so humbled to be able to worship here,” Adams said. ‘To walk in these doors and see an image of (for example) Jacob Eberhardt (on a stained glass window) just brings history to life.” And though Adams has been pastor for less than a year, his knowledge of the history of the church, and the Carlton community in general, is impressive, Adams grew up on the other side of Madison County in the Neese Community but he has family ties to the church and is a history and genealogy buff to boot, so he finds the church’s long and varied history intriguing, as well as the history of the families who started the church, many of whose descendants still continue to worship there. “This church is about faith and family,” lifelong church member Ronnie Faulkner, himself a father of nine, said. '“When I was little, my grandma would just put me in the car and bring me here to this church. This is where I grew up.” Other members say that nowadays when Faulkner’s entire family, including his ten grandchildren, come to church they fill a large section of pews just by themselves. Faulkner's oldest son Alex, another regular attendee, is also a history buff, having graduated with a degree in history from UGA in 2013. He’ll teach Georgia history at the middle school this fall. He says growing up in such a historical setting piqued — See “Church” on 3A The stained-glass win dows at Carlton Baptist Church are dedicated to former church and com munity leaders. Danielsville roundabout project dead By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com For now at least, the roundabout project at the red light in Danielsville is officially “dead.” Mayor Todd Higdon told council members Monday night that plans for the project, which began in 2012. expired Saturday July 11 and that there are no plans on the table to replace it. Higdon said despite diligent work on the project on the part of the city and county, prices kept increasing constantly, along with the price to have utilities removed from the rights- of-way. “It came down to just how much was the city willing to spend to fix what is a state problem,” Higdon said, pointing out that both Hwy. 29 (State Hwy. 8) and Hwy. 98 are state highways. Higdon said he is meeting this week with D.O.T. officials to discuss projects for Danielsville and that the state officials are aware of the town’s issues. Higdon also encouraged those who travel through the red light to talk with their state leaders about how — See “D’ville” on 3A
