Biomass is on a fast-moving train just as the YMCA was. Other than an abundance of forest I’ve found nothing in the phase 1 biomass study to promote the plan the Cook County Local Energy Project (CLEP) has chosen to pursue.
With millions of miles of Internet space CCLEP chose to only post the results of their study rather than the meat and potatoes so that over 5,000 citizens could actually educate themselves on all angles rather than what they wanted us to know, much like the YMCA process.
Commissioner Garry Gamble has pushed for a public meeting but doubts the powers at hand will actually give the public a true chance to say no. Numerous downtown business owners have signaled it will not be profitable to retool their buildings to accommodate biomass yet the train picks up speed with headlines like biomass will be hard to stop.
Biomass started as a plan to reduce heating costs to our large government buildings but has fallen off track.
Not one elected official has chosen to represent the people just as in the YMCA. Biomass phase 1 results favor standalone units much like Tofte’s Birch Grove Community Center pellet stove which they sound happy with. I find nothing in their data to support a plant with a price tag of over $3 million largely to heat downtown businesses.
The names in the group pushing biomass resemble names that stopped a Grand Marais marina expansion, pushed for the current spending of over $3.1 million at the EDA’s golf course, and pushed the YMCA promoting citizens not having a voice.
I’m willing to look at the phase 2 results with an open mind but feel it’s time to organize a committee to strategize and start a petition against tax dollars supporting this plan. Isn’t it time we told them, “No, enough is enough”? Or will we continue to let them rape us of our right to say no?
More citizens than I can count continually ask me to keep writing and run for office. I will be looking for your support as I spearhead citizens demanding a voice at the table.
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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