Personal Commentary
Everyone in town is being sold that ethanol is so great. Yet, there are many scientific reports stating the opposite. Read the Michigan Ethanol link at the left to see what an ethanol plant can do to a community. Even with a 50 cent per gallon subsidy from the federal government, ethanol costs the same as regular unleaded at the gas pump. Plus, ethanol yields a lower mile per gallon rate as compared to gasoline. You do the math.
It is no secret that the underground water supply in western Kansas is dwindling. The Ogallala aquifer, which stretches from South Dakota and Nebraska into west Texas, is being drained faster than it can be recharged with fresh water. In some areas the aquifer is dropping six feet per year! Water management is now a reality in many locations. So why is it that no one cares that this plant will draw millions of gallons of water from this diminishing resource. While it is admirable that these industrial plants will be more efficient in terms of "recycling waste", the fact is that the developers are gobbling up water rights from nearby acreage and now trying to find a way to get it to their proposed plant.
Another troubling aspect is that rumors around town have it that the investors, as well as people who were initially approached for funding but refused, are being revisited and being asked for more money. Is money already in such short supply for this project? And if it fails, who is responsible for removing all the debris from the site?
The truth is, the people heading up this project have admitted this has never been done before. And while intentions may seem good at first glance, it is extremely troubling that no one else, including the folks running the city, seems to care that Sherman county is being used as a proving ground for the developers. That was evident when it was promised back in July 2005 that this plant would be operational by September 2006!! It seems the only ones in town knowing this would never occur were the ones building the plant! Meanwhile, the city and county are literally stumbling over themselves to bend over backwards trying to please the developers:
"Do you want us to re-define the city zoning code so you can build? Sure. A new heavy indutrial plant you say? We'll get right on it because you're promising new jobs in Goodland!"
"Do you want the city to annex this land? Sure, we'll do it in just a couple weeks because you're promising new jobs here in Goodland!"
"Do you want the city to sign a ten-year contract two years before this plant will be operational? Sure, we'll do it. We'll hold a special meeting because this can't wait two weeks...because you're promising new jobs here in Goodland!
"Okay, you screwed up and now you want us to de-annex this land? Sure, no problem! We'll re-annex it later for you...because you're promising new jobs here in Goodland!"
"So, you want the city and county to pay for 6 miles of power lines to your plant? We'd love to..because you're promising new jobs in Goodland! When do you need it?"
"You want us to raise the sales tax so we can build new roads to your plant? Okay...because you're promising new jobs in Goodland!"
"What? Someone pointed out that you lied to us about your permits. No problem, we can certainly over look that...because you're promising new jobs here in Goodland!"
This, of course, is all very easy because the mayor and some of the city commissioners just happen to be investors in the plant. But that is also not a conflict of interest apparently. Meanwhile, millions of dollars are driving right past our front door on the interstate. No one has the insight to tap into that unending supply of money just driving down the freeway, they'd rather let all that money drive over to Colby, because Goodland would rather build a dirty, heavy industrial plant.
The developers never held an open forum to present information and never contacted neighbors to discuss their plans and let us see their vision. A mandatory open meeting by KDHE was held, but was not an appropriate forum to discuss such details. It was just decided by a few of the more wealthy residents in the area that this project is in the best interest of Sherman county. Actually, it will likely turn out that this project is in the best interest of a handful of developers, and, if this gets off the ground and actually survives long enough to make money, some of the local investors will also benefit. Meanwhile, all the neighbors will "benefit" from the unsightly industrial complex where once there was farmland...from the irritating smell, as well as the constant heavy truck traffic associated with this chemical plant...and the once dark star-filled night sky lit up continuously.
By-the-way, one engineer was shown the prospectus for the energy center and stated: "This is something I would expect from a con artist".
Mr. Justus is a buyer and seller of used energy parts. A little searching on the internet will show you that. There is certainly nothing wrong with that in itself. The fact that he still has Tennessee plates on his vehicle after almost two years likely indicates he has no intention of settling in Goodland...this is just another temporary project. Could it be that Sherman County and its residents are just footing the bill for another used parts endeavor for Mr Justus? After all, this plant is being assembled from used parts that were originally located in different parts of another state that were never meant to be re-assembled in one location. No problems though, Mr Justus and Mr Pickman will be back in Tennessee and Colorado in a year or two...it'll be Sherman county that will have to deal with all of this.