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ANR
Fear of the unknown.
That was clearly the deciding factor in an emotional three-hour public hearing last week which sent a poor message to anyone considering Hamilton County as a place to invest in or plant a flag for future economic development. Emotions, not facts, resulted in a premature vote by the Hamilton County Joint Planning & Zoning Commission to deny a request from Synergen Green Energy to build an ammonia plant on Highway 34.
Regardless of how you feel about this specific proposal, there were important questions on the table as to if in fact such a large, cutting-edge, ag-based operation that would require a tremendous amount of water fits in Hamilton County, based on the comprehensive planning and zoning regulations.
Water surfaced as the largest concern, both in terms of the 3 million gallons of water per day required to run the plant, and the question of how 500,000 gallons of daily wastewater would be handled. The Upper Big Blue NRD answered the quantity question, though many in the room rejected the hydrology study that decision was based on. The wastewater issue proved to be a major obstacle. That was totally understandable as there was no clear direction on whether Synergen would inject the wastewater back into the aquifer, release it to area waterways or send it through the City of Aurora’s wastewater treatment facility, with each option raising its own set of questions.
Complicating this important discussion was the fact that the county’s planning and zoning staff is in transition now, which prompted the county board to wisely hire a consultant to help run the proceedings. Marvin Planning Consultants Inc.’s senior planner provided valuable insight, which could have given the commission direction in processing so much information involving a request unlike anything the county has ever seen. That recommendation included nearly a dozen conditions that would have to be met before Synergen would receive a conditional use permit, which could have mitigated concerns raised, most specifically by neighboring property owners. A conditional use permit is a powerful tool.
But instead of talking about and seriously considering those conditions, or tabling the issue to allow more time for research and consideration, the board was swayed by emotional fear of the unknown. That, more than anything, was disappointing and short-sighted. As an ag-based community, this is what opportunity and progress looks like in rural Nebraska, and to dismiss it without even bothering to fully explore the possibilities sends a message inconsistent with Hamilton County’s reputation as a place that welcomes innovation, opportunity and change.
County commissioners, as the final voice of authority, should carefully review the pros and cons of the Synergen proposal as well as the premature decision to deny this request.
-- Kurt Johnson
