Guest View: Biomass Plant Would Be Benefit

By Martin Hibbs

    I am writing you to express my concern and frustration regarding the permit denial by the New Mexico Department of Environment Air Quality Bureau for the proposed Western Water and Power Production biomass power plant in Torrance County.

    As mayor of Estancia, the community most directly affected by the biomass plant, I am charged with leading local government and businesses to discover and nurture opportunities for our community— opportunities applicable to today and tomorrow. I am concerned that a small, vocal group of naysayers has hijacked Estancia's potentially bright future through a misinformation campaign designed to derail the project.

    The biomass power plant gives south Torrance County a chance to stand on its own and grow. By thwarting this project, we rob the people of Torrance County of a better future possibly. I do not support this theft, and here is why.

    1. The biomass power plant empowers the people of southern Torrance County to invest in their future by taking full advantage of the opportunities that the plant provides.
    Consider the following:
   

Area farmers, who own the water rights, choose to offer water for their crops. This is their right— it's their water rights. They should also have the right to choose to become investors in new technology— renewable energy— right here in the Estancia Valley. This is an opportunity for a business with alternative uses for their water rights;
   

The biomass plant will create and sustain employment in Torrance County. Economic development such as this assures that many of our area citizens will not have to drive to Albuquerque for work, and it also means that many of our young people can continue to live here, because there is work. Working in your hometown area means a better quality of life (shorter commute, more time for family and friends, more discretionary income as less money is spent on commuting); decreased auto emission pollution and improved energy conservation because there aren't as many cars commuting on Interstate 40 daily; and more opportunity to support local businesses, restaurants and retailers because more area citizens are in the Valley every day. This is a win-win for Torrance County.

    2. The Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB), which provide certain tax benefits to businesses locating to an area, offer opportunity to Torrance County, not penalty. Remember that Rio Rancho High School was built with monies from the IRBs that enticed Intel to move to that city. The IRBs for the biomass power plant have the potential to improve roads and more in Torrance County.

    3. There is enough fuel for the biomass power plant— three times as much as is necessary for the proposed life of the facility (between 20 and 25 years). This fact has been confirmed by studies and independent satellite imagery. Also, PNM has entered into energy contracts with Western Water and Power Production for the power generated; I am sure that PNM did its homework before signing that contract. Also the majority of the fuel for the boiler will be juniper wood. This thirsty, prolific allergen is encroaching on our rangelands. To protect the rangelands and their ecosystems, Western Water and Power Production will be hired by private landowners and state agencies to process these trees as fuel.

    4. The proposed biomass power plant will operate below the national and state clean air standards. This compliance was made evident at the hearings held by the New Mexico Department of Environment Air Quality Bureau in March and April this year. So where is the problem?

    Further, the biomass power plant will work to reduce the existing level of air pollution, which results from the open burning of rangeland brush, particulate emissions from potential wildfires and the emissions from the greenhouse natural gas boilers that are adjacent to the plant's proposed site. When the power plant comes on line, its waste heat will be used to heat the greenhouses, further demonstrating the plant's contribution to energy conservation.

    Please consider the issues when evaluating the future of the biomass power plant. I believe that this plant provides a very important opportunity for our county and the state.

    Martin Hibbs is mayor of Estancia.