WOOLWICH BIO-EN SEEKS TO EXPAND

Today's Woolwich Observer carries a full page Notice of a proposed change to the terms and conditions of the existing Renewable Energy Approval for the Woolwich Bio-En facility at the north end of Elmira. There will be a public meeting in Lions Hall (beside the Arena on Snyder Ave.) on January 29, 2020 at 7:30 pm. to discuss the changes.

These changes include increasing the maximum allowable amount of biomass to be processed from 70,000 to 110,000 tonnes per year. Also total truck movements will be increased from 80 to 160 per day and the biomass types to be processed will also be increased. What specific new biomass "types" is not stated in the Notice. Furthermore the facility would like to be permitted to operate as a transfer station to receive, process and ship biomass to other appropriately licensed facilities.

I foresee some community opposition to these changes just as there was to their initial opening of the facility. Things like increased truck traffic so close to the already busy Church and Arthur St. intersection is one example. Also there will likely be renewed concerns about odours whether from the increased biomass proposed for processing or from the plan to operate the facility as a transfer station for other bio-mass facilities.

The bottom line is the community's appropriate and total lack of respect for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's (MECP) commitment, willingness and ability to enforce environmental laws, rules and regulations here in Elmira. Ongoing odours from the nearby Elmira Pet Products is but one example. Uniroyal Chemical's ongoing operations under many other names is another. The MOE/MECP also failed miserably to stop odours from Uniroyal between 1998 and 2000. Therefore claims by the owners/operators of Woolich Bio-En that they will follow all appropriate laws and regulations ring hollow when the regulator are uselss and sometimes worse.

It would not be fair to not mention however that Woolwich Bio-En have operated responsibly in Elmira over the last number of years.