Virginia state supreme court clears way for ethanol plant

In Virginia, the prospects for a new ethanol plant in Hopewell improved when the state supreme court rejected a lawsuit aimed at blocking the plant’s construction. The lawsuit, filed by a Hopwell City Council member Curtis Harris, alleged that the city of Hopewell did not have the right to sell the land intended for the plant. The appeal followed a rejection of a request for an injunction to delay construction. Harris contends the city had no right to sell the land where the plant is slated to be built.

In December, a high-profile Virginia ethanol project was scuttled when the Chesapeake City Council voted 7-2 to turn down a proposal for a 237 Mgy ethanol plant proposed by International Bio Energy. The plant was proposed for a site on the Elizabeth River which was opposed by local residents in surrounding neighborhoods. The residents had raised concerns about emissions, water usage, and traffic.

Previously, planning commissioners had recommended that the $400 million plant proposed for Chesapeake Bay area be denied. The project has been in jeopardy since unfavorable environmental were published and local and regional political support waned. The Baltimore Sun published a report by the Chesapeake Bay Commission estimating that 5 million pounds of nitrogen would pour into Chesapeake Bay if the plant goes through, due to increased corn planting.

Environmental and neighborhood groups have been active in opposition, and the plant’s owners had hired top PR counsel to build public support.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Minnesota to consider new low-carbon fuels bill; Franken to be declared winner in close Senate race

In Minnesota, state legislators will consider a new low-carbon bill next week that would mandate automakers with reducing tailpipe emissions by 10 percent by 2020. Meanwhile, local officials are re...

Obama will declare CO2 a pollutant, regulate under Clean Air Act, EPA, says top energy adviser

Obama energy adviser Jason Grumet said that, if elected, Sen. Barack Obama will classify CO2 as a pollutant and instruct the EPA that it can use the 1990 Clean Air Act to regulate CO2 emissions.The Su...

North Carolina Court of Appeals rules that biodiesel production is not a “bona fide farm use”

In North Carolina, the state Court of Appeals held that biodiesel production is not a bona fide farm use. The court reversed a ruling by Iredell County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor allowing fa...

Synergy Biofuels to build waste vegetable oil biodiesel plant in Virginia

In Virginia, Synergy Biofuels will invest $1 million in a waste vegetable oil biodiesel plant in Pennington Gap, and will commence operation in March 2008. Although Virginia has received more publi...

Osage Bio Energy receives final Virginia permit for 68 Mgy barley ethanol plant

In Virginia, Osage Bio Energy received its air permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the final hurdle before commencing construction at its proposed 68 Mgy barley-based ethanol...

Remembering Virginia Bell: defender of underdogs joins Australia’s High Court

[caption id="attachment_9653" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Even back in the 1980s, Virginia Bell was a champion of the underdog. Will the environment benefit from her outlook?"][/captio...