Biomass electric power plant plan OK’d

BRADENTON — Manatee County Commissioners approved Tuesday a rezoning of about 48 acres and the preliminary site plan for a power plant that will produce electricity by burning wood chips.

Richard “Rick” Jensen, president of Florida Biomass Energy LLC, said the plant will create 150 jobs during construction and 75 for the operation of the plant, plus a number of jobs in the community from the economic ripple effect.

The energy plant will be located at U.S. 41 at Armstrong Road, just south of Port Manatee, and will burn mostly wood chips and other non-food plant material to generate up to 60 megawatts of electricity.

Several people spoke against the project, questioning the location and the environmental impact.

Glenn Compton, chairman of the environmental group ManaSota-88, said the plant will be in a hurricane high hazard area and worried that the chemicals stored on site would be safe during a storm surge.

Mary Sheppard asked if there would be adequate protection against air pollution.

Also speaking against approval of the site plan was Robert Lincoln, attorney for U.S. Funding, which owns the parcel to the southwest of the proposed power plant site.

Lincoln said his client is concerned about the adverse impact to his property.

Lincoln said hazardous chemicals will be stored on the site, near Bishop Harbor and Terra Ceia Bay.

The county attorney and planning department staff addressed concerns of those who objected to the plant, saying the state and federal governments regulate all of those issues.

The commission approved the rezoning and preliminary site plan in a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner Joe McClash voting against it.

In other business Tuesday, the commission approved an increase in density from one residential unit per acre to three on a tract of land called Robinson Farms in the northwest area of the county south of the Manatee River.

Several people spoke against the proposed comprehensive plan amendment, including Katie Pierola, who lives in the Hawthorn Park subdivision adjacent to the proposed 49-acre development.

Pierola, who sat in the chambers from 9 a.m. until about 6 p.m. when the agenda item was discussed waiting for her turn to speak, said she did not realize the notice she received about the changes affected her neighborhood.

She and several of her neighbors were concerned about flooding, increased traffic and other issues.

McClash was the sole commissioner to vote against the sending the comprehensive plan to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for approval.

Carl Mario Nudi, reporter, can be reached at 745-7027.