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IV PRESS: 01/16/07 Calexico Council passes resolution opposing sludge |
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Written by truth
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Wednesday, 17 January 2007 |
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By GREG HOLT, Staff Writer Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:03 AM PST CALEXICO — Although this border city is located clear across the county from the site of a proposed sludge plant, City Councilman Louis Fuentes said he believes the economy of every part of the county will be damaged if the sludge plant is built.
On Tuesday night, the Calexico City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the construction of a sludge plant in Niland.
Although the council’s resolution is symbolic, it adds to a growing overall disapproval of the project among the county’s constituent cities.
The plant, proposed by Liberty Energy of Bakersfield, would produce electricity by burning processed sewage shipped into the area on trucks from coastal communities including Los Angeles and Orange County.
“Why would any other industry want to relocate here if we have a plant of this sort,” Fuentes said. “Our children and grandchildren are going to grow up here, but I wouldn’t want to live in a place where this is located.”
The resolution also cited environmental impacts as a reason for Calexico’s opposition to the plant, but Fuentes said he is most concerned that companies that are considering moving part of their operations into Imperial County will find out about the sludge plant and change their minds.
“I’ve spoken to consulting firms, and I’ve asked them if Imperial County will still be considered for projects if this sludge plant is here, and they’ve all told me we’d be scratched off their list,” Fuentes said.
This issue will be especially problematic when Imperial County is trying to pitch itself to future investors, Fuentes said.
“You’d be surprised at how many of these sorts of decisions are made based on whether or not they want to move into an area,” Fuentes said. “If we have to tell a company they’ll have to move their families anywhere near a sludge plant, it’s not going to happen.”
Fuentes said Imperial County’s location on the border will lead to tremendous economic growth so long as debilitating projects like the sludge plant are defeated.
“Any community that values itself would never allow a project like this to be built,” Fuentes said. “We can do better than this.”
>> Staff Writer Greg Holt can be reached at 337-3452 or
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 17 January 2007 )
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