NewsRecord Weekly Publication

Friendly Observer
By Arthur Keefe

The big stink

To anybody in San Carlos, this immediately triggers the response: ETHANOL!
Originally heralded as the major coup for San Carlos is its economic development, this operation is now resented and even hated by much of the population. When this journal first raised these concerns, the company responded with declarations that this was all about teething problems and they promised all would be resolved. 

The deadlines have long since passed and the problem of obnoxious smell remains. We do not know if these odors produce any long-term health hazards for people, but even now, people complain of feeling sick and with headaches. It is a bit like sitting inside a public toilet all day! We all suffer, depending on the wind direction, but I pity those children in the nearby elementary school and those living on the northern edge of the city. The related "Big Stink" is the utter failure of the city administration to take any action to force the company to either stop the smell or to cease production until they can do so. 
I assume the company benefits from a local tax holiday as part of the incentive package to locate here so what will the city lose if enforcement action is taken? Of course, jobs are at risk and the city was right to be patient and to give the company time to resolve the problem. However, the patience of the public is now exhausted and action must follow. 
Are there vested interests involved here? Are those responsible for action (or non-action) beneficiaries in any way of the company? This information needs to be in the public domain, not least when people are considering how to use their vote next year. 
I am not an opponent of progress, even though the initial enthusiasm for ethanol worldwide has greatly diminished as the environmental benefit appears to be negligible or even negative. We badly need investment and well-paid jobs in San Carlos and well-managed environmentally friendly companies will be welcome. At present, the ethanol plant doesn't meet this description. If the present environmental problems can be rapidly resolved, we will all be winners.