TUPMAN, CA - The Valley Air District held another public hearing Wednesday about a proposed hydrogen plant that has met strong opposition from farmers and residents.
It's well-known that Bakersfield has the worst air quality in the nation. Residents are concerned that the proposed plant's transportation of coal will make it worse.
"The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District says the coal won't get loose, but it does," said Chris Romanini, a pistachio farmer who is concerned about the coal that is being left on the train tracks through Shafter and Wasco. She is concerned that the trains that will carry coal to the proposed hydrogen plant will also to leave a trail of coal behind.
It's a project that's been controversial since its introduction. The Hydrogen Energy California Power and Chemical Plant, or HECA, would use coal and petroleum coke to make hydrogen gas into energy. The transportation of the coal that has farmers and residents concerned.
"They said none of the coal gets out of the trains and I said 'I told you several months ago it does!''" Romanini said. "They had forgotten that I made that phone call. It is still here on the tracks. No one's cleaning it up, no one is acknowledging that there's a problem with the coal getting loose."
Romanini is worried that dust from the coal will carry into her crops and contaminate them.
"Our family farm is in Buttonwillow and they have proposed to put a rail spur through our farm, which we grow pistachios in that area. Can you just see if this dust contaminates our pistachio crop and we hurt somebody?," said Romanini.
David Warner of the Valley Air District says HECA's trains would be completely enclosed and emptied to keep coal from falling on the tracks. He adds that the Valley Air District is being proactive in addressing the public's concerns.
"We're going into this process specifically to get a feel for specific community concerns and it's our role to then take those concerns, address the ones that are specific to air quality regulations, and respond to each and every one of them." Larry Pickett, spokesman for HECA, says they have yet to decide whether they will use trains or trucks to transport the coal.
If the project gets approved by the California Energy Commission, it will take about five years to complete.
It's well-known that Bakersfield has the worst air quality in the nation. Residents are concerned that the proposed plant's transportation of coal will make it worse.
"The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District says the coal won't get loose, but it does," said Chris Romanini, a pistachio farmer who is concerned about the coal that is being left on the train tracks through Shafter and Wasco. She is concerned that the trains that will carry coal to the proposed hydrogen plant will also to leave a trail of coal behind.
It's a project that's been controversial since its introduction. The Hydrogen Energy California Power and Chemical Plant, or HECA, would use coal and petroleum coke to make hydrogen gas into energy. The transportation of the coal that has farmers and residents concerned.
"They said none of the coal gets out of the trains and I said 'I told you several months ago it does!''" Romanini said. "They had forgotten that I made that phone call. It is still here on the tracks. No one's cleaning it up, no one is acknowledging that there's a problem with the coal getting loose."
Romanini is worried that dust from the coal will carry into her crops and contaminate them.
"Our family farm is in Buttonwillow and they have proposed to put a rail spur through our farm, which we grow pistachios in that area. Can you just see if this dust contaminates our pistachio crop and we hurt somebody?," said Romanini.
David Warner of the Valley Air District says HECA's trains would be completely enclosed and emptied to keep coal from falling on the tracks. He adds that the Valley Air District is being proactive in addressing the public's concerns.
"We're going into this process specifically to get a feel for specific community concerns and it's our role to then take those concerns, address the ones that are specific to air quality regulations, and respond to each and every one of them." Larry Pickett, spokesman for HECA, says they have yet to decide whether they will use trains or trucks to transport the coal.
If the project gets approved by the California Energy Commission, it will take about five years to complete.