Oglethorpe County District 4 Commissioner Will Brown and Lexington resident Ruth Wilson said they are cautious and concerned about the possible presence of an anaerobic digester installation in the county.
The development manager for Vanguard Renewables gave a presentation about the possibility at the Board of Commissioners meeting on March 6. Nic Cunha said a digester would provide odor reduction, tax money and jobs.
“We stand by it; I don’t wanna say odorless, but virtually odorless,” he said.
Wilson said she is unconvinced.
She was at the meeting and engaged in emotional dialogue with Cunha while voicing her opposition. She said she believes an anaerobic digester would not benefit the county and questioned the benefits of such a project in general, given Vanguard Renewables has been around for roughly 10 years.
“I think he’s telling the truth; I don’t think he’s lying to people, but I think he is a salesman,” Wilson said.
Brown said he is also unsure about a potential anaerobic digester in the county. They combine food waste with dairy manure to create fertilizer and renewable natural gas for the energy grid.
“I’d have to go see one actually working before I could be for or against it,” he said. “It would take the right partner.”
Ultimately, Brown said a digester would likely not solve all of the county’s problems.
“They’re probably gonna sugarcoat some things,” Brown said. “They haven’t been around a really long time, but I don’t think (Cunha) was coming (here) to mislead everybody.
Cunha said: “We comply with whatever standards the Department of Ag and EPD (Environmental Protection Division) sets.”
Wilson lives on Duck Pond Road and she said the digester would be built on a neighbor’s land. Cunha said the company is working with Jeff Smith.
Brown said resistance from Smith’s neighbors and the rest of the county might make Vanguard Renewables not want to continue with the project.
Brown said he anticipates the rest of the board will hold a similar viewpoint on the issue.
The board didn’t vote on anything regarding Vanguard Renewables or an anaerobic digester at the March 6 meeting; the commissioners listened to Cunha’s presentation and allowed an extended discussion.
Brown said that voting on the issue would be a “ways away.”