Plant addressing noise, odor issues: City official
MILTON — United Ethanol is working on odor and noise issues brought forward by plant neighbors, Milton’s city administrator said.
It has a new piece of equipment ready and waiting on its site in Milton’s Eastside Industrial Park to replace the malfunctioning equipment causing the smell neighbors are complaining about.
But it’s waiting for permission from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to install the new equipment, City Administrator Todd Schmidt said.
“I have been told by United Ethanol to expect the installation of this replacement equipment sometime in August as soon as they receive clearance from the DNR,” Schmidt wrote in an e-mail to The Janesville Gazette.
Some plant neighbors have complained about the plant’s noise, odor and pollution since it started running in April 2007.
In February, Schmidt sent a letter to Joe Johansen, vice president of ethanol operations, asking the plant to address its odor issues by June 1.
Plant officials told Schmidt the main source of the odor is an insufficient regenerative thermal oxidizer. After the DNR gives the plant permission to install a replacement thermal oxidizer, the city will check with neighbors to find out if the situation has improved, Schmidt said.
But a new thermal oxidizer would increase nitrogen oxide emissions, and the plant in October was found to slightly exceed nitrogen oxide limits, said Eileen Pierce, DNR regional air and waste leader.
The DNR is reviewing the permit request for the new equipment and other requested permit changes. It hopes to open a 30-day public comment period on the matter in mid-July, Pierce said.
The letter from the city also asked the plant for sound readings to see if it was violating city noise ordinances. The readings showed the plant is “largely in compliance” with noise ordinances, Schmidt wrote.
The plant in mid-May installed sound-dampening blankets in some areas to bring down the noise, but it’s still having some noise problems at the gas reduction site on the south corner of the property, Schmidt said. The plant is working with the gas company to solve that problem, he said.
The city recently started contacting neighbors to see if the blankets have made a difference, Schmidt said. It hopes to hear from most of them by Wednesday, July 9.
Jul 1, 2008 at 6:24 a.m.
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Milton used to be a peaceful place, but it has gradually and collectively increased in volume over the years. Trucks engine braking, leaf blowers, gas weed eaters, trains running almost non-stop at all hours. Then there is the concert of chain saws that start up every weekend with a few backyard Bobcats playing in harmony.
We also have a message to the rude and inconsiderate Harley riders with open pipes. Someday, the Wisconsin Vehicle Code will be enforced here. Those of you who intentionally make your vehicles loud for whatever sophomoric reason will be issued a 7 day invitation to correct the malfunction before being cited for excessive noise, and disturbing the peace. Obnoxious motorcycles are offensive to everyone and give all cycle riders a bad image.
The ethanol plant is another sound source, it is loud and sounds very much like a big grain drier from my bedroom at 11:00 PM, 2:00 AM, 4:00 AM.........it is persistent noise and there is no peace in town while it is running.
How an ethanol plant can be called an "alternative energy solution" when it is consuming enough natural gas to heat the entire city of Milton is beyond me.
On the other hand, Wind and Solar are great ideas, zero fossil fuel in, electricity and/or heat out. For those opposed to a wind farm, I suggest visiting the wind farm in Montfort, WI.. While I cannot speak for all types of wind turbines, I found the (20) turbines in Montfort to be quite peaceful and fascinating to watch......there was no noise, not even standing under them. I offer my back yard for one if I can grow ivy on it.
Here is an interesting site for your review >
http://www.renewwisconsin.org/windfarm/m...
Jun 29, 2008 at 3:22 p.m.
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I too, wonder why more research was not done before this alternate energy source was built.
There is such a rush to make the dollars not to make the environment more friendly.
The wind turbines will certainly cause the same problems and careful long term planning must be done to prevent harm to the area.
I do hope that those who cry NIMBY will give this some thought.
Our politicians are not for us but are for the dollars. We need to be aware and get rid of those who will not support their constituants.
Jun 29, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.
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I'd like to invite you all to also post on www.discovermiltonwisconsin.com Sticks'nStones Forum. Thanks, Linda
Jun 29, 2008 at 5:08 a.m.
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How many times did the City/Company promise that neither noise nor odor would be a problem BEFORE this deal was approved? The reason I ask, is that now the wind developers are promising how quiet and safe their 400 ft high turbines are; I suspect the same thing will happen if residents aren't careful. Once things are built, government rarely has options (or even the will, in many cases) to try to fix problems.
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