Update #2 on GBE and Webster County Ethanol Plant

An update on the controversy surrounding Citizens of Rogersville ( Webster County) MO vs. Gulfstream Bioflex Energy and Update #1 on GBE and Webster County Ethanol Plant , Mike Penprase, The Springfield News-Leader, reported May 5, 2007 that (Boone County Circuit) Judge Frank Conley in Webster County District Court, ruled in favor of the Defendant, Gulfstream Bioflex Energy (GFE) of Mount Vernon, MO, lifting the temporary restraining order, allowing GBE to begin construction of a new $165 million ethanol plant. Here are links to this article and related articles about the decision and the project.

The Issues:
* 1.3 million gallons of water per day used by proposed ethanol plant
* 400,000 gallons per day of contaminated water from proposed ethanol plant
* "Cone of Depression"-a lowered water table, Missouri State University Study (2005)
* Ozark Aquifer has already dropped 140' in places from 1987-2004
* More than half of nearly 300 well owners in northern Green County (MO) reported problem with their wells in a survey five years ago by the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks.
* Landowner Larry Porter, wants to sell his 250 acres farm to GBE for $12,000 per acre, where the typical price for an acre of land is $2,500-$3,000.

Gulfstream Bioflex Energy - defendant
Bryan Wade, attorney for defendant (Springfield, MO.)
Greg Wilmouth, V.P.(co-founder)
James Kaiman, President
Charles Luna

Citizens for Groundwater Protection - plaintiff
William (Bill) McDonald, attorney for plaintiff
Larry Alberty
Dean Alberty
Gary Rogers
Dave Pitts

Ethanol plants come with hidden cost: Water Bill Lambrecht, St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes a thorough review of the basic issues in the ethanol-water controversy.

Judge approves Webster County ethanol plant Matt Wagner's report, Springfield Business Journal, includes references to the testimony of the defendant's industry experts, including: Jim Van Dyke, groundwater section chief for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; John Van Brahana, a University of Arkansas hydrogeologist; and Ray Hamilton, a Denver-based engineer with Carter & Burgess. The plaintiff's attorney is quoted in the article as saying that Judge Conley erred by applying a standard of proof higher than a “reasonable likelihood” that the plant would negatively affect the groundwater supply. “We’re filing post-trial motions, and we’ll – in all probability – appeal,” he said, adding that his clients have 30 days to file the motion.

White River Group of the Sierra Club's program “Ethanol Production in the Ozarks,” The Springfield News-Leader reports on the meeting, scheduled for 7:00pm, Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. The program will feature, Bob Schulteis, University of Missouri Extension and Chairman of the Webster County committee to study the proposed Rogersville ethanol plant.