No to Energy Plan
On Monday Dec. 5, LGISD held a public hearing regarding Monarch Energy Development LLC’s Application for Appraised Value Limitation. (FYI-Chapter 313 of the Texas Tax Code expires Dec. 31, 2022.) The hearing was well attended by the public. I estimate there were about 50+ in the audience. In my opinion, and that of 99% of last night’s attendees, other than the $4 million LGISD would eventually get from Monarch, there is nothing positive about allowing this plant to be built in Fayette County. It will be another industrial eyesore and consume mass quantities of our water resources. Monarch estimates 1,500 acre-feet per year. That equates to about 1.4 million gallons of water per day, but Monarch claims this will have no impact on property owners. Really? Monarch said the plant’s building(s) alone will require about 20 acres of land. Although it’s part of their proposal, they couldn’t tell us what type of “renewable energy” will be utilized to power the plant. It’s more beautiful, productive land destroyed.
At this meeting, Monarch was represented by two young men via ZOOM. Just like their fourpage web site, their answers were vague and seemed deceptive.They eventually admitted that Monarch has nine employee-owners, along with “some” investors. They do not build anything. They merely negotiate with the ISDs, landowners, water boards, etc. to pave the way for these projects. They admitted they do not currently have any company lined up to actually build the proposed green hydrogen plant, infrastructure, or “renewable” energy sources, but assured us that there are many corporations that would be willing to build it. (China, perhaps?) Monarch also admitted that Federal subsidies may be involved. (Green New Deal?) This reminds me of the Solyndra Solar debacle. The Obama administration poured $570 Million of our tax dollars into that company which went bankrupt within a few years. The American taxpayer saw no benefit from that effort. This proposed project will most likely be another “Green Energy” failure. You can listen to the entire Public Comments portion of the hearing at: https://kingwm. com/lgisd-public-hearing-forproposed- chapter-313-agreementwith- monarch-energy/
Many of us moved to Fayette County because of the natural beauty of the land. We do not want to drive through this county and be accosted with industrial eyesores. Many others have been here for generations. They work and cherish the land that has been in their families for decades.Allowing this plant to be built will destroy land that could graze cattle or produce hay or other agricultural products. Do these “Green Energy” proponents not understand that food doesn’t just magically appear in grocery stores? Someone has to produce it.
We learned last night that the LGISD board could potentially vote on Monarch’s application next Monday, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m., at their regular board meeting at 560 North Monroe St. in La Grange. If the board feels they still don’t have enough information, they will delay the vote until sometime before the end of the year. The public will again be allowed to speak and ask questions at the Dec. 12 meeting. I encourage everyone who is interested in preserving Fayette County’s natural beauty and resources, as well as property values, to attend this meeting.
Deborah Frank La Grange