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HARTINGTON — Cedar County is weighing safety concerns against economic development in a growing debate over a proposed anhydrous ammonia fertilizer production and storage facility west of town.
A dozen area residents attended Tuesday’s Cedar County Board of Commissioners meeting to voice concerns about the potential construction of the plant, which would be located about 1.5 miles west of Hartington.
Austin Texas-based Tallus Industries is seeking a conditional use permit to build the facility on the former Cedar-Knox Public Power District substation site, just south of Highway 84. The company hopes to buy the two-acre property from Cedar- Knox, with an option to purchase two additional acres once the facility becomes operational.
Several audience members told commissioners there are too many uncertainties surrounding a plant of this kind.
“I wouldn’t want my house anywhere near this,” resident Brian Sudbeck told the board.
Commission Chairman Dave McGregor said he and other commissioners have received numerous calls from concerned constituents since Tallus first sought the permit.
The Cedar County Zoning Board previously reviewed and approved the company’s application, forwarding it to the county board for final consideration.
No action was taken Tuesday. McGregor said he expects commissioners to make a decision at their Dec. 23 meeting.
Cedar-Knox Public Power District General Manager Mike Lammers told commissioners that CKPPD invested heavily to build the original substation to serve MidAmerica Dairy years ago.
“Now we’ve got a stranded asset,” Lammers said.
Lammers said he has investigated the company thoroughly and has worked with Tallus for three years to bring the project to Cedar County. He acknowledged residents’ concerns but said he believes an anhydrous ammonia plant would operate safely and provide significant economic benefits for the county, local farmers and Cedar-Knox.
“Anhydrous is a very low-flammability product. It has a low flammable point. It is a toxic gas when inhaled, but it’s lighter than air and goes straight up when released,” he said. “Propane — like many of us have in our barbecues, heaters or hog barns — is extremely flammable, and we don’t have people monitoring our tanks or sensors on them. We don’t worry about them in a windstorm. Tallus is doing all of these things, and it is, to me, a much safer product than propane ever would be.”
Lammers added that the project would spur local economic development.
“This project brings in two permanent jobs. They are going to need housing. They are going to buy groceries. They are probably going to bring in families. Any economic growth, to me, is good,” he said.
The plant would also require more electricity from Cedar-Knox, creating increased demand that could help the rural electric cooperative keep rates down, Lammers said.
He noted that because the company’s production method is unique, some people may not fully understand how the system operates.
“This is a safe setup. We’re not talking about a monstrous tank. This is about the size of four semi tankers,” he said. “To me, that’s not that big.”
