The citizens of Gulf County can now breathe a little easier. The law firm of Robert N. Hartsell, P.A. successfully settled two lawsuits filed on behalf of affected Gulf County residents to rescind an October 4, 2011 Development Order for the development of a 65 Megawatt Biomass Gasification Electrical Power Plant in the City of Port Saint Joe. The biomass fuel source for the facility was to be untreated woody biomass that consists primarily of wood chips, but may also include agricultural crops, byproducts, logging and lumber mill residues, as well as yard waste qualified as municipal solid waste. The rescinded Development Order for the facility permitted the facility to use approximately 900 tons of b
iomass fuel per day. As demonstrated by the experts in the case, the emission of air pollutants from the Biomass Power Facility had the potential to impact human health in the form of increased asthma, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, shortened lives, and an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Attorney Robert Hartsell stated, “I have never worked with such an enthusiastic group of citizens determined to protect the environment. It was their hard work and determination that led to the settlement and ultimate rescission of the Development Order. In the end the City did what was right for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens”
