Anti-refinery group forms campaign committee
By Dave Dreeszen Journal business editor | Posted: Thursday, April 10, 2008
ELK POINT, S.D. --A second local citizens group has formed a campaign committee to oppose a zoning change that would permit an oil refinery and power plant in Union County.
Paperwork should be filed today in the county courthouse to register Save Union County as a ballot question committee, Ed Cable, a spokesman for the group said Wednesday. The new campaign committee will be an organization separate from the existing limited liability company that bears the same name.
Earlier this week, another local Hyperion opponent, Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution, and Citizens for Hyperion, a pro-energy center group, registered as ballot question committees. The status allows the groups to collect and spend unlimited amounts in advance of a June 3 referendum over the county commission's decision to rezone more than 3,200 acres of farmland.
Cable said his group is collecting donations, primarily from local residents. "We don't do any fundraising at all, people just bring me checks,'' he said.
It's too soon to know whether the committee will take money from outside individuals or groups, he said.
Opponents argue the refinery would pollute the tri-state environment, ruin their rural way of life and incur added social and economic costs on local governments.
Save Union County's campaign funds would be spent on campaign signs, mailings and other means of getting its message out, Cable said.
"We probably won't have to spend much on get out the vote because our people are already revved up about voting,'' he said.
Hyperion has said its proposed 400,000-barrel-per-day "green'' refinery would require an average of 4,500 construction workers over four years and 1,800 permanent jobs after it opens.
Paperwork should be filed today in the county courthouse to register Save Union County as a ballot question committee, Ed Cable, a spokesman for the group said Wednesday. The new campaign committee will be an organization separate from the existing limited liability company that bears the same name.
Earlier this week, another local Hyperion opponent, Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution, and Citizens for Hyperion, a pro-energy center group, registered as ballot question committees. The status allows the groups to collect and spend unlimited amounts in advance of a June 3 referendum over the county commission's decision to rezone more than 3,200 acres of farmland.
Cable said his group is collecting donations, primarily from local residents. "We don't do any fundraising at all, people just bring me checks,'' he said.
It's too soon to know whether the committee will take money from outside individuals or groups, he said.
Opponents argue the refinery would pollute the tri-state environment, ruin their rural way of life and incur added social and economic costs on local governments.
Save Union County's campaign funds would be spent on campaign signs, mailings and other means of getting its message out, Cable said.
"We probably won't have to spend much on get out the vote because our people are already revved up about voting,'' he said.
Hyperion has said its proposed 400,000-barrel-per-day "green'' refinery would require an average of 4,500 construction workers over four years and 1,800 permanent jobs after it opens.
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Arrogance wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:36 PM:
DakotaCowboy wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:59 AM:
The GOOOOrilla is coming!! Get use to it.
Mr. Cable maybe you can pay for some of the signs that were damaged in Union Co. with the money you are collecting. "