Posted on 09/26/2005 9:21:23 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
A Chino family wants a state pollution-fighting loan of $8.4 million to help build a 3,200-cow dairy in Fresno County — an idea taking heavy flak from environmentalists and state Treasurer Phil Angelides.
Environmentalists are appalled, saying pollution-control loans should not finance a plan to move bad air into the San Joaquin Valley. The new dairy qualifies as a major air pollution source, adding 30 tons of smog-making gas per year to one of the country's dirtiest air basins, according to the most recent estimates.
Angelides wants a moratorium on such low-interest loans to dairies until after stricter air and water restrictions are in place. He said dairies should reduce dirty air beyond state standards to qualify for pollution-control loans.
"The loans should only be made for projects that clearly protect the environment," Angelides said. "That case can't be made for these dairies."
But this month, the $8.4million financing cleared the first of two hurdles at the obscure California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The applicant, the Van Der Kooi family of Chino, must now assemble an air permit and other documents before seeking final approval.
The Van Der Kooi family says the loan would help build a $16million, state-of-the-art dairy near Riverdale. The dairy is far more environmentally friendly than the family's current 1976 operation in the Southern California area of Chino.
"The requirements for building dairies are very strict in this state," Charles Van Der Kooi said. "A year ago, if I had known everything I know now, I might have gone out of state. This loan helps stimulate business in California."
Angelides supervises the Pollution Control Financing Authority, and he wanted to delay the Van Der Kooi loan. But decisions on the loans are made by the authority's governing board — three members, representing three top state officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
So do certain politicans and orgs with agendas.
They are on the horns of a dilemma.............
What udder nonsense.
The Enviro-Whackos will milk this for all it's worth...........
We dont want none of them damned fartin' cows in our district. We can get our milk somewheres else . Let them keep them methane producing monsters next to their houses.
How silly have environmentalists gotten when they object to cows. Soon they may object to humans and put a meter on your butt so they can fine you when you pass gas.
They will not be cowed by this bull.
Angelides and the environuts are goat cheese lovers, no doubt. ;-)
I guess goats are more efficient in that certain way.
There must be studies out there somewhere to confirm or refute that. lol.
Forget the cow farts. The dairy industry is propped up big time right now by gvt price supports. And now this guy want's gvt loans to build a new dairy too?
Fit them cows with cowtalitic converters.
The environmental issues should be answered here simply by recognizing that keeping land open and used is PRO environment. Everything pollutes. Especially in the minds of the Green Klan. Personally, I would much rather see a large farm with well-tended animals than another all-roofs-match housing sprawl. I also prefer to see my country as a working land, and not just a drive-by museum....or a nation of shopkeepers! We are letting these environmentalists dictate us into a bunch of do-nothing know-nothings.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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