Marjorie Taylor Greene joins Murray County residents opposing proposed bio-waste plant

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stood beside constituents at a town hall meeting in Murray County last week to speak out against a proposed bio-waste facility.

More than 300 people gathered to oppose the project. Vanguard Renewable, the company that will own the facility, sent representatives to the meeting to answer questions.

“While you lecture these people with your pathetic little slideshows about digesters and methane gas, the people sitting behind me, they own cattle, they grow their own food,” Greene said. “They don’t need your damn jobs because you want to know something? They’ve already got jobs.”

The development of the plant was put on hold, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. Noah Bishop, Murray County’s sole commissioner, said he would not resubmit or support the plans before the Environmental Protection Agency.

The facility was planned to process animal and food waste hauled in from Atlanta and other regions to produce renewable natural gas. Vanguard Renewable said the plant would produce enough energy to power more than 5,300 homes a year as well as fertilizer. Representatives told the crowd on Thursday that they would not accept pharmaceutical waste, biohazards, trash or human waste, according to Local 3 News.

Residents expressed concerns that the facility could threaten air quality, well water, streams and property values.

“It just sucks to know that it’s been in play this long and the residents have just been kept in the dark. We are still in shock, honestly, that we would ever have to deal with such a thing. We have fought it all the way here, and we’ll fight even further if that’s what it takes,” said Cody Spence, a county resident against the facility.

Although most residents were against the plant, a small number supported the project.

“Our family has farmed in North Georgia since the early 1800s… We believe that this agricultural digester will help lower the fertilizer cost and will be a good fit for our farm. The information we have seen shows that it is a natural, renewable fertilizer,” said Jim Freeman, a supporter of the natural gas facility.