In case your great-grandfather was a farmer, he in all probability did not begin plowing with a tractor. Greater than seemingly, mules or horses first pulled his implements throughout the fields. My great-grandfather Ezra McNeal was a mule driver. And to maintain his mules from being distracted, the bridle had leather-based flaps on both facet of the animal’s eyes to maintain it centered straight forward.

Blinders.

Contemplating lots of the choices made at this time – relating to the setting – I believe too many individuals put on blinders. Ignoring all the results of their selections, the outcomes are sometimes mule-headed. (And I apologize to my smarter than common mule, Maggie, for the analogy.)

Listed here are three examples:

Georgia Renewable Vitality

Georgia Renewable Energy (GRP) in Colbert has utilized to Georgia’s Environmental Safety Division (EPD) to discharge its wastewater into Beaverdam Creek. The border stream divides components of Madison and Oglethorpe counties. The common day by day quantity of releases from the biomass plant is estimated at 273,000 gallons.

What’s within the water?

Unhealthy stuff, together with chloroform, cyanide, and copper, in addition to oil and grease. This sewage in Beaverdam Creek will circulate into the Broad River, which passes underneath Georgia’s longest coated bridge at Watson Mill State Park. And questionable issues descend into the Savannah River, in the end flowing into coastal Georgia.

GRP is at present paying to deal with its wastewater, because it ought to. The discharge of untreated wastewater would enhance the corporate’s earnings, whereas placing the setting – particularly our water – in danger. I assume greed is the explanation GRP wore blinders, focusing solely on its outcomes.

If EPD additionally wears blinders, hopefully our “environmentalists” will tear them off. EPD will need to have an enormous image – together with the hostile penalties – and Deny GRP allow software.

Georgia Energy Poisonous Coal Ash Storage

Georgia Energy has equipped electrical energy to thousands and thousands of us by burning coal. In return, over these years the utility has reaped billions of {dollars} in earnings. To its credit score, Georgia Energy is abandoning coal. However that leaves the issue: “What to do with greater than 50 million tonnes of poisonous coal ash?”

Once more – identical to GRP – Georgia Energy must focus extra on earnings than what’s greatest for Georgians and the environment. Leaving coal ash in unpaved, leaky ponds – sitting in groundwater – is inexpensive.

Final week, the Home Committee on Pure Sources and the Atmosphere advisable Georgia Energy monitor its coal ash ponds for 50 years. The entire Home handed the measure on Friday. It is higher than 30 years. However lawmakers, why not take your blinders off? Inform Georgia Energy to construct lined pits –on his property– and take away this poisonous charcoal ash from the water.

Senate Invoice 260

Invoked by State Senator Tyler Harper of Ocilla, this proposed measure is an actual stink. He chairs the Senate Committee on Pure Sources and the Atmosphere. Prior to now, rural Georgia has been the goal of an undesirable sludge dumping, within the identify of soil amendments and fertilizers. A few of that sludge, for instance, included bits of rotting, spoiling rooster that will make a buzzard vomit.

Neighbors opposed the stench, and lawmakers handed Invoice 1057 in 2019. Senator Harper desires to void these protections. Recommended revisions embody establishing a brand new buffer for the mud dumps – a 100 foot setback from the adjoining property. Why not simply throw a large number in your neighbor’s again porch?

Common Meeting, in case you put on blinders on this invoice, please tear them off. You could see the horrible penalties of SB 260 and throw it.

In all three examples, there isn’t any proper solution to do one thing mule-headed.

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