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Opponents of a proposed Kanab plant that would turn coal, biofuels and other materials, such as tires, into methane gas to produce electricity are expected to turn out at a public hearing on the plant Tuesday.
The Department of Energy is hosting the hearing on its draft environmental assessment for the controversial hydro-gasification plant.
Construction of the $2 million facility is being challenged in court, and residents have circulated a petition seeking to put the issue on the ballot.
California-based Viresco Energy, which wants to build the experimental plant, is closing in on construction after receiving approval for a zoning change and a conditional-use permit. All the company needs is a building permit.
A lawsuit in 6th District Court is pending, challenging the approval process for the plant.
The voter initiative challenges the change to the city's land-use ordinance to allow the plant and reads in part: "No conditional use permit shall be issued for a coal hydro-gasification facility or any electric generating facility without first being approved by a majority of registered voters within Kanab City."
The hearing Tuesday comes a week after the Kanab City Council received the ballot initiative with 650 valid signatures. To put the issue on a ballot, 410 are required.
The City Council, sitting as a judicial body on the issue, will decide whether to put the matter on the ballot or reject it. If rejected, it automatically goes on the ballot.
The council Tuesday tabled that decision for 30 days, despite advice from the council's lawyer, Gregory Hardman, to put it on November's ballot.
By waiting 30 days, the issue would not be able to go on the ballot until the next municipal ballot in 2013 unless a special election were held.
City Manager Duane Huffman said because the matter is being decided by the council sitting as a judicial body, city officials have been told not to comment on the issue.
Jim Walls, a candidate in November for City Council, said he was disappointed in the city's decision to table the initiative.
He said the council knows that residents want to vote on the issue.
Walls is a member of KanabCares, an organization started by residents to oppose the plant, fearing it would detract from the community's red-rock scenery and cause possible health problems.
"We don't feel it [the plant] is an appropriate use of the land," Walls said.
If the proposition is ultimately approved by voters, it could be enforced retroactively and halt plans by Viresco, he said.
The proposed plant has mushroomed into the most contentious issue he has seen in the city and is a major topic of conversation among residents, Walls said.
Viresco President Jim Guthrie said he is "not bothered" by the ballot initiative because he has complied with all that has been required by the city.
"I don't see how it would be a problem," Guthrie said. "They [the opposition] are going to do what they feel they need to do."
He said as soon as he receives the conditional-use permit, approved by the Kanab City Planning Commission in July, he plans on signing it and then applying for a building permit to begin construction. The plant would have eight full-time employees once operational.
Kanab gasification hearing
What • Public hearing on the Department of Energy's draft environmental assessment for a proposed experimental hydro-gasification plant in Kanab.
When • 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where • Kanab Middle School, 690 S. Cowboy Way