Project at an advanced stage, the surprise of the mayor and citizens For the builders, however, it is a “blessing” for the economy
VILLAREGGIA . A biomass power plant in the town. And the administration wants to see clearly. Also because the news came like a bolt from the blue. The requests for the construction of these plants for the production of biomethane are thus spreading around the Canavese area. The last one, after the disputed ones of Caluso (in the Carolina hamlet) and of San Benigno, arrives right in Villareggia. And also in this case the administration immediately inform the citizens.
An interlocutory meeting is scheduled for this evening, Wednesday 9, at 9 pm in the multipurpose hall. The mayor Fabrizio Solono invited the managers of the agricultural company and Alberto Cucatto, manager of the metropolitan city, who is responsible for the final authorization. Also present were the president of Legambiente Piemonte Giampiero Godio and the Pasquale Cavaliere di Caluso club, Carlo Salvetti and the citizens’ committee opposed to the project.
“We asked – the mayor anticipates – that the plant be moved in order to ensure a greater distance from some farmhouses that are located in the area, in via Amoroso, greater reassurance regarding odor and noise emissions, and above all the guarantee that in a second phase the perhaps is not treated “.
Meanwhile, from the technical report attached to the application it is discovered that the plant for the production of biomethane obtained from the fermentation of animal waste and by-products of agriculture and agro-industry, would be placed in agricultural land and built by the Blue Agricultural of the area extended over approximately 40 thousand square meters, with a total investment of 12 million euros. The plant, already the subject of a first conference of services last May 7, is described by the proponents as being at the forefront and equipped with all the precautions in terms of environmental sustainability.
For the builders and supporters of the project it is a sort of “all-round blessing” which they present as follows: «The plant – reads the report – has a series of economic and environmental advantages: production of fuel from renewable sources; production cycle with zero CO2 emissions; contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; -can be used as a biofuel for motor vehicles; the use of the digested product as a fertilizer with a significant reduction (-90%) of the use of chemical products for the fertilization carried out in traditional fertilization practices; better agronomic management of crops through organic and non-chemical fertilization, and use, on about 300 neighboring hectares, of the irrigation technique by means of a hose. The plant will be able to dose the separated liquid digestate into the hoses in order to perform fertigation (one of the best fertilization techniques available). As for the digestate, it has been shown that anaerobic digestion determines a strong reduction of the putrescibility of the organic fraction. The stthe biological ability achieved is effective in containing the unpleasant odors of livestock sewage. Positive aspects are then found on the hygienic-sanitary front, with lower bacterial load values compared to untreated zootechnical effluents. Furthermore, the use of digestate in agriculture, in addition to the potential reduction of the release of nitrates to the water, is effective in mitigating the impacts of agricultural activity on the atmosphere through the reduction – of ammonia emissions, since anaerobic digestion determines a lower viscosity of the sewage and consequently its more rapid infiltration into the soil ». The plant will be fenced and there will be an intervention to mitigate the environmental impact with the planting of trees and arboreal essences.Lydia Massia