Hundreds of people opposed to a biofuel facility proposed for Semiahmoo First Nation land in South Surrey showed up for a peaceful rally at Peace Arch Park at the U.S.-Canada border Sunday (Oct. 29).
Carrying homemade signs, opponents to the plan listened to music before the event started under sunny but chilly skies at the Peace Arch monument.
Several people spoke at the rally, including Surrey Coun. Linda Annis and Hancock Wildlife Foundation founder and environmentalist David Hancock, among others.
Moderator Jennifer Maki warmed up the crowd and introduced each speaker.
“I have always been inspired by and grateful for my First Nations friends,” she told the gathered crowd.
READ ALSO: South Surrey residents plan peaceful rally against biofuel project
“Make no mistake. We’re here today to come together to simply uphold what has been instilled in us by the First Nations people since time immemorial – to be steadfast stewards for the land, for the creatures of the land and sky, for tradition and for our people,” she said.
“We know that this biofuel facility may seem a grand opportunity to achieve economic stability and to provide fuel for our needs, but at what cost?”
She then introduced Annis, who said consultation goes both ways, before the rest of the speakers addressed the group.
At Monday’s (Oct. 30) council meeting, Coun. Gordon Hepner asked city staff to closely monitor the project, noting while he is a proponent for the SFN to have economic activity, “I just don’t think this is the right particular site for this facility.”
Andion Global, in partnership with Semiahmoo First Nation, is proposing to build the plant on four acres of SFN land adjacent to Highway 99, approximately one kilometre north of the Canada-U.S. border and 40 metres back from the highway itself.
The proponents – who hope to get started on construction early next year – say in addition to creating jobs and revenue for the First Nation, the facility will annually divert some 70,000 tons of organic food waste from area landfills and incinerators, eliminate around 55,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, generate 3.5 million gigajoules of RNG and help avoid the use of some 22,000 tons of chemical fertilizers.
In September, an Environmental Protection Notice advising of SFN’s application to Metro Vancouver for an air quality permit details approximately 40 tonnes of annual anticipated emissions, including methane (35.8 tonnes per year), hydrogen sulphide (0.108 tonnes) and volatile organic compounds (0.78 tonnes).
Opponents say the gases are linked to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, as well as neurological and other issues.
READ ALSO: Proposed biofuel plant good for the community, says SFN Chief Harley Chappell
However, Andion CEO Phillip Abrary told Peace Arch News earlier this month that the proposal has “gone through the ringer,” and that expert analysis has determined anticipated emissions are not “anything to be concerned about.”
A website created by residents opposed to the facility – Clean Air Alliance (nobiofuel.wixsite.com/learnmore) cites four main concerns: the environment, health risks, safety, and the traffic/location.
A petition on the site also lists odour, air pollution, property values and noise pollution.
It had received 7,621 signatures by noon Tuesday (Oct. 31).
Those who signed up to be notified of a public meeting regarding the project received links Friday afternoon to an evening webinar. That event – open to anyone interested – is set for 6 p.m. on Nov. 9.
Asked if any in-person meetings will be held, an Andion spokesperson explained that a virtual event was chosen, in part, due to several “insulting to threatening messages” received from the public by “the Andion team.”
While the offending messages “are not representative of the vast majority of messages from the community,” they did prompt a report to Vancouver Police Department, the spokesperson said.
“Increasingly, messaging from the public includes insulting language (name calling, accusations etc).”
PAN has reached out to VPD for more information.
The Andion spokesperson said another key factor in the decision to hold a virtual meeting was in order to “accommodate the most number of people, and make it widely accessible.”
So far, representatives of Metro Vancouver, SFN and Andion will be participating, the spokesperson added.
The meeting link may be found at andionglobal.com and at linkedin.com.
Those with questions are asked to submit them to event@andionglobal.com. There will also be opportunity to ask questions during the meeting, the Andion spokesperson confirmed.
– with files from Tracy Holmes