GREC

- December 17, 2014, Before It’s News

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"359","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"283","style":"width: 333px; height: 228px; margin: 3px 10px; float: left;","width":"413"}}]]In December 2013, the GREC Biomass generator was taken off-line to install noise-absorbing panels inside the main stack in an effort to quiet numerous noise complaints from residents living in Turkey Creek and surrounding communities. Even while noise and dust complaits continue, GRU/GREC, the City of Gaiesville and Alachua County have closed public access to log local complaints – requiring citizens to file complaints in the on-responsive vacuum of the State environmental protection department.

Through public records access, it’s now revealed that defective equipment at the GRU/GREC biomass generator was reported only a few months after the down-time required for noise abatement -  a revelation that has only recently come to light for public notice and GRU ratepayer review.

By GRU’/GREC’s s own estimate, the off-line time required to correct the defective parts could save GRU ratepayers $160,000 per day or a total of $2.2 million dollars.

- October 16, 2014, WCJB

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"235","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","style":"width: 333px; height: 228px; margin: 3px 10px; float: left;"}}]]It's official - an investigative review into decisions made between GRU and GREC officials will soon begin.

City officials voted to approve the contract to begin the review that will question decisions made relating to the biomass plant.

The city will be shelling out close to $190,000 for the review. Additional costs will need to be approved by city officials. Navigant is expected to conduct interviews and go through memos, emails and other documents between GRU and GREC officials between October 2007 and November 2013. At the end of the months-long process, the firm will be expected to make recommendations to improve similar processes in the future.

"We've had some decisions that quite frankly were questionable in the past, that while i don't think necessarily there's anything that we can do about them, we've asked somebody to come look at it," City Commissioner Todd Chase explained.

City officials expect the entire review to be completed in February of next year.