Controversy surrounding a proposed renewable natural gas plant in Three Oaks

THREE OAKS, Mich. -- There has been controversy surrounding a proposed renewable natural gas plant in Three Oaks.

Forest Lawn Landfill is seeking a special land use permit to allow for the plant in what the city calls an agricultural-rural residential district.

Archaea energy, owned by BP, wants to build the natural gas plant on Basswood Road in Three Oaks.

The plant would take methane gas from the landfill, pipe it across the street, and turn it into natural gas.

The permit for this land is being taken out by forest lawn landfill, owned by Republic Services.

That's the same company that owned the landfill which shut down in 2017.

The proposed site covers 16 acres, with the plant being built on 7.5 acres.

Mike Crakes, who lives directly next door to the site, feels that communication about any of these plans has been very minimal.

“Well like I said it's going to kill the property value, as far as jobs coming, I don't see that happening, if so, it would be very minimal, construction wise, most of these corporations already have it contracted out for bid purposes so that's pretty much already a set thing," said Crakes.

The Three Oaks Township Planning Commission is holding a public hearing meeting tonight at the American Legion.