Up until 2009, Lake Placid has enjoyed clean, unpolluted air as there are no smokestack industries that I am aware of. This has attracted senior mobile home parks as well as senior assisted living facilities to the area.
But now the Highlands County Commissioners have decided to change that by giving permission for an ethanol producing plant to locate near U.S. 27 and S.R. 70 just south of Lake Placid (about six and a half miles.) This is one of the worst polluting industries in the country. Even if they agree to install some anti-pollution measures, as everyone knows it would be cheaper for them to pay fines and-or bribe authorities than it would be to install very expensive, adequate anti-pollution equipment.
If an ethanol plant is built this close to Lake Placid we are doomed to poisonous air. Even Sebring would be affected in summer with winds from the south.
I suggest they build this plant south of Lake Okeechobee where they already have several "smokestack" plants and one more will not add too much to already poisonous air. If you doubt me then drive south on U.S. 27 and between Clewiston and South Bay you can see the smoke and at one place will need to hold your breath unless you want all your minerals in one breath.
Colin McClellan
Lake Placid
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