Efforts to become an environmentally cleaner “Cool County” could block Carroll?s controversial airport expansion, Commissioner Michael Zimmer says.
The decision to expand a runway at Carroll County Regional Airport 1,300 feet, to 6,400, contradicts the county?s recent vow to lower greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, Zimmer says.
He is calling for the county?s Environmental Advisory Council, the group that recommended and will oversee the Cool County initiative, to join in the two-year environmental study of the airport, which independent Delta Airport Consultants Inc. will begin by November.
Zimmer voted against both the expansion and Cool Counties.
“Given that the majority passed Cool Counties, we will now have to analyze the airport expansions from a greenhouse gas perspective,” Zimmer said in a statement. “Could this analysis lead to a reversal of the decision? I don?t know, but these factors need to be added to the mix.”
To include the environmental council in the airport study, Zimmer said he would not have to make a formal motion, but needs the approval of one of the other two commissioners.
Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge said she will not be that person because 18 federal and state agencies will assist Delta in the environmental study.
“The study they?re going to be doing with all those agences is certainly more in-depth than anything our EAC could do,” she said. “I?m not sure we want to ask them to do anything that?s already being done.”
The EAC is studying waste management, at the request of commissioners.
Gouge also said emissions from cars and trucks on the county?s clogged roadways is more worrisome than what comes from planes.
“We would probably have some increase in the number of planes coming in,” Gouge said, “but I don?t see a tremendous amount of more planes.”
But Zimmer countered, saying airplane exhaust “isn?t even comparable” to cars.
Commissioner Dean Minnich did not return calls for comment.
“We need an analysis of how much greenhouse gas we?re putting into the atmosphere with an expanded airport,” Zimmer said. “It seems like a perfectly logical plan to me.”
