Even before Thursday’s public hearing on Fibrowatt began, the earmarks of a battle were made manifest.

As cars pulled into the parking lot at Surry Central High School in Dobson stood opponents to the proposed Fibrowatt facility, handing out literature to anyone who would roll down car windows and accept the offerings. By doing so, vehicle occupants received a copy of the 25th anniversary issue of The LEAGUE LINE — a publication of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense. Tucked inside each newsletter were two canary-colored 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper. The first of the two sheets contained a cartoon on one side of two men, one identified as the Fibrowatt CEO holding a chicken and talking to a lobbyist; the other side of the sheet was another drawing, this time of a single individual (again identified as the Fibrowatt CEO) smiling and holding chicken manure and calling it a golden egg. The second sheet announced “Fibrowatt Facts,” with the first three letters of the company name italicized, to create the word “Fib.”

On a table by the entrance to the gymnasium, Fibrowatt proponents offered their own literature, including photocopies of an article that ran that day in The Mount Airy News, and the mission statement of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership regarding its justification for supporting the company coming to Surry County. Those who wished to display their support could attach a gum label announcing their position in favor of Fibrowatt.

At the start of the public hearing, county commissioner Paul Johnson, who served as the moderator, explained how the hearing would be conducted, primarily that speakers would be allowed three minutes. Each party, pro or con, would speak in rotating order.

Johnson also raised an issue regarding county employees. He told the gathering he and other commissioners had received comments from employees that they were being harangued by people about Fibrowatt.

“The county commissioners make the ultimate decision,” he said. “Please respect our employees.”

He also asked that respect be extended to the commissioners and those who have worked with the commissioners on Fibrowatt.

“This group has worked hard and deserve your respect regardless whether you’re for or against,” he said.

Before opening procedures, Johnson laid down one admonition. The hearing was not to become a pep rally. For the most part, that admonition would be adhered to, but there were occasions applause would break out.

One who spoke in favor of Fibrowatt was Dean Brown, a retired educator. While he briefly addressed the concern about the environment, he placed his emphasis on people seeking employment.

“They need to find work,” he said. “They need to provide for the family, honestly.”

Another proponent for Fibrowatt, Larry Calloway, the veterans employment consultant with the N.C. ESC, cited in rapid order the number of companies who were no longer in Surry County or had gone out of business altogether.

Taking up the cause for those opposing Fibrowatt was Joe Dale Rust.

“Any move to wean us from foreign oil and help clean our environment is an effort I embrace,” he said. “I was excited when I heard that chicken litter would be burned to create electricity for our area. Excited also that jobs would be created. That our economy would be improved.”

Later, however, said Rust, much too later, he began to read what was happening in Benson, Minn., where Fibrowatt has a facility up and running. What he read did not sit well.

“May we find new jobs, new businesses, new stores, new residential areas. May we find ways to be less dependent on fossil fuels and new ways to clean our environment,” he said. “My conclusion is that Fibrowatt is, at best, a questionable way to do that. Please, look for a better way.”

Rust’s concluding statement was one of the times applause broke out, which forced Johnson to remind the gathering “not to make this a pep rally.”

At times there were challenges to previous statements made. One individual said a California-based manufacturer of solar panels would seriously consider relocating to Surry County. However, a Fibrowatt proponent countered, rhetorically asking whether the previous speaker knew anything about solar panels, whether he knew how many chemicals are used.

His comments prompted some audience members to interrupt, which again made it necessary for Johnson to interject.

Following the first public comments session were speakers on the agenda, who ranged from Deanna L. Osmond, PhD, with North Carolina State University, who spoke on soil science. She was followed in turn by Margaret Love, with the North Carolina DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), division of air quality.

While Osmond had facts and figures to present, especially about phosphates, Love had very little to offer as no permits had yet been filed by Fibrowatt. The latter proved frustrating as several who questioned her could not get any definitive answers. Time and again, Love, explained that she could not answer specific questions because a key requirement had not yet been fulfilled.

“Without an application, I can’t speak of Fibrowatt,” she said.

At the conclusion of both Osmond and Love’s presentations, Johnson informed the gathering that neither had any involvement that would color their presentations. He asked for a round of applause for each to thank them for coming to the hearing; the gathering complied with polite applause.

Other speakers on the agenda, however, did speak favorably of their findings and their support of Fibrowatt.

Ted Ashby, chairman of the Surry Economic Development Partnership Inc., told how then Partnership president Robin Rhyne traveled to England to visit two plants in operation there; she reported “the plants were not offensive and local citizens were not disturbed by the presence of the facilities in their community.”

Rhyne and local community leaders and officials also visited the recently-opened Benson, Minn. facility and had a positive experience.

“On Tuesday of this week, I contacted the mayor of Benson, Paul Kittleson, to obtain his opinion of Fibrowatt after two years of operation,” said Ashby. “He stated the company was an excellent corporate citizen; their presence created no problems in regards to quality of life and he felt good about endorsing Fibrowatt to the citizens of Surry County.”

Again, there were times when tempers flared or applause by opponents broke out. Sometimes commissioners engaged in heated exchanges. A particularly vociferous one developed between Dick Cooley and Johnson.

Cooley, an opponent of Fibrowatt, took the commissioners to task for allowing so many industries to leave Surry County. Johnson shot back that much of the situation was not the commissioners’ fault but global economy, with many jobs going overseas because of lower wages and other costs of doing business, including poor working conditions.

There was, however, a moment of levity when Abbye Blackwelder asked if after all this “give and take” whether the effort was worth it.

“Are you asking, do we ever think?” asked Johnson.

The room erupted in laughter. The breaking of tension would be short-lived.

Those on the agenda in favor of Fibrowatt hammered time and again the need for jobs.

“We’re at a critical mass,” said Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce President Greg Perkins. “We have to seize every opportunity we can.”

However, it was Laurette Leagon, executive director of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce who raised a key issue, that those in favor of Fibrowatt were not against the environment.

“Our community leaders did their due diligence. these citizens, most unpaid, donated countless hours to this project and believe it’s good for Surry County,” she said. “These citizens have a passion for making Surry County better. And I don’t think for one minute they would recruit an industry to our area that would be detrimental to our environment, our livelihood or our families.”

Then she acknowledged the legitimate concerns of those opposed.

“Having said all that, the Chamber also has a healthy respect for the environmental concerns brought forth by the Coalition for Responsible Economic Development (C.R.E.D.),” she said, and concluded, “So we are very aware of the importance of maintaining the beauty that will bring visitors and repeat visitors to our county.

“But to have a diverse economy, you have to have balance,” she said.