I heard Commissioner Wendy Pitts Reeves say something the other day and it really is worth talking about. While I can't phrase this the way she would, I will go ahead and ask the question.

What is so special about Blount County? Where or what are our favorite places? The places / things we most want to protect? The places or things that are at greatest risk of being lost?

Before everyone logs in and says the GSMNP, I want to point out that it is part of Blount County but that is not in our control. So what other places or things do we have here that really need protection and why?

In this thread Link... local quoted this from TN Democrats Creed;

We will be faithful stewards of our economy by supporting sound fiscal and energy policies that will create opportunities for all citizens now and in the future;

I gave this as a suggestion for sound energy and conservation;

Think BIG! Ethanol is created by using corn and “stills”. Link... I would say in Blount we already have both. This would enable Dems a policy of “functional” preservation. Lease large farms on a long term (100 yrs?) basis at a fair price. Grow as much corn as you can utilizing farms that won’t have to be turned into sprawl. Make land valuable for something other than development. Link... Once you have established production, the savings on county vehicles should enable a quick return on investment. Most automakers are promoting E85 Link... If production has surplus, sell to McNutt, Downey and Pilot Link... and use these funds for education and/or more preservation.

DT wrote today that Monroe County is doing this; Link... I know in the above I promoted corn, but I have no problems with switchgrass.

I know there are those who write hear who fear the ecological impact of ethanol. Worse comes to worse, we stop the project, the fields rot, and some land has some nice compost.

If not, whats the altermative?