Murray County neighbors who’ve been fighting a proposed bio-energy plant say they’re gearing up for a packed meeting Thursday night — and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she plans to be there.

Residents have been pushing back for months against a plan from Vanguard Renewables to build an anaerobic digestion facility outside Chatsworth.

Residents have been{ }pushing back for months{ }against a plan from Vanguard Renewables to build an anaerobic digestion facility outside Chatsworth. Photo: WTVC

Many told us earlier this fall they’re worried about odors, truck traffic and possible impacts on well water and the nearby Conasauga watershed.

County residents held a rally in October to voice those concerns, and environmental regulators began taking public comments soon after, the agency says.

On her personal X account, Rep. Greene weighed in on the project back on Oct. 28th, calling the community “furious” about the proposal. She also urged state regulators to deny the permit and said she would attend the December 4th meeting.

She repeated that message in a series of social posts, adding her phones “were ringing off the hook” with opposition, her office says.

Rep. Greene said her phones “were ringing off the hook” with opposition, her office says.Photographer: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Thursday’s meeting is being run by Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division. It’s scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Murray County Veterans Memorial Building on Old Dalton-Ellijay Road. The agency says it will take public comments on Vanguard Renewables’ air and wastewater permits before making a final decision.

Vanguard Renewables has said its anaerobic digestion facilities convert food waste and farm waste into renewable natural gas. Opponents in Murray County argue the operation does not belong near neighborhoods or mountain streams, and several say they plan to bring water samples, photos and petitions to present Thursday night.

We’ll have a crew at the meeting.