A public hearing called by the Lane County Board of Commissioners over the controversial West Cascade Energy LLC natural gas-fired power plant drew more than three dozen opponents and no supporters.

"If this plant is built, my property has no value," Carolyn Kinnan of Coburg told commissioners. Kinnan, who grows six varieties of apples in addition to plums, pears, apricots and vegetables, said the polluted airborne discharge from the energy facility's 190-foot-tall stacks would ruin her ability to grow produce for herself and others.

The West Cascade power plant would emit annually an estimated 401.2 tons of nitrogen oxide; 51.8 tons of sulfur dioxide; 325.9 tons of particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter; 86.1 tons of volatile organic compounds and 286.1 tons of carbon monoxide, according to an application filed with the state by South Dakota-based Black Hills Corp., the power plant's sponsor.

John Sundquist, a Coburg resident who farms 33 organic acres less than three miles from the proposed power plant, said the airborne pollutants landing on his produce would wreck his ability to maintain an organic certification for the vegetables he grows.

"This will force a significant change in the way I farm my land," Sundquist said. "We don't need a noisy, smelly power plant in our area."

Sundquist, like other certified organic farmers, worried that the airborne pollutants discharged from the power plant would affect his farming operation, which uses no pesticides or other chemicals.

Sundquist said the volume of airborne pollution Black Hills predicts the plant would emit will reduce demand from longtime customers.

Kevin Jones, an organic farmer in Junction City, said the airborne emissions Black Hills projects to emit would put his organic certification in jeopardy. "This power plant would clearly have a significant impact on our farm," he said.

Such distinctions are meaningful when it comes to siting a power plant on high-value farmland. Oregon's land use laws put the protection of farm and forest land among the highest priorities of the state's unique land use system.

In order for the West Cascade facility to get approval to build on 107 acres of land zoned for exclusive agricultural use, state officials must make an exception to Oregon's land use system.

Black Hills will have to prove that making an exception would not have adverse economic impacts on neighboring farm operations.

Given the testimony Monday night, South Hills appears to be in a fight with local growers when it comes to converting farmland to industrial uses.

Speaking on behalf of the Lane County Farm Bureau, Junction City farmer Randy Henderson said the siting of the gas-fired plant would have impacts beyond the 107 acres two miles north of Coburg the facility would occupy.

"This is clearly a violation of Goal 3 at the state level," Henderson said. "We oppose this project."

Goal 3 is the statewide requirement that high-value farmland not be developed for commercial purposes.

The commissioners accepted public comment Monday in order to compile criteria for the state Energy Facility Siting Council, which will decide whether the power plant meets land use regulations in Lane County.

Black Hills, in keeping with state law, elected to have the council rule on the application rather than local officials.