Editorial: Biodiesel opponents should accept ruling

After being dealt a major setback in their effort to derail a proposed biodiesel plant on Snow Creek Road, Iredell Neighbors for Rural Life and the individual plaintiffs have two choices.

They can continue their challenge in the courts and help line the pockets of all the attorneys involved in this matter, or they can trust Phil and Mike McLain to be true to their word.

After Iredell Superior Court Judge Kim Taylor ruled Friday that the production of biodiesel fuel is a bona fide farm-use activity, clearing the way for the McLains to begin production, Phil McLain extended an olive branch to the folks who took him and the county to court.

"We will do everything we can to be good neighbors once we get it up and going," he said. "It is not going to be as bad as they think."

Given the bitter feelings that have been brewing for the past six months, that might be tough to accept for the plaintiffs in this case. Their concerns about their families' safety and their property values are legitimate and will be difficult to set aside.

The neighbors can be proud that they fought a good fight and, largely because of their efforts, the McLains will be limited to producing 500,000 gallons of biodiesel annually. That's significantly less than what they had sought and will dramatically reduce the number of tanker trucks traveling the rural roads in their neighborhood.

From that vantage point, the plaintiffs - and the rest of us - should consider the time, effort and money they expended in this lawsuit have been worthwhile.