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Oroville resident disputes ad tying him to biomass project; council and organizers set community workshop
Summary
Brian Wong told the City Council a full‑page ad falsely said he and the city were partners in a proposed 'Bree' biomass project, asked for a retraction and said his company (Coral Carbo) is still planning; council members and organizers invited the public to a Dec. 8 community workshop to discuss biomass, air quality and options.
Brian Wong, a local business owner, told the Oroville City Council on Monday that a recent full‑page newspaper ad falsely stated he and the city were partners in a proposed ‘Bree’ biomass project and asked the ad’s sponsors to publish a retraction. “I would like to state that this is a false statement,” Wong said, adding that he is the managing member of Coral Carbo and has not submitted a project application to the city on behalf of the company.
Council members and community organizers used the meeting to distinguish a citizen group, the Oroville Community Development Coalition (OCDC), from the city. A council member said OCDC was formed by residents after election and is not a city‑sanctioned body. “There is no connection directly with the Orville [sic] Community Development Coalition and the city,” the council member said, adding that the group’s role is to explore options and hold public conversations.
Council members and Wong highlighted a community meeting scheduled for Dec. 8 at Stream Charter School to discuss biomass technology, wildfire mitigation and air quality. The workshop was described as informational and intended to let residents review data and ask questions about modern biomass generation and emissions controls. “We’re gonna have a community conversation that surrounds that,” the council member said, inviting residents to attend.
The meeting also surfaced a local advocacy group that published the ad; Wong said the group is chaired by a former council member and that he was the only person named. Council members said they share constituents’ concerns about air quality but urged people to use factual, verifiable information when alleging partnerships or city endorsement.
What happens next: organizers and city staff encouraged public attendance at the Dec. 8 workshop. If project applications are submitted to the city in the future, they will go through the city’s standard permitting and public‑notice processes.
