BAARD PLANT

Here’s a time line of events in the development of the Baard Energy coal-to-liquid fuel plant:

March 2006: John Baardson, president of Baard Energy of Vancouver, Wash., said only a major catastrophe would stop construction of his proposed plant in Wellsville.

December 2006: Baard Energy already is at work to get the needed permits. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Baard workers communicate at length to help speed the project.

February 2007: Baard Energy announces it has hired AMEC Paragon of Houston to provide engineering and management services for the plant construction.

July 2007: U.S. Reps. Charles A. Wilson Jr. of St. Clairsville, D-6th, and Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, obtained more than $2 million to study how to deal with by-products from the planned process.

2008: The first and second permits for wastewater disposal and wetlands protection are approved by the OEPA.

October 2008: The OEPA said it may be later this month or early November before the final permit, concerning air quality, is approved or rejected.

Source: Vindicator files