Coal-to-fuel plant holds great potential for the area

Coal-to-fuel plant holds great potential for the area

EDITOR:

I am appalled by the lack of fundamental economic sense and the wild accusation of forthcoming economic doom in last Sunday’s letter opposing a coal-to-fuel plant. By the writer’s own account of the pending oil shortage, the many reasons to build the plant as an alternative source of energy are profound.

Baard Energy’s proposal represents the most significant economic investment in Ohio and the tri-state region in the recent history. The premise of cheap oil prices continuing is absurd. Remember $4 per gallon gasoline last summer? Those prices could return when the world economy stabilizes and demand increases.

Even with development of alternate energies there will always be a strong demand for jet fuel and high grade diesel to power our planes, trains and trucks. I don’t foresee electric jets or tractor-trailers. The $6 billion project will tremendously impact economic growth for the region. Three to four thousand construction jobs for 4 to 5 years will generate additional job growth in the tri-state area. The 400 permanent jobs at the facility will be at good pay and full benefits. Besides the plant positions, additional hundreds of support jobs will be created.

I’m not worried about our way of life down the road, I’m worried about our quality of life today. Without jobs our quality of life in this region will continue to deteriorate. The coal to fuel plant provides greater national security allowing us to have a domestic source of jet and diesel fuel. Energy independence must be obtained for the United States to prosper.

Coal gasification is a primary application of clean coal technology. $3.5 billion of the $6 billion cost or plant construction represents environmental pollution control. The project will meet all current EPA air and water requirements, and is designed to exceed CO2 regulations when they are imposed. Sequestration of the CO2 will allow for increased production in Ohio oil and gas wells. Cradle-to-grave the fuel produced by Baard Energy will have half to one third less omissions than conventionally produced gas and diesel.

Coal-to-fuel is an energy source needing to be developed and one with positively economic benefits. Permits, land, design, and demand are all in place. The Baard Energy coal-to-fuel plant must be built and it will be built benefiting Wellsville, Columbiana County, State of Ohio and the United States.

CRIS McNICHOL

Wellsville

Lighten up on WRTA

EDITOR:

I have yet to understand why the mayor of Sebring is still fuming about the WRTA situation. Did the mayor call and suggest anyone from his area to be on the board of WRTA?? He is the one who urged voters of this Valley to vote these buses down. He didn’t want the levy to pass it, and now that it has, he’s upset because his town isn’t represented on the WRTA board.

As for the man in Austintown who is upset about the building expansion of WRTA, that expansion has been discussed in the paper since before they started tearing down the old Salvation Army building on Mahoning Avenue a couple of years ago. From his letter, I believe he has his funding sources all thrown together and mixed up. The federal stimulus money is paying for that building expansion, not county tax money. All the buses and vans that are being bought are going to have to be housed. Also, with all the cameras and computer gadgets aboard these buses, there has to be adequate updated office space for this computerized equipment. It’s just the world we live in now. I will agree that hopefully the contract will be bid out to a county contractor thus keeping the jobs and money in our county.

The county tax levy money was to hire drivers, reinstitute routes and night and weekend services, and expand routes to rural areas as the tax money comes in. The federal stimulus money is a one-time unexpected gift for WRTA. We get a building and 17 vehicles that Mahoning County tax dollars could not afford to purchase at one time. What a gift for those who need a lift.

LISA BETH MOORE

Youngstown

Do area farmers support neighborhood wineries?

EDITOR:

For the last three years we have been trying to legally close a winery (bar) that was created in our once quiet residential zoned neighborhood in Milton Township. The Milton trustees and zoning department have brought court proceedings against this property owner, with a ruling by Judge Durkin verifying the zoning violation last December. This bar is still open and operating due to an appeal on the ruling. Recently, we have learned to our amazement that the Ohio Farm Bureau and Mahoning County Farm Bureau are now supporting this business with its appeal in court.

This bar is located in a neighborhood plotted for single family housing. It is operated by relatives of the property owner and is located within the house on a lot measuring 100 feet by 150 feet — nothing that would be considered a farming operation by logical thinking. The “farming” area of this property is about the size of an average household garden. Although they do have several grape plants and a few berry bushes planted within this small lot, it surely doesn’t support the supply of juice necessary to manufacture the volume of wine that the business attracts. We have to continually live with the traffic, noise and dust generated from all the vehicles of the patrons, not to even mention the safety issues.

Our impression of the farming community is of honest, hard working, and family oriented people, proud of their farms and communities. The agricultural exemption which this business is seeking is a ruse to operate a bar within a residential neighborhood. We question if the general membership of the Farm Bureau would want this attachment of support of the appeal in court. Sure it’s not in your backyard now, but with a court reversal the house next door to you may be a bar next.

MARK BRETSCHNEIDER,

RICHARD FENTON, BRIAN SLIDER

Milton Township

If you’re going to roll the dice, gamble on lower taxes

EDITOR:

My prediction that the Chevy Centre was planned to ultimately become a gambling venue is unfortunately playing out. Certain of the media are promoting it for this purpose.

Principles aside, supporting arguments are put forth including (1) casinos close by are “eating our gambling dollars,” (2) it will create jobs, and (3) it’s required to pay the Centre’s huge debt.

Ohio has a statewide lottery and offers licensed gaming machines throughout. For some, that is not enough “legalized” gambling. For others, private but illegal gambling holds a thrill. Will Chevy Centre casino gambling cause a reduction in these other three “opportunities?”

Lower taxes will attract capital investments that is necessary for non-gaming sustainable businesses. As a result, meaningful employment and business activity will create the necessary tax dollars for important governmental functions from both business and employment taxation.

More gambling creates false hopes in many wishing for a change in their lives that escapes all but a very few winners.

Atty. CARL D. RAFOTH

Youngstown