Baard Energy gets extension of deadline

June 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By D.A. WILKINSON

WELLSVILLE

Baard Energy has more time to use $4.5 million in state funds to further its plan to build a coal-to-liquid fuel plant near Wellsville.

Bethany Close, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Development, said this week that Baard’s deadline has been extended to Sept. 30.

The state had granted a loan extension Nov. 5, 2009, that lasted until June 30 of this year.

The state’s controlling board in May 2009 approved funding for the project as a forgivable loan to help buy and prepare land at the 525-acre site near Wellsville.

But the development of the project was slowed by the poor economy and court challenges. The extension also will give the project more time to line up private investors for the facility that is expected to cost $6 billion.

State Rep. Linda Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st, and Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the Columbiana County Port Authority, had been asking state officials for the extension.

Drake was pleased by the news. After hearing the news, Bolon said, “I’m very pleased” and thanked the ODOD for its decision.

Bolon said that about $80 million in state development grants may be used to start site preparation.

John Baardson, the chief executive officer of Baard Energy, and Steve Dopuch, the vice president, did not return calls seeking comment.