Valley can use its old technology to fuel new green-energy growth

Valley can use its old technology to fuel new green-energy growth

“Energy drives Valley native” [Vindicator, June 7] described Eric Spiegel’s very interesting talk to those assembled at the Kilcawley Center for a forum on energy. In recognizing the inherent qualities that exist in the Valley, he has opened the way for those movers and shakers in this area to proceed in procuring the new kinds of manufacturing coupled with some of the old-line manufacturing that has always existed in the Valley.

Before developing this further, Mr. Spiegel remarked that Cleveland and Pittsburgh both have larger airports. The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport can accommodate the latest and largest cargo planes. Those planes’ cargo can be unloaded and put on trucks and be on their way in very short time with the capabilities that exist now. His mention of the infrastructure that exists did not really give it its just due. From my home on Hazelwood Avenue in Warren, I can in 10 minutes enter a freeway going in any of the directions on the compass, and not stop unless for a rest break or exiting the freeway or toll road. This is as good as it gets anywhere.

The Marcellus Shale natural gas deposits in this area lend well to the capabilities of putting together companies that would contribute to the green energy that Mr. Spiegel talked about. However, there is the question of windmills also mentioned in his well-received talk by the 150 people in attendance.

Youngstown was a steel town reminiscent of the old days when steel was the backbone of the industrial might in this Valley. In the old days, steel making needed blast furnaces to produce iron to be further refined in Basic Oxygen Furnaces to produce the many kinds of steel needed by the growing industries in the country.

As time progressed and scrap metal began to be readily available, the need for blast furnaces diminished. At one time the Valley had more than a dozen of them.

One blast furnace remains in the Valley at the former Republic Steel mill in Warren. When you talk about wind energy, and Mr. Spiegel feels this is an important industry for green energy, it should be noted that windmills are made of iron. Iron is made in blast furnaces. This is a plus for the Valley. What is needed is to get the blast furnace fired up and produce iron for making windmills? Maybe a company already making windmills in the U.S. might like a closer place to get its iron. This Valley has a great history in iron producing. It can do it again.

Leonard J. Sainato, Warren