The Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) responds to my request of 26 Sep 2010 for some real clean energy jobs, and a renewable energy strategy for Georgia; he copied the VDT and the same people as the previous messages.

From: “Brad Lofton”
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:25:36 +0000

Hey John!

Thanks again for your e-mail. I refer you to my previous response, the large amount of data my staff has provided you, and all of the government (fed, local, and state) and environmental group support we enjoy. We have all permits in place, and we are moving forward enthusiastically to create green jobs in this economy! That’s good news. You’ll be pleased to know that we have other renewable energy projects we’re pursing as well in addition to our solar array (it may be small to you, but we’re being told that it’s currently the largest array in Georgia-not bad if you ask me). I wish people would spend half the energy assisting us recruit jobs than what they spend fighting economic development projects that will provide good jobs for this community. I want to apologize for providing you the wrong name for the VSU professor last week. Dr. Tom Manning is his name, and he is very much an active member of the VSU faculty. We also receive 1 mill of tax, not 1.5.

Have a nice day,

BL

P.S. Below is the direct quote from www.sierraclub.org not only

supporting, but recommending our technology for plants that use wood waste (or harvest stubble as they indicate). If you have read our approved EPD permit (and I know you have), you will note that our fuel is specific and limited. We are also fitting the plant with state of the art pollution control equipment (above the required permit standards) as the Sierra Club suggests below and we support!

www.sierraclub.org

“2. Agricultural waste: Many local biomass proposals target post-harvest stubble. Rather than burning this waste, much of it should be returned to the soil for soil health, tilth, fertility, and nurturing the organisms populating the below ground ecosystem. However, in many cases, farmers continue to burn off the stubble, posing a health threat to nearby residents. We support local efforts to stop open burning either by collecting it for composting or for co-energy production in a boiler outfitted with effective pollution control equipment. We recommend that local activists insist that stringent pollution control and monitoring be specified in the permitting for such facilities and that the fuel sources for any proposed facility be identified, specified, and limited in the permit.”

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