From: “Allan Ricketts” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>
To: John S. Quarterman
Cc: Brad Lofton
Subject: Response to Your Questions to the VLCIA Board of Directors on 18 January 2011
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:01:35 -0500
Hello John,
This e-mail is in response to the questions you directed to the VLCIA Board
of Directors during the “Citizens to be Heard” portion of the VLCIA Board
Meeting on Tuesday, 18 January 2011.
“That really would be the city…
we’re industrial development.”
She didn’t say which city.
There is more than one city in the county.
The question as sent to them in writing refered to Hahira; maybe
that’s the city she meant.
Should Hahira not expect any help from VLCIA?
And what about us who don’t live in any of the cities?
So far, all the new solar rooftop installations are in unincorporated
parts of the county, although
both are in Hahira’s 31632 ZIP code.
Col. Ricketts, at the direction of the board, has since sent me a response,
which will lead off tomorrow morning.
VLCIA seemed somewhat confused as to what their protocol is
as to answering questions:
Continue reading →
Oregonians put off by the high price of renewable energy can now go solar
on the cheap, installing panels for no money down.
Contractors
in a handful of states are starting to offer solar to the masses
with lease deals that eliminate upfront costs. Oregon is joining the
trend, thanks to regulations that took effect Jan. 1.
The
Portland branch of a national solar company unveiled a lease
program Tuesday enabling homeowners to put up panels
for low monthly payments, cutting their electricity bills
and carbon footprints. At least one other contractor, a local
company, is developing similar products.
Managers of SolarCity, a California-based
company, say Oregon homeowners can go solar for as little as $20
a month with no up-front costs. The new financing option, which
incorporates state and federal tax credits….
They’re talking $25/month with no money down.
That’s a thousand miles north of here, in rainy Oregon.
Maybe we should just invite SolarCity to operate here.
However, Brad Lofton and Col. Ricketts summarized that event for
the VLCIA board at their recent board meeting,
and they never presented any actual evidence there, either.
From: “Michael G. Noll”
To: “blofton@industrialauthority.com” <blofton@industrialauthority.com>,
“Mary B. Gooding”,
“Ricketts, Allan” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>,
“Copeland, Roy”,
“‘John S. Quarterman'”,
“Susan R. Wehling”,
Kay Harris
Subject: RE: Wiregrass Power, LLC
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 21:19:15 +0000
Hello Mr. Lofton.
You might remember that WACE handed out a “Myth vs. Fact” info sheet at
the meeting. On it were clearly outlined major issues we have with your
biomass project. I will only entertain the first three to refresh your
memory, since they are the most important facts for our community:
When I asked about these projects at
the 21 Dec 2010 VLCIA board meeting,
board member Gary Minchew responded that VLCIA couldn’t talk about sensitive
negotiations, but they didn’t want to be secretive.
Earlier I had been talking to the fellow sitting to my left
about his green energy project and whether VLCIA was going to move
forward on it.
He pointed out to the board that he and I were facebook
friends and linked on LinkedIn.
He’s sending me some information; more on that when I get it.
Meanwhile, I wonder why the board wouldn’t talk about his project,
and I remain dubious that VLCIA has any other
“renewable green energy projects”.
When can we see these actual studies? And if we could see those VLCIA videos, nobody would have to depend on memory. -jsq
From: Brad Lofton <blofton@industrialauthority.com>
To: Michael Noll,
“Mary B. Gooding”,
Allan Ricketts <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>,
Roy Copeland,
“John S. Quarterman,
“Susan R. Wehling”,
Kay Harris
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:51:53 -0500
Subject: Re: Wiregrass Power, LLC
Good morning Dr. Noll-
Thanks for your e-mail. With all due respect, however, your memory
doesn’t serve you correctly, and I would ask you to please review your
notes again. The environmental consultant from Golder referred
extensively to a seven month environmental analysis performed by the
EPD in our state. I’m confused why a seven month study performed by the
impartial environmental and regulatory group empowered to provide
governance and decisions related to this project isn’t a sufficient
enough environmental study for you. During the forum, Golder and
Associates, a world renown environmental engineering firm, also went on
to provide results of their extensive air modeling study. The fuel
supply expert presented the results of a detailed study his firm had
just completed that showed 13 times the required regional wood waste
fuel needed for this plant. This was his firm’s 20th study across the
country, and they are considered experts. The Ph.D economist cited an
extensive study his firm had just completed successfully defending a
similar biomass facility before the Wisconsin Public Service
Commission. The Toxicologist has over 27 years of experience and is a
leading expert at a major U.S. University. If you would read his CV,
From: “Michael G. Noll”
To: Brad Lofton <blofton@industrialauthority.com>, “John S. Quarterman,
Allan Ricketts, <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>
CC: “Susan R. Wehling”, “Mary B. Gooding”, Roy Copeland, Kay Harris
Subject: RE: Wiregrass Power, LLC
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:46:25 +0000
Hello Mr. Lofton.
I can certainly admire your determination to sell our community your
biomass project as “green” or “safe”. However, as WACE already pointed
out, there is a difference between fiction and fact (see my guest
column in the VDT on December 12, 2010).
In the last couple months, WACE has provided the Industrial Authority
and the community with a plethora of scientific literature and
statements made by medical organizations that unequivocally state that
biomass is neither “green” nor “safe”. At the same time, neither you
nor Mr. Ricketts have been able to provide up-to-date scientific proof
to us to challenge the position that biomass is, in fact, dirtier than
coal and bears significant health risks.
Anyone who cares enough for the community he or she lives in, must
understand the responsibility to provide such proof. I have
difficulties to imagine that you or Mr. Ricketts do not share such a
sentiment, despite the disagreements we might have.
Let’s cut to the chase in regard to your panel of experts:
Here are videos of the regular public board meeting of the
Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA), 21 Dec 2010.
I videoed almost everything, except when I was speaking or they were
answering.
More posts later on some of the astonishing
points arising from this meeting.
Update 1 Jan 2010:more videos posted, with some comment. Still a few more to come.
Update 2 Jan 2010: All the videos are there now, and there’s a blog post with Dr. Teaf’s slides, along with video of Brad Lofton saying “no way shape or form”.
I’m sure that every VLCIA board member has the best interests
of the community at heart.
Several of them invited me to contact them with any concerns. I will take them up on that invitation, and you can, too.
Continue reading →
From: John S. Quarterman
To: “Allan Ricketts” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>
cc: “‘John S. Quarterman'”, “‘Michael Noll'”, “‘Susan Wehling'”,
“‘Brad Lofton'” <blofton@industrialauthority.com>,
“Mary B. Gooding”, Roy Copeland, Kay Harris
Subject: Re: Wiregrass Power, LLC
Col. Ricketts,
It’s good to hear from you.
I wondered during your re-presentation of slides you’d already
said the entire VLCIA board had seen at the recent VLCIA biomass
event, whether you would provide copies to interested parties,
such as those sitting in the room, but you did not at the time.
Considering the increasing amount of public interest in this topic,
as evidenced by the attendance and
questions at the VLCIA Rainwater Conference
Center event, and by recent newspaper activity, probably the
public would like to see those press releases directly from
the VLCIA’s web site. However, LAKE is always happy to link
to relevant material, so if you will please send me the URLs of
those press releases as you found them on the web, LAKE will be
happy to link to them.
Similarly, if Dr. Teaf’s information is as good as you indicated,
From: “Allan Ricketts” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>
