Recently, Angela Jackson wrote a letter to the editor and there were many false and misleading statements about a project that could bring about much needed positive change for our entire region, and for future generations to come.
Mrs. Jackson, in your letter you highlight past failures of the principles of Sky Energy, but what you fail to mention is that they have been successful in developing projects across the US that create 6000 Mega Watts of power nation wide, and that they were awarded an air permit on Sept 29 to add an additional 1200 Mega Watts of power in Bay City Texas.
You also state that Ky Dept of Energy Development said that AT THIS TIME wind and solar were not considered viable on our site. AT THIS TIME they are not, but you are obviously attempting to confuse, mislead and cast doubt, because what we are proposing is a COAL fired power plant that within in its long range plan intends to WHEN IT IS VIABLE incorporate wind and solar. My point, there is no confusion has to what our primary fuel source will be in this project it's COAL!!
As for ownership of the permit, I don't know what world you live in, but the person or group that pays for the permit 10 MILLION DOLLARS will own the permit. At this point in the project development ZERO local tax dollars have been expended by the Bell County Fiscal Court ZERO!! So in short you imply that getting 1500 construction jobs and 250 to 300 permanent jobs after construction is a BAD DEAL for Bell County??? I'm sorry, but I don't think so!! Plus there are many other local incentives that are being negotiated at this time that will be discussed when they are completed.
As for who owns the gas rights, who cares who owns the gas rights!! Considering the entire premise of your letter is driven from personal and political interest I can only assume you must have some natural gas you would like to sell???
Now to address the most blatant political LIE in your sorted story. You state as a matter of fact that Obama has gifted via the Governors office
8 million dollars of stimulus funds to Bell County for our road construction project to the Industrial site. This is your most shameful attempt to cast negative on our project. The 8.5 million dollars was funded through House Bill 4 during the legislative special session this bill is funded solely through the sale of bonds not President Obama as you state for fact in your letter.
This project is far too important to ignore letters like Miss Jacksons that are false and misleading. To all of you who support this effort there will be many more letters like the above in the future, and I now call on all of you to take a stand and help in defending this very worth while effort to bring about real sustainable change to our region.
Respectfully and Determined,
Albey Brock
Bell County Judge-Executive
At this time I feel it is of the utmost importance that the citizens of Bell County be aware of certain issues. According to the Middlesboro Daily News (http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/view/full_story/8871275/article--8-5-million-In-State-funds-awarded-to-Bell-County-for-access-road-to-Asher-Industrial-Park?) Governor Beshear announced that “ the Bell County Fiscal Court has been awarded $8.5 million by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for the construction of an access road from U.S. Hwy. 119 to the Asher Industrial Park.” This was also echoed by the Lane Report (http://www.kybiz.com/articles/article.cfm?id=1324). If one looks at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s website the front page is very clear: “Kentucky received $421 million in stimulus funding for transportation projects. $368 million was set aside for statewide highway improvements” (http://transportation.ky.gov/).
Secondly, The Daily News has also informed us that Randal Bird and Frank Rotondi of Sky energy have pitched an “integrated energy center” to local officials only for the public to later find out that its primary fuel source is simply coal (http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/view/full_story/10007247/article-Judge-Executive-responds-to-power-plant-project-concerns?instance=news_special_coverage_right_column), With this known, should not the public also be aware that Mr. Rotondi who is formerly of the defunct EnviroPower LCC ,incorporated in 2003, (http://www.corporationwiki.com/Kentucky/Ashland/enviropower-llc/38515205.aspx) and now with Sky Energy (http://www.skyenergy.us/about.html), founded in 2007 who has a project going in Texas under the name White Stallion Energy Center (http://www.whitestallionenergycenter.com/) has not produced one kilowatt of electrical power. Just read the websites of the companies listed above. Its all promises and nothing concrete.
Third, also according to the Daily News, Mr. Bowling of PMRIDA is quoted as saying “We have already got close to probably 20 million invested in that site” (http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/view/full_story/9021927/article-MOU-obtained-for--8-5-million-to--complete-road-to-Asher-Industrial-Park?). One question I would like to hear answered is, who are the “we”?
Lastly, If one looks at my most recent letter to the Editor of the Daily News (http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/view/full_story/9975357/article-Reader-questions-coal-fired-power-plant?instance=news_special_coverage_right_column) as well as the study done by The Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence (http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:4p_vMScDyLUJ:www.kysitebank.com/Assets/eval_PineMountain.pdf bell county kentucky +biomass plant+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiogBRmF7QGJqU571-tb3_jdkbrs_fYYTKVRxLsra4jnGEY309HWsO8UT6dZFtbpg8eBFNx2yubDN1-H5Ltp3pvuhSw9Es4i6ust-14Cc-hGBSETv2BqGstlDxM773DRwG5e5gz&sig=AHIEtbT6xVxhsSTsQsNpuINpjL2dI7C_Aw ) on the viability of solar and wind power at the proposed site, you will notice that neither I nor the study have used the phrase “AT THIS TIME.” Therefore let us reflect on these issues through the lens of campaign contributions. Randal Bird of EnviroPower, Sky Energy and White Stallion Energy Center is into Judge Brock to the tune of 1000 dollars. Kathleen Morgan, also of Sky Energy has been just as generous to our incumbent Judge. One might also notice the generosity of a host of out of town lawyers and bankers on the list (http://www.kref.state.ky.us/krefsearch/). Perhaps the Citizens of Bell County should have reason to fear that Mr. Bowling’s “We” may mean “us”.