The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 6
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
The Citizens for Environmental Inquiry, in their never ending quest to kill the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture, filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in Ingham County Circuit Court, five months after the group demanded the DEQ regulate CO2 as a pollutant. The DEQ didn’t respond to their demand within 90 days, so CEI filed the suit because, “my clients can no longer delay measures to assess and control the millions of tons of global warming pollution that can be released,” said retired Judge Swallow, CEI’s legal counsel. Seven people in Rogers City must be heard. The Advance reported that, “In filing this lawsuit, CEI is very much aware that Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and Presque Isle County has the highest in Michigan.”
In late March, 2008, Wolverine asked the County Planning Commission to amend it’s original special use permit to include the burning of biomass.
Up until now, there had been two groups interested in killing the power plant. The seven people of CEI, all locals who believed Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, and a man from Traverse City who gets his money from San Fransisco, Tom Karas (Michigan Energy Alternatives.) However, the Planning Commission meeting attracted more outsiders.
Clean Water Action – a national group founded in the 70’s as part of Ralph Nader’s “task force” on water pollution
Michigan Environmental Council – a Lansing based group that is a member of a coalition of environmental groups nationwide.
Michigan Land Use Institute – A Traverse City based group that works closely with Tom Karas of Michigan Energy Alternatives
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter – a huge, national, extremely well funded organization of anti-coal activists
All of these groups are now organized and intent on killing the Rogers City venture.
In the middle of June, the economic impact study partially paid for by the Presque Isle Economic Development Corporation was released. It showed, in part, “annual property tax revenue within Presque Isle County of $12.5 million, with more than $3 million allocated to local units of government, and more than 230 new jobs for the four-county region which includes Presque Isle, Alpena, Montmorency, and Cheboygan Counties.” It further told of the revenue in taxes that would benefit Rogers City Schools, the Ambulance Authority, the Fire Board, and so on. It is safe to say that the revenue received by these and other governmental entities would double and in some cases, triple. The study did not assess the impact of the addition of biofuel to the plant’s consumption as it is an emerging development in the economy. Incidentally, even if that 230 jobs is double what may happen, it is still more jobs promised to Presque Isle County by Jennifer Granholm and the Federal Stimulus “shovel ready” package.
A group of people, upset that the environmental groups seem to be having the only say about the plant, formed and began meeting once per week. They felt it was important to stand up and show support for Wolverine. They called themselves, The Wolverine Clean Energy Venture Support Group, and their first major function was to stand up in support during the May 15th planning commission meeting. The meeting was to be in a public hearing style format on Wolverine’s request to amend their special use permit to include biomass. The group planned to wear t-shirts in support of the venture and speak at the hearing. Their mission statement read, “To organize and demonstrate that there is significant and compelling regional support for the development, establishment and ultimate operation of the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture Power Plant in Presque Isle County, Michigan.” The group also put petitions in every business imaginable in the county asking to sign in support of the power plant. By the end of April, they had 2,000 signatures.
To be continued….
Thank you for the background on this. I am originally from Alpena and my mother was born and raised in Rogers City and I have many relatives in the area. I have been just occassionally keeping up with this but you certainly have done your home work. I know Bill Lewis and Judge Swallow personally and can only say that Mr. Lewis is very much an odd ball and Judge Swallow is a very narrow minded man. It doesn’t surprise me that they all bought into the Al Gore movie. God knows that the area could use the jobs and in my limited knowledge of Wolverine it sounds like they are a responsible company. But with two penny Jenny still in charge I am afraid that this power plant is going to go the way of the one in Midland. She will make it impossible for them to get the permits because she has the same thought process of all these “greenie weenies”. Sad that these groups are being imported from other areas of the state to shut the plant plans down. Hopefully the supportive groups can dig their heels in and fight for their hometown instead letting the outsiders dictate what happens in Presque Isle. Keep up the good and informative blog!
The Michigan Environmental Council is a coalition of about 60 environmental, faith-based and public health groups in Michigan. It has no affiliation with any national group. The Sierra Club’s Michigan chapter and Clean Water Action in Michigan have more than 200,000 Michigan members.
Speaking for MEC, we believe that alternatives to this coal plant — aggressive energy efficiency programming and development of renewable energy resources – create more long-term jobs for Michiganders, reduce the billions of dollars we lose to other states when we import their coal, and protect ratepayers from the high costs of coal plants we don’t need (and that will still be burning imported coal when our great- great- grandchildren are living here.) That’s before we even factor in the environmental and healthcare costs of power plant pollution, or likely carbon costs in the future.
Hugh McDiarmid
Michigan Environmental Council
Thanks Hugh McDiarmid, when this coal plant doesn’t go through, the people of Rogers City will know who to blame.
What great great grandchildren Hugh – they will all be in the poor house after paying for the huge deficits our glorious politicians have just run up. And the “greenie weenie” crap your group and others like it that you are shoving down our throats will be the death knell in communities through out this nation. We have not seen the depths of destruction to this great nation that this environmental charade is causing. Al Gore is nothing but a whore for hire for the biggest hoax ever pulled on the American public. But you, sir, are part of the hoax and “The Sting” and I am pretty sure the “greens” lining your pocket are keeping you in a pretty nice life style while the folks in Northern Michigan suffer the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Keep up the good work Mr.
Mcdiarmid. While you, Al, Obama, Reed, Pelosi and Waxman sip your cocktails and look down the end of your noses at us “little” folks and admire your destruction of this nation, we the “little” people are throwing tea parties to vote your butts out of office and take back our liberties and freedoms. God Bless the USA and God Bless Our Troops!
Oh and is “alternatives” your double speak for higher taxes? Just what Michigan needs!
Jennerationx: Thanks for the opportunity to post a differing viewpoint on your blog!
Nanny: Not quite sure how to respond, except to say I guess I’m kind of old school in thinking that folks with opposing viewpoints can be civil without the name calling and spiteful generalizations.
I’m a fan of the state’s new laws passed last year that require new utility electricity generation proposals to show that they are the most “reasonable and prudent” alternative. Although I’m not sure that law applies to the Rogers City proposal, it’s still a good idea. That protects ratepayers from bad investments, and gives a fighting chance to alternatives — like Michigan businesses engaged in energy work other than burning expensive imported coal — my neighbor who installs high efficiency lighting systems, Noble Wind Park in the Thumb, mom and pop businesses who insulate homes and factories, etc.
As for your question about taxes, my answer is that any new form of electricity generation — be it wind turbines or your proposed coal plant — will result in higher costs. Many of my conservative and free-market friends complain bitterly about subsidies for wind-and-solar power infrastructure. But I rarely hear them acknowledge that new coal plants will result in significantly higher rate costs for consumers and taxpayers. It’s not a question of whether renewable energy will increase costs, it’s a question of whether it is more cost-effective than coal (or nuclear). (And, of course, how they compare jobs-wise, health wise, etc.)
In Rogers City’s case, I’ve read that your electricity rates could double, although I’ve also read that it is very unclear how much they will rise because the company proposing the plant has not publicly stated how much the facility might cost.
In comparison, an aggressive energy efficiency program would be the one alternative that could actually reduce, rather than increase, rates (and provide local jobs). Coal plant lobbyists don’t like to talk about that, as any program to sell LESS electricity benefits ratepayers, but hurts their profits or stockholders.
My organization and those I work with are keenly aware of the desperate jobs crisis in Michigan and especially your area of Michigan. We feel that efficiency and renewable power is a better jobs provider and economic stimulant than new coal plants.
As for your characterization of my lifestyle and attitude toward others, it’s sadly typical of the slander people often feel free to spew when they are anonymous blog posters. I’m not much of a fan of that….but if you are the least interested in a real discussion rather than shrill blog responses, give me a telephone call; you know my real name, and where to find me!
Hugh
(PS: I don’t drink cocktails. And all the beer I drink is Michigan-brewed)
The problem I have with your numbers and reasoning, Hugh, is that they are wrong. I know the environmental movement has had great ideas in the past like planting trees and conservation and so on. But the idea that the rates will double is based on flawed logic and politics. If the environmental movement wants cleaner energy, it will not happen with solar and wind, especially in the north where last winter, we were reduced to keeping our thermostat at 60 degrees because of the fear of running out of fuel. When we did run out of fuel, we warmed ourselves with an electric stove in the mornings. If we don’t produce more energy the rates will be more and Michigan will never retire outdated technology now (partially) powering the state. The state of Michigan is a net importer of energy.
I will give you this though, Sanzillo will probably turn out being correct in that Michigan will not need more power plants–if only because people are leaving the state in droves to escape high taxation and no jobs. Less people, less energy use.
I agree with Nanny. I feel it is condescending to slap her down and her way of expressing herself. She is, after all, correct in saying that all of this is leading to higher taxes. Mandates, restrictions, legal knot-tying equals misery to the economy of Michigan.
I also believe that the environmental movement has gotten totally nutty. In your quest to stop all coal plants, you are killing the mining industry in not only Michigan, but everywhere. People need jobs to better their livelihood.
Hugh – just what name did I call you? I think global warming is a hoax and the people that promote this stuff are “greenie weenies” because your “alternative” forms of energy and “investments” are double speak for higher taxes, more government regulation that will kill jobs all across this nation. Private sector jobs and the free market will solve our energy problems – not government. Get government out of the way and watch what happens. I am tired of being shouted down because I oppose your point of view and I believe scientists with truthful information. Now that some of this environmental nonsense is being exposed and people like me and jen support efforts like Wolverine we are being called silly blog posters.
I truly believe we should all be good stewards and take care of our environment but what your group and others like it including Gore, Waxman, Pelosi etc. is just a power grab for more government control over our pocket books.
Look what happened with the light bulb fiasco. We are going to be required to buy light bulbs MADE in China and that will require a visit from the EPA if you break one in your home. What is wrong with light bulbs made right here in the USA by GE and are not harmful if they break. This is lunacy!!!
Thanks Jen for your words of support. Hugh seems to think because I posted my opinion on your blog I am silly and uninformed. I am here because I want to know more about Wolverine and what is going on in my home town. 99% of the newspapers will only print what they THINK you should know, not the actual facts. It is why I find sites like this very helpful in my quest to find out the truth because journalists don’t do their jobs anymore.
Nanny,
I disagree with you civilly on Wolverine, the science of global warming…whatever. My objection was to your assumption that I look down my nose at “regular people” while living a fancy lifestyle financed through nonprofit environmental work. You don’t even know me, and I’ve made no such assumptions about you.
In any event, thank you for the forum Jenn.
I’m always available by phone, 517-487-9539 x19. For those willing to move beyond stereotypes, I find in-person conversations are much better forums to do so.
Hugh – Sorry if I put you in the same lot as Al Gore and the “do as I say not do as I do” category. I should not assume you have the same life style. People from all walks of life have a stake in this and the future of our nation as a whole and sharing opposing points of view helps the process.
My daughter and son-in-law went and saw Al Gore’s movie and got all fired up about global warming. In some of our conversations about it all I asked them to do was look into the science of it and get back to me. It took them all of a couple clicks of the keyboard and doing some home work and they were amazed at what they found. They now agree that, yes there is a need to take care our planet, but the hoax that this is man made became very apparent to them. They see it for what it is. A power grab for big government.
I grew up on the waters of Lake Huron and have seen the water levels fluctuate from all time highs to all time lows and this was caused by mother nature plain and simple. We have the historical data to prove it. The truth about global warming is slowly making it’s way out of the myths perpertrated by this shameless movie.
I have watched our youth in both Alpena and Rogers City go away to college and never return because there are no jobs. These two communities were once vibrant and alive with young families. Now they are shells of what they once were. I graduated from a class of 721 in 1973. I do believe the latest class was just over 300. I was heartbroken when my husband and I had to move 6 yrs. ago. I love the area but the jobs are gone. To deny the Wolverine plant on the issues of global warming politics is just another nail in the coffin for northeast Michigan.