"A Rising Star on the River"

That was the Wellsville Area Chamber-of-Commerce theme for the annual Citizens of the Year Dinner. The dinner was held at the WHS Alumni Center Saturday evening, October 23rd. Chamber President Randy Allmon served as Master-of-Ceremonies and Mayor Joe Surace welcomed everyone in the packed Alumni Center. The buffet dinner was served by Connie's Corner of Chester, WV. President & CEO of Baard Energy John Baardson was the key note speaker.

US Congressman Charlie Wilson offered some special comments noting he has been determinedly keeping a secret about some exciting news he had learned of just the day before the dinner. A man of his word, Wilson only hinted that it was like a dream come true.

Wilson then addressed the jobs issue saying "jobs make problems go away" eluding to the hardships faced by many Americans suffered by the recession that swept across this country. He said energy jobs using our abundant coal resources along with new green energy efforts is just one area that could keep many citizens of Ohio's Sixth District working plus add thousands more to payrolls.

Wilson said in Ohio there is a new solar power company located in a place called "The Wilds", just south of Cambridge, that generates power on 50 acres filled with solar panels. He proudly noted that the panels were also manufactured in Ohio. He mentioned that Chevy's Lordstown plant is swamped with orders for their new Cruze model. Wilson said "we need to get back to making things in America".

Charlie Wilson said that the proposed Baard Energy plan to convert coal to liquid fuel using clean coal is another exciting source to create new jobs. He added that America spends $1 billion a day on foreign energy and Baard's plan is a step toward becoming independent of foreign energy. In his Sixth Congressional District "energy is our solution" to creating more jobs. From the coal miner that digs the coal to the engineer that converts it to liquid fuel, Baard could be responsible in creating and keeping many jobs in the district.

Congressman Wilson has fought long and hard on job issues since first going to Washington to represent us. He has been a proponent of Baard Energy from the beginning and has devoted much time to their efforts in our nation's capital. He even spoke to President Obama on the need to consider Baard's plans using clean coal. Wilson said he had a dream, a real dream about new energy jobs and hoped that dream will get a little closer to becoming real before the end of the Chamber dinner.

Don Crane, President of the Western Reserve Trades Council, told us of the unique relationship the unions have with the Village of Wellsville. There are at least 12 different unions that make up the Trades Council which all have vigorously supported Baard's plans. Crane noted that Wellsville makes him think of a Winston Churchill's quote about England in WWII when he told his countrymen to "Never, never, never give up". Wellsville never gave up on Baard.

John Baardson thanked Congressman Wilson for making the Baard Wellsville area plans one of his top priorities and never giving up on them. Baard then complimented State Representative Linda Bolen on the 'fantastic" job she has done in Columbus on Baard's behalf, especially in finding funding for the land acquisition for the proposed Baard plant. Baardson said Bolen came to their rescue many times.

Baard Energy got started in 1984 in the basement of the Baardson home in Midland, MI. Baardson had just gotten his MBA degree from Central Michigan and wanted to devote his career to developing an alternative energy business. He knew that there was a method possible using natural waste stocks and coal, stating there is enough coal in the USA to last forever. The business got started using his wife's $3,000 savings account she built up giving piano lessons. Baardson said at the time the question was what was the cleanest way to use coal. In researching that question Baard Energy has come up with a method that was quickly approved by the EPA in their plans for the proposed C-T-L plant.

After going through all the permit hearings the next step was to line up funding resources. The Wellsville area was chosen because of our excellent transportation facility in the Port Authority Intermodal Park and our being close to an abundant source of coal. Then the recession hit and investors became very reluctant to commit to loaning money needed to get the land and construction started.

Baardson spoke of the opposition and appeals by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club. Baardson remarked their opposition led to further delays using up money to defend their permits approved by the EPA. He mentioned a law put into effect during the Bush Administration that the US Air Force couldn't use alternative energy fuel if there are any appeals by naturalists on its manufacturing process. Baardson noted today that there are some two dozen C-T-L plants in China and a couple in India that provide thousands of jobs that do not have the environmental restrictions imposed on Baard Energy.

He noted that it is rumored that the Sierra Club has built up a $170 million war chest to kill the coal industry in the United States. Although they said they are non-profit organizations both the Sierra Club & the NRDC are nothing more than unaccountable Political Action Committees according to Mr. Baardson. Their lawyers and executives enjoy six digit salaries. They provide jobs to the "seamy side of the legal profession" that file senseless appeals to issued permits that have been approved and shown to be in line with the latest standards. As Mr. Baardson said it just doesn't make sense. The tree huggers' appeals will probably go on for another five or ten years while their fat cats try to block American jobs.

Then Mr. Baardson gave out the best news we've heard in a long time. He announced that land acquisition will begin shortly and ground breaking shortly after that. Investors have been lined up for buying the land and to begin construction. The plant will be built in three phases with the first phase costing $2.5 billion to buy land and start producing energy. The second and third phase will cost $2 billion each. Baardson said the Ohio River Clean Fuels plant will be producing diesel and jet fuel that will be sold competitively domestically and on the world market. In the mean time Baard Energy will go on defending their permits and building equity. Before closing Mr. Baardson thanked the Port Authority's Tracy Drake, Congressman Charlie Wilson & State Representative Linda Bolen and all the others that have been a tremendous help to make this proposal into a reality.

Following the good news, awards were given to the folks being honored this year by the Chamber. We posted those below. Randy Allmon noted that ballots were sent to all Chamber members with the nominations and there was a 67% return on the votes. This year's dinner was under the direction of Chairlady Connie Bauer with committee members Allmon, Diana Spencer, Erin Roberts-Orr, Debbie Koffel, Vickie McCombs and Sheryl Gibson. Programs and tickets were compliments of the Martin MacLean Altmeyer Funeral Home.

Before saying good night Congressman Charlie Wilson told the crowd that Mr. Baardson just told him the land buying will begin in the next couple of weeks and ground breaking is planned for Spring 2011.

Katie bar the door!!! ORCF is a coming...

ole nib