I was disappointed to learn mayor and council oppose our biomass project

I was disappointed to learn that at a recent council meeting the mayor and some city council members expressed their opposition to our biomass-energy project planned for the former Fraser pulp mill.
This is a clean renewable energy project that represents a $100 million investment into the community. Once the plant is operational it will purchase $25 million of biomass fuel each year. These funds will go to local loggers, truckers and landowners, ultimately supporting the stores, fuel dealers, restaurants and other business that make up the local economy.
We anticipate hiring 40 skilled workers to run this facility. These jobs will be high paying and long lasting - jobs that build families, send children to college, and strengthen the community. In addition, we have crafted an agreement with the Fraser Paper Mill in Gorham to help offset some of their fuel costs, helping to preserve the 300 plus jobs at that facility. Considering all these facts, and the reality that we will most likely be the largest taxpayer in the city, it is hard to understand how the council and mayor have come to this decision without having made any significant effort learn about our plans for the site.
While I have been advised that the city council resolved to seek additional information on the project last week, we have yet to be contacted by anyone from the city government to discuss our plans. In light of the current economic hardships faced by so many Berlin families, it is hard to understand why a representative government would be go out of its way to reject an economically viable clean renewable energy project. We understand that the city wants to pursue tourism and other non-industrial activities, but a biomass plant is not a pulp mill and will not preclude tourism related activities. In fact, the proposed plant will only take up a small percentage of the overall site and a clean state-of-the-art facility will enhance the community's image - not detract from it.
In all fairness, I have heard that it is the plant's location, not the issue of biomass energy itself, that is opposed by the project's detractors. Unfortunately, building at an alternative location would not be economically viable as is evidenced by the fact that there has not been a new biomass power plant built in New Hampshire for over 25 years. What makes the Fraser site valuable is the existing boiler, which is in good condition and capable of conversion to biomass firing. The sad truth is that supporting an alternative location will most likely result in nothing being built at all, as happened with the now abandoned project in Groveton.
Currently, we anticipate taking ownership of the property in the near future and beginning construction by next summer, with operations to commence in early 2010. Fortunately for all concerned, Berlin is well situated on the transmission grid so that our project can coexist with the proposed wind farm and export its power without the need for substantial upgrades. This, coupled with the fact that the financing for the project is in place means that we can realistically look forward to the day in the not too distant future when we are operating on a full time basis providing clean energy, jobs and economic opportunity to the citizens of region and state. For the last 18 months, our team has worked very hard on developing this project, and I know that we all, including the city, will be proud of the result. Now is the time for those residents who believe in renewable energy and sustained economic activity for Berlin to support this effort by contacting their elected officials.
For our part, I can assure you that we are committed to working with the community, the city and the state government to ensure that all interests and concerns are taken into account as this project moves forward.

Michael B. Bartoszek Michael B. Bartoszek

Laidlaw Berlin Biopower, LLC

May is Foster Care Month

To the editor:
Thank you foster parents! May is your month - Foster Care Month!
It’s a time for the citizens of our state to be reminded of the good work foster parents do “24/7” for children in need of temporary, or possibly permanent homes. These families come forward and put the needs of a child ahead of their desire to expand their family - permanently. They work with DCYF to try to re-unify the child with his or her parents, if at all possible. The foster-adoptive parent training helps them overcome any misgivings that might occur to them about working with the child’s parents. They learn to focus on the needs of the child so that, if it is decided that the child is to return to the family, it can be a smooth transition. If the child cannot return home, the foster parents will provide a permanent home for him or her.
Become one of our hard working foster families! To find out how, call your local Berlin DCYF foster care worker at 1-800-972-6111.

Jan Feuer, Intake Specialist NH Foster & Adoptive Parent Association

1-877-964-3272 www.nhfapa.org