Revitalization of "Rust Belt" City

In an article in an EPA publication under the heading: "Development of Wind Power Facility Helps Revitalize Rust Belt City.

In May 2002, EPA awarded Lackawanna a $200,000 Brownfield Assessment grant to be used to "investigate contamination at various properties in the City...including the Bethlehem Steel Mill property."

Teaming up with BQ Energy and UPC Wind, Lackawanna was able to develop a strategy for the property that would power 9,000 homes per year.

The City of Lackawanna chose two local construction firms to supply the labor for the project...creating 40 CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

In lieu of property taxes, BQ Energy will pay the City of Lackawanna $100,000 per year for the next 15 years (beginning in 2007).

O.K. QUESTIONS: THE CITY HAS BEEN PAID APPROXIMATELY $400,000 SO FAR - IN LIEU OF PROPERTY TAXES. HOW HAS THAT MONEY BEEN SPENT? DID THE TAXPAYERS HAVE ANY SAY INTO HOW THAT MONEY IS TO BE SPENT?

In an WIVB news article in "National Wind Watch - Presenting the Facts About Industrial Wind Power" (March 1, 2011), the question was asked:
why aren't Lackawanna windmills turning?

The reporter reminded us that this isn't the first time the windmills weren't turning - the first year of operation all the gear boxes had to be replaced - the second year the blades had to be fixed - and throughout this past winter only half of the windmills have been working at any given time.

The bottom line: even though the steelwinds aren't generating the amount of power they advertised they would, Mayor Polanski says, "We still get our money, our $100,000 per year."

At the going rate for electricity, Steelwinds is still making over $2 million a year for the electricity it is generating. On top of that, its investors get an extra two cents a kilowatt for going green. So the investors that helped pay a million bucks to build each one of these turbines get $800,000 every year in federal tax credits.

P.S. The six steelmills planned for construction has been postponed until "next December" due to delays beyond Erie Wind's control.

Energy Really Matters
By Walter Simpson (founder, Western New York Climate Action Coalition)

"Lackawanna's Mayor, Norman Polanski, who was instrumental and some would say visionary in bringing Steel Winds' beautiful wind turbines to the edge of Lake Erie, is backing a VERY UN-GREEN CARBON-INTENSIVE PROPOSAL TO BUILD A PETROLEUM COKE GASIFICATION PLANT IN LACKAWANNA."

May 14, 2009
KOZUB URGES LACKAWANNA CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE RENAMING RIDGE ROAD TO BAKER BOULEVARD

In this article, Daniel Kozub's rationalization for renaming Ridge Road included
a quote from Msgr. Paul J. Burkard:

"We feel that this is also a well-planned proposal for the region as Father Baker's anticipated beatification and canonization will substantially increase the numbers of visitors to the region. Therefore, the way-finding benefits would be significant."

"Given the location of Our Lady of Victory Basilica, the Father Baker Boulevard initiative would bring the greatest benefit to the residents and businesses of Lackawanna," Legislator Kozub said.

(THE KEY WORDS ARE WILL "SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF VISITORS TO THE REGION" and that the Father Baker initiative would 'BRING THE GREATEST BENEFIT" to the residents and businesses of Lackawanna.)

I DON'T KNOW...CLEANING UP, FIXING UP, REVITALIZING, SCRUBBING & POLISHING THE SOUTH PARK/RIDGE ROAD SECTION OF THE CITY WOULD DO MORE TO "HONOR THE NAME OF FATHER BAKER" THAN RENAMING THE STREET...DON'T YOU THINK?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Caz5

I DON'T KNOW...CLEANING UP, FIXING UP, REVITALIZING, SCRUBBING & POLISHING THE SOUTH PARK/RIDGE ROAD SECTION OF THE CITY WOULD DO MORE TO "HONOR THE NAME OF FATHER BAKER" THAN RENAMING THE STREET...DON'T YOU THINK?

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Yeppers... and all that to make someone a saint. Don't see that in the Bible?