Though PSNH is claiming Laidlaw has no power purchase agreement with Laidlaw, Laidlaw has claimed that such an agreement exists and that within that agreement Laidlaw can not provide power to the city or other industry opting to locate next to their facility. That eliminates a huge reason to locate next to a plant that would be belching out steam and toxins within steps of your employees. Additionally, with a tractor trailer arriving or departing every six minutes with noise created by back up beepers, loaders moving chips constantly, and fans running constantly as part of the fluidized bed boiler, could you imagine enticing a business to locate nearby? Can you clearly see the negative impact that such a business could create if it were placed at the entrance to the Pease tradeport, or for that matter to witness its negative impact such a plant could have on the entrance way to a New Berlin Burgess mill site?
As to wood supply, interestingly, the parties seeking intervenor status in the Clean Power complaint against PSNH are mostly from outside of Coos county and are focusing on this already as the very reason for PSNH not to do business with Laidlaw, and to do business with Clean Power because Clean Power will not consume the wood supply that can be used for better purposes. Keep in mind that at the recent tour of the McNeil station in Vermont, it was pointed out that when the Burgess mill was running, wood supply was tight at the McNeil facility at times which goes to show why we have a huge regional concern for wood supply. McNeil station is three hours away from Berlin and yet they felt the effect of our pulp mill's usage of wood. Keep that in mind.
The main element of the Clean Power complaint against PSNH is about legality of reasons PSNH has to refuse to entertain a power purchase agreement proposal with a least cost provider, yet the focus has clearly been demonstrated by those looking to intervene, that protection of the forest is intertwined and equally as important. To see the likes of close to a dozen legislators intervening on this subject as well as a town, a city, businesses and organizations at this early stage should be a comforting sign to those looking to synergize through the efficient use of biomass for fuel.
If Laidlaw goes on line, one can say that would be akin to the State of NH thumbing its nose at efficient use of the State's wood supply at the expense of NH businesses, municipalities, and citizens forever losing the opportunity to use their own wood supply for more efficient uses, let alone the risk of business closure as the result of chip price increase.
Yesterday I heard from a source but have yet to confirm that PSNH sent their representatives to meet with the Winchester board of selectmen that morning to discuss why Winchester, (the other town Clean Power is developing a biomass plant around their waste water plant), was intervening in the Clean Power complaint against PSNH in Berlin.
When questioned by the one of the selectmen regarding their agreement with Laidlaw in Berlin the response from the PSNH rep was apparently: "There is no agreement, no contract, nothing with Laidlaw. It’s my understanding that we’re at the very beginning of starting to discuss things with them and if, in the end, when they set a price, if it’s around 7cents per kwh, then we’ll take it."
There was then a follow up question where the selectmen asked then to confirm that there was no agreement. The PSNH response was reportedly: "None, nothing whatsoever with them."That meeting just happened yesterday, so the minutes are not yet available, but I will provide a link or provide them when they become available.
One has to wonder if there is no such agreement, why Laidlaw would go on record at a council session stating Laidlaw can not provide power to the city of Berlin or businesses due to an agreement with PSNH. Why would Laidlaw risk stating such a disadvantage if one didn't clearly exist?
These are simply examples of how closely Berlin's development of biomass is being watched by the rest of the state and rightfully so. Wood needs to remain sustainable in one of the country's most forested states, but also needs to be sustainably used efficiently if we are truly striving towards the governor's 2025 initiative.
As these comments have a great deal to do with both Laidlaw and Clean Power I'd like to encourage both companies to provide any input they feel is important to this subject matter going further. I only ask that if either company posts, that full disclosure of the company you represent is appreciated. Thanks.
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