Tag Archives: jobs

“It is your responsibility to prove us wrong” –Dr. Noll to Mr. Lofton

Dr. Noll responds to Mr. Lofton’s email of 24 Dec 2010.
-jsq

From: “Michael G. Noll”

To: “blofton@industrialauthority.com” <blofton@industrialauthority.com>,
“Mary B. Gooding”,
“Ricketts, Allan” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>,
“Copeland, Roy”,
“‘John S. Quarterman'”,
“Susan R. Wehling”,
Kay Harris

Subject: RE: Wiregrass Power, LLC

Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 21:19:15 +0000

Hello Mr. Lofton.

You might remember that WACE handed out a “Myth vs. Fact” info sheet at
the meeting. On it were clearly outlined major issues we have with your
biomass project. I will only entertain the first three to refresh your
memory, since they are the most important facts for our community:

Continue reading →

A “center of innovation excellence for renewable and sustainable energy in Georgia”?



In a recent message, Brad Lofton wrote

“we plan to move on now and focus our attention on new job and tax revenue creating projects.”
OK, what are those projects?

Back in September Brad Lofton told me that VLCIA had
(beyond whatever Wiregrass LLC is doing)

“other renewable green energy projects”,
which he then
refused to describe.

When I asked about these projects at

the 21 Dec 2010 VLCIA board meeting,
board member Gary Minchew responded that VLCIA couldn’t talk about sensitive
negotiations, but they didn’t want to be secretive.
Earlier I had been talking to the fellow sitting to my left
about his green energy project and whether VLCIA was going to move
forward on it.
He pointed out to the board that he and I were facebook
friends and linked on LinkedIn.
He’s sending me some information; more on that when I get it.
Meanwhile, I wonder why the board wouldn’t talk about his project,
and I remain dubious that VLCIA has any other
“renewable green energy projects”.

In that same meeting,

Col. Ricketts and Brad Lofton went on for some time about
solar energy, saying they were answering citizen concerns.

As one of the people who has asked them most frequently about solar energy,
I have to say

Continue reading →

“Your memory doesn’t serve you correctly” –Lofton to Noll

When can we see these actual studies? And if we could see those VLCIA videos, nobody would have to depend on memory. -jsq

From: Brad Lofton <blofton@industrialauthority.com>

To: Michael Noll,
“Mary B. Gooding”,
Allan Ricketts <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>,
Roy Copeland,
“John S. Quarterman,
“Susan R. Wehling”,
Kay Harris

Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:51:53 -0500

Subject: Re: Wiregrass Power, LLC

Good morning Dr. Noll-

Thanks for your e-mail. With all due respect, however, your memory
doesn’t serve you correctly, and I would ask you to please review your
notes again. The environmental consultant from Golder referred
extensively to a seven month environmental analysis performed by the
EPD in our state. I’m confused why a seven month study performed by the
impartial environmental and regulatory group empowered to provide
governance and decisions related to this project isn’t a sufficient
enough environmental study for you. During the forum, Golder and
Associates, a world renown environmental engineering firm, also went on
to provide results of their extensive air modeling study. The fuel
supply expert presented the results of a detailed study his firm had
just completed that showed 13 times the required regional wood waste
fuel needed for this plant. This was his firm’s 20th study across the
country, and they are considered experts. The Ph.D economist cited an
extensive study his firm had just completed successfully defending a
similar biomass facility before the Wisconsin Public Service
Commission. The Toxicologist has over 27 years of experience and is a
leading expert at a major U.S. University. If you would read his CV,

Continue reading →

“Your determination to sell our community your biomass project” –Dr. Noll to Brad Lofton

First of a series. -jsq

From: “Michael G. Noll”

To: Brad Lofton <blofton@industrialauthority.com>, “John S. Quarterman,
Allan Ricketts, <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>

CC: “Susan R. Wehling”, “Mary B. Gooding”, Roy Copeland, Kay Harris

Subject: RE: Wiregrass Power, LLC

Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:46:25 +0000

Hello Mr. Lofton.

I can certainly admire your determination to sell our community your
biomass project as “green” or “safe”. However, as WACE already pointed
out, there is a difference between fiction and fact (see my guest
column in the VDT on December 12, 2010).

In the last couple months, WACE has provided the Industrial Authority
and the community with a plethora of scientific literature and
statements made by medical organizations that unequivocally state that
biomass is neither “green” nor “safe”. At the same time, neither you
nor Mr. Ricketts have been able to provide up-to-date scientific proof
to us to challenge the position that biomass is, in fact, dirtier than
coal and bears significant health risks.

Anyone who cares enough for the community he or she lives in, must
understand the responsibility to provide such proof. I have
difficulties to imagine that you or Mr. Ricketts do not share such a
sentiment, despite the disagreements we might have.
Let’s cut to the chase in regard to your panel of experts:

Continue reading →

VLCIA Board Meeting videos, 21 Dec 2010



Here are videos of the regular public board meeting of the
Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA), 21 Dec 2010.
I videoed almost everything, except when I was speaking or they were
answering.
More posts later on some of the astonishing
points arising from this meeting.

Update 1 Jan 2010: more videos posted, with some comment. Still a few more to come.

Update 2 Jan 2010: All the videos are there now, and there’s a blog post with Dr. Teaf’s slides, along with video of Brad Lofton saying “no way shape or form”.

I’m sure that every VLCIA board member has the best interests
of the community at heart.
Several of them invited me to contact them with any concerns. I will take them up on that invitation, and you can, too.

Continue reading →

jsq to Col. Ricketts about VLCIA

Here’s my response to

Col. Ricketts’ recent message. -jsq

From: John S. Quarterman

To: “Allan Ricketts” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>

cc: “‘John S. Quarterman'”, “‘Michael Noll'”, “‘Susan Wehling'”,
“‘Brad Lofton'” <blofton@industrialauthority.com>,
“Mary B. Gooding”, Roy Copeland, Kay Harris

Subject: Re: Wiregrass Power, LLC

Col. Ricketts,

It’s good to hear from you.



I wondered during your re-presentation of slides you’d already
said the entire VLCIA board had seen at the recent VLCIA biomass
event, whether you would provide copies to interested parties,
such as those sitting in the room, but you did not at the time.

Considering the increasing amount of public interest in this topic,
as evidenced by the attendance and

questions at the VLCIA Rainwater Conference
Center event, and by recent newspaper activity, probably the
public would like to see those press releases directly from

the VLCIA’s web site. However, LAKE is always happy to link
to relevant material, so if you will please send me the URLs of
those press releases as you found them on the web, LAKE will be
happy to link to them.

Similarly, if Dr. Teaf’s information is as good as you indicated,

Continue reading →

Col. Ricketts on Wiregrass Power, LLC

I received the appended message from Col. Ricketts, Project Manager
for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA).
My response will follow. -jsq

From: “Allan Ricketts” <aricketts@industrialauthority.com>

To: “‘John S. Quarterman'”

Cc: “‘Michael Noll'”, “‘Susan Wehling'”, “‘Brad Lofton'” <blofton@industrialauthority.com>

Subject: Wiregrass Power, LLC

Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:48:28 -0500

Norman Bennett, Gary Minchew,

Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett (Chair),

J. Stephen Gupton (Attorney),

Brad Lofton (Executive Director)

Hello John,

It was good to see you at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority
Board Meeting on Tuesday evening. I encourage you to attend more often.

I’ve attached copies of several recent press releases that we discussed
during the meeting. I look forward to seeing these posted on your
information exchange for folks to read.

Please let me know if you would like a copy of Dr. Christopher Teaf’s .ppt

Continue reading →

What’s the Industrial Authority’s Plan?

Appended is my LTE in the VDT today.
I’ve added links. -jsq



What is the Industrial Authority’s plan to bring in real clean jobs?


MAGE SOLAR is hiring for the first of 350 jobs
in its photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturing plant in Dublin, Georgia, with half
the population of Valdosta, in Laurens County, with half the
population of Lowndes County. They’ve parlayed their position
between the Atlanta airport and the Savannah seaport for
many new clean jobs.

Suniva of Norcross’s second PV plant with its 500 jobs
went to Michigan.
Saginaw Valley calls itself Solar Valley and collaborates
with governments, academia, and industry, winning thousands of clean
jobs in wind and solar manufacturing and generating plants.


The Saginaw News remarked (7 Nov 2010):

Continue reading →

VLCIA biomass event Q&A



Here are videos that illustrate the VDT’s point today in

What We Think:

While officials continue to downplay local citizen anger about current
projects, citizens are organizing in a variety of ways to affect change
the next election cycle. When Sterling Chemical came to Lowndes County in
the 1990s, citizens were told the project was a “done deal,” and so
it was. Sterling is still here, but those in office at the time aren’t,
and the director of the Industrial Authority at the time is no longer
here either.

As has been shown worldwide, citizens are tired of being told what’s
best for them, having no say so in how their tax dollars are spent,
and having their concerns ignored.

Until officials understand that it is coming from all directions and not
just led by a few malcontents, the swell will continue to grow. And those
who continue to ignore the anger and frustration do so at their own peril.

Maybe the VDT is referring to this kind of response from the VLCIA panel
on 6 Dec 2010:

“these things do prop up the local economy, period, end of discussion.”

A previous questioner who had a job in Vietnam
notes he was lied to about Agent Orange

and asks “can you assure me that I won’t be affected by this?”

Continue reading →

Mage Solar cuts ribbon in Dublin, Georgia



According to

a press release on their site:

Ravensburg (Germany), 27th September 2010 – MAGE SOLAR, part of the
globally operating MAGE GROUP, in conjunction with Governor Sonny Perdue
and the City of Dublin County of Laurens Development Authority, conducted
its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 22, 2010. The
highly anticipated event marked the company’s official move of its new
North American headquarters to Dublin, Georgia. Dr. Markus Feil, CEO of
MAGE INDUSTRIE HOLDING AG headquartered in Germany; its Chairman of the
Board, Kurt Rauch, as well as CEO of MAGE SOLAR GMBH, Norbert Philipp,
also from Germany and other US company officials and employees of MAGE
SOLAR, along with key community, political and a multitude of local,
regional and international business leaders attended the momentous event.

That would be Dublin, with half the population of Valdosta, in Laurens County,
with half the population of Lowndes County.

Continue reading →