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Brungy - The Laidlaw-Berlin project is not over size, but is perfect size for economic efficiency... In contrast, the CP-Berlin project is under size, and therefore economically inefficient and competitively non-viable (which is likely the reason why CP has been unable to obtain financing or a power purchase agreement)...
The Laidlaw-Berlin project is clearly superior to the CP-Berlin project for the number of new jobs created, the number of existing jobs preserved in forestry and trucking, the amount of local and state taxes paid, the contribution to the state mandated increase in alternative power generation, and the amount of out-of-state business investment...
I wonder if the CP-Berlin project will ever be built (not likely based on the project's current status as dead in the water)...
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - The wood reports published to date indicate sufficient REGIONAL wood supply for a 66 MW plant in Berlin... The region includes New Hampshire and Maine (conceivably also Vermont)... Even Governor Lynch recognizes in his public statements that there is an "abundance" of wood in New Hampshire for biomass fueled alternative energy projects...
There is only a shortage of wood in the minds of the small group of vocal opponents of the Laidlaw-Berlin project, who are tilting at windmills and attempting to create problem "issues" in order to protect their own financial interests at the expense of the majority of New Hampshire, Coos County, and Berlin residents who would benefit from this project...
Tom
Patience.
Jon - I am quite sure that New Hampshire Governor Lynch was fully knowledgeable when he made the public statement that NH has an "abundance" of wood for biomass fuel alternative energy production projects... The Governor certainly has access to the best and most up to date information available to make such a determination and pronouncement...
Laidlaw has a financing commitment for its biomass project in Berlin (in addition to a power purchase agreement with PSNH, an efficient and economical business plan, and an executed property purchase deal)... Clean Power has none of those items (which explains why their project proposal is widely considered to be dead in the water at this time)...
Tom
Patience.
Jon - Tisk, tisk... Now, you know that New Hampshire Governor Lynch has publicly stated that there is an "abundance" of wood for biomass energy facilities in NH...
Laidlaw-Berlin will be a tremendous asset to the State of NH, Coos County, and Berlin... Instead of demolishing a stack which cost $100mil to build, Laidlaw will be transforming the facility into an efficient and cost effective biomass plant (unlike the proposed Clean Power project which is inefficient and uncompetitive which is why CP apparently cannot find financing or negotiate a power purchase agreement)...
Tom
Patience.
DAAT trading up at $0.72 !!!
Whoahhhh !!!
Tom
Patience.
Happy Memorial Day to the Berlin community including Laidlaw...
Tom
Patience.
VDB - I believe the good old U. S. of A. is doing the same thing...
Tom
Patience
rich - I agree with your statement: " For the first time in a long time I feel optimistic that the best interest of Berlin may be served after all."
The proposed Clean Power project appears to be dead in the water: no property purchased, no financing, no long term power purchase agreement, inferior business plan, no profits...
The Laidlaw-Berlin project continues to move slowly forward and will bring many benefits to Berlin, Coos County, and the State of New Hampshire... New jobs, local and state business tax contributions, significant new out-of-state business investment, progress toward meeting the state mandated goal of increased alternative energy production in the next decade, superior business plan, etc... Even Governor Lynch has publicly stated his position that there is an "abundance" of wood in NH for biomass fuel...
Congratulations and welcome to Laidlaw as your new neighbor and member of the local community!
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - I am sure you will be pleased to have local taxes raised in order to throw money at the lawyers...
Yes, the Company will be able to issue new stock as needed to secure good legal representation to protect its legal rights to own and operate a biomass facility on the private property specifically zoned as "industrial" by the local Berlin government and utilized by the Company for that intended purpose...
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - I am sure the City's lawyer will be thoroughly interviewing Governor Lynch who has publicly stated that there is an "abundance" of wood for biomass fuel alternative energy projects in New Hampshire... "This is going to be so much FUN!"
Tom
Patience.
baruchami- Issuance of stock is the primary method for development stage companies (technology, biotech, alternative energy, pharmaceutical, etc.) to raise working capital to fund the company until operating revenues are generated... I am sure that if you have any recommendations for raising working capital which you believe are both better for the shareholders as well as feasible, then management would love to hear your ideas (and I would too)...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience
Nice volume on the price rise...
Looks like new buyers are beginning to notice the stock...
Tom
Patience
HLH - Nice news article! Looks like some heavyweight support for Laidlaw is lining up at higher levels against the unfortunate opposition of the local Mayor and City Council... In the best interests of a majority of residents of Coos County...
"LANCASTER — The Coos County Commissioners said they plan to file as intervenors in support of Laidlaw Berlin Biopower when the company goes before the state Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Committee for its permit to construct and operate a biomass facility in Berlin. Laidlaw officials did a presentation at the commission’s monthly meeting yesterday on their proposal to develop a 66-megawatt biomass plant on the former pulp mill site. Commissioner Paul Grenier said the commissioners have informally discussed filing as intervenors in the SEC process and expect to do so. He noted the commission took an active role in supporting Granite Reliable Power’s proposed wind farm in Phillips Brook and said the board will do the same for Laidlaw. Commissioner Tom Brandy said he is 100 per-cent in support of the Laidlaw proposal. He said he believes the plant would help not just Berlin but the entire county. The commission’s support for Laidlaw is contrary to the position of the Berlin city council which plans to file as an intervenor to oppose the project. The council has increased the line item for legal services in its proposed fiscal 2010 budget by $100,000 to enable it to hire a lawyer to represent the city in the SEC proceedings. Laidlaw Vice President Lou Bravakis told the commission Laidlaw is still developing the site plan and working on the SEC application. The company has hired Barry Needleman of the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, an expert in environmental permitting and compliance, to put it together. Bravakis said Laidlaw hopes to submit it to the SEC soon. Once the application is submitted, the SEC has nine months to issue a decision. Bravakis acknowledged the opposition of the mayor and city council to the project but said he feels the majority of Berlin residents are in favor of it. He updated the council on the progress made by Laidlaw so far. He said the company has arranged financing for the project which he said is an accomplishment in these financial times. He said the development financing has been released and as soon as the permitting is completed, Laidlaw will close on the construction financing. Bravakis said construction is estimated at $100 million and said Laidlaw has already heard from contractors who want to work on the project which will take 12 to 18 months to complete. He explained that the existing chemical recovery boiler will be converted to burn biomass using state-of-the-art combustion and pollution control technology. The biomass plant will meet the standards required to qualify for renewable energy credits. Laidlaw is in the ISO-NE interconection queue and Bravakis said the Coos transmission loop can accommodate both GRP’s wind farm and his company’s biomass plant. He said Laidlaw has an agreement to sell its power to Public Service of N.H. Laidlaw also has announced an agreement to provide Fraser Papers with hot water for its Gorham paper mill. Noting that questions have been raised about wood availability, Bravakis said Laidlaw has hired LandVest to expand the wood study it did for the state Department of Resources and Economic Development. He noted that before they closed, Groveton Paper Board, Fraser pulp mill, and the Gilman, Vt. paper mill used over 1.2 million tons of low grade wood annually. Bravakis said the Laidlaw biomass plant would use between 700,000 and 750,000 tons per year. With a 20-year power agreement, he said Laidlaw would be in a position to enter in long-term contracts with COMMISSIONERS from page oneloggers, providing stability to those operations. He said the biomass plant would have wood purchases of about $25 million annually. The biomass plant would employ 40 people directly. Bravakis said Laidlaw purchased 62 acres of the mill property and will use less than half the site. He noted when North American Dismantling took down the old mill buildings, it did not remove the foundations and the site is fill of rubble. “The property is a real brownfield,” he said. While not suitable for some businesses. Bravakis said Laidlaw is interesting in attracting light manufacturing or commercial businesses that could benefit from stream or hot water that are byproducts of power production. Attending the meeting with Bravakis was Laidlaw partner Raymond Kusche and its Berlin representative, Tony Urban."
spencer - Both your statement is false (once again)...
You said: "because there are no investors that spend money on this company prior to entering the application process"... Given that the Company is successfully selling new stock for working capital purposes, your comment is by definition FALSE...
Tom
Patience.
BerlinMBBLLEG - Nice to see you on your way...
Best of luck...
Tom
Patience.
CTTC - You need to do your own due diligence in order to find and be confident in the answer to your question...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - You said: "Dilution is not good for the stock"...
If the proceeds are wisely utilized for the Company's working capital needs (as they are), then your statement is FALSE...
You said: "Dilution is good for Mr. Bartoszek"...
Since the shares are issued by (and the funds go to) the Company and not Mr. Bartoszek, your statement is FALSE...
(I was wondering whether you have ever taken a Business 101 course in college? I think that would be quite helpful for some individuals on the message board...)
Tom
Patience.
CTTC - The financing for the Laidlaw-Berlin project is specific to the Laidlaw-Berlin project and is not intended to be used for general corporate purposes (Ellicottville litigation, new projects, working capital to pay for daily operations, etc.)...
The issuance of new stock by the Company IS the source of financing for general corporate purposes...
The distinction is clear and both are necessary and serve different purposes...
Hope this clarifies the issue...
Tom
Patience.
spencer - You said: "You better believe I'm promoting fear. "
FDR said: "There is nothing to fear but fear itself."
That about sums up the situation...
Your posts are becoming amusing if not incredulous...
Tom
Patience.
rich sears - "Councilor Lafleur noted that Representatives and Senators in Concord will dictate what is best for Berlin and they don’t come here to ask what we want."
Good for Laidlaw...
Laidlaw continues to make progress while CP stagnates: no financing, no property owned in Berlin, no power purchase agreement to sell the electricity output, unprofitable business operations... Perhaps that is why CP and the small (and dwindling) group of vocal opponents are losing steam and becoming desperate in their hollow attacks...
: )
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - I am sure the partnership (including Laidlaw) which purchased the property also has funds available to fight those members of the Berlin local government who may attempt to deprive the Company of its rights to utilize private property zoned for industrial use as is legally permitted and in fact encouraged by the town's forefathers...
What a shame the Mayor and City Council (perhaps backed financially or otherwise by Clean Power) would waste scarce financial resources on litigation threats rather than working in partnership with Laidlaw as a new business member of the local community... Yet another reason why the decision makers in Concord are likely to approve the project to lessen Berlin's continual dependence on financial handouts from Concord as exemplified by this unfortunate and financially irresponsible decision...
Tom
Patience.
rich sears - You must be referencing CP going south...
No financing...
No power purchase contract...
No property purchase in Berlin...
Uneconomical business model...
Company unprofitable even with operational projects...
Sounds like a dead duck to me...
(Wishful thinking can only go so far...)
: )
Tom
Patience.
spencer - I recommend you consider inviting Governor Lynch to your informational meetings, since he has publicly stated his opinion that there is an "abundance" of wood for biomass fuel in New Hampshire... (Why not start at the top?)
Tom
Patience.
spencer - Your are always welcome to arrange "informational" meetings and invite anyone who you wish to be present (of course the invitees may or may not have an interest in attending)... Let us know when you have scheduled the meetings and who has agreed to attend...
Best of luck.
Tom
Patience.
spencer - Laidlaw is a member of a group of investors who own land in Berlin for the Laidlaw-Berlin project...
You seem to be correct, however, in stating that Clean Power does not appear to own land in Berlin...
Tom
Patience.
spencer - Economics 101: Higher wood chip prices means greater sales and profits for companies which supply wood biomass fuel... Higher corporate profits means higher corporate tax contributions and additional employment opportunities through creation of additional new jobs... (A virtuous cycle which benefits the local, county and state economy...)
Laidlaw is now your neighbor and an integral member of the Berlin community...
Time for the small group of vocal opponents to recognize reality and work for a better future together with the Company...
Tom
Patience.
To modify an old saying: The Mayor and City Council fiddle (to the small group of vocal opponents) while Berlin burns...
Berlin needs Laidlaw now more than ever... Thankfully Laidlaw is now a member of the Berlin community following execution of the property purchase agreement... And Laidlaw wishes to be a contributing member of the community working in partnership with open minded residents who believe that cooperation and partnership are mutually beneficial (and who believe antagonism and closed minded opposition are mutually a losing scenario)...
Indeed, Laidlaw will bring significant benefits to Berlin (in addition to Coos County and the State of New Hampshire)... New job creation... Existing job preservation... Business tax contribution... High paying jobs with good benefits to employees... Diversification of the economy... Less dependence on Concord for fiscal handouts...
So that hopefully Berlin will not continue to burn to the ground one building at a time...
Tom
Patience.
spencer - I find amusing the situation where the small group of vocal opponents of the Laidlaw-Berlin project always seek to find (or create the illusion) of a negative in every situation... First, they say that the decline in the paper industry and falling wood prices is bad for NH... Then they argue that an improvement in wood prices due to demand from Laidlaw also be bad for NH...
"Damned if you do and damned if you don't" as the saying goes...
I suppose that is why most residents of NH do not take the small group of vocal opponents seriously... They know that this group will never admit to the benefits of the Laidlaw-Berlin project no matter how many benefits and how significant those benefits may be...
Nevertheless, public statements of support for the project continues to grow, from the local level of former opponents who now are willing to take a positive and constructive attitude, to Coos County leaders who openly support Laidlaw against the local Berlin government, to the Governor who strongly supports alternative energy and says there is an "abundance" of forest products for biomass projects, to a NH State Senator who lives in Berlin... Not to mention ordinary residents who are now more actively writing letters to the editor, signing petitions, etc, all in support of the project...
Laidlaw-Berlin: Good for Berlin, Good for Coos County, Good for the State of New Hampshire, and Good for America...
Tom
Patience.
Wow, Governor Lynch 70% approval rating and he is a STRONG SUPPORTER of alternative energy who has said in public statements that there is an "ABUNDANCE" of wood biomass available in New Hampshire for alternative energy projects...
All the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place for Laidlaw... Leaving the small group of vocal opponents standing alone on the dock watching the ship steam away into the sunrise and wondering how they were left behind... (Answer: by choosing bitter antagonism and smear campaigns over partnership and cooperation for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders... But that is why the decision making is in Concord relating to approval of the project for the benefit of the majority of residents of the State of NH...)
Tom
Patience.
spencer - You said: "With the risks this poses for NH..."
IMO, the exact opposite is true...
The risk to the State of New Hampshire would be in NOT approving this project... Loss of new jobs... Loss of new tax revenues... Loss of new alternative energy production toward the state mandated goals... Loss of economic diversification... Loss of out-of-state investment...
Even the Governor of NH in his recent public statements agrees with the majority who believe there is no shortage of wood fuel for new biomass projects...
Laidlaw-Berlin: Good for the State of New Hampshire, Good for Coos County, Good for Berlin, Good for AMERICA...
: )
Tom
Patience.
rich sears - Sharp with numbers but short on common sense judgement...
Tom
Patience.
Nez - Thank you... Nice to see you on the message board once in a while (and hopefully more often when you have the time in the future)... Family is doing well, baby is lots of fun, and we are moving to a new home next week...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience.
rich sears - You seem a lot more worried than I am !!!
Laidlaw's business model is indeed superior to that of CP... Which is the reason Laidlaw is ahead in the process and PSNH has no interest in dealing with CP...
Laidlaw is leaving CP behind mired in the mud... Which perhaps is why CP is continuing to resort to slinging mud in their smear campaign along with the other members of the small group of vocal opponents...
Laidlaw-Berlin: Good for Berlin, Good for Coos County, and most importantly of all Good for the State of New Hampshire...
Tom
Patience.
: )
spencer - The Mayor and Council have the right to express their opinions to Concord where the decisions will be made in the best interests of a majority of the residents and taxpayers of the State of New Hampshire... The Mayor and Council do not have the right to "intervene" in the process if that means obstructing the process... In the event such an unfortunate situation was to develop, the Courts have a right to intervene in a process that provides a legal right for Laidlaw to do business on the private property zoned for industrial use...
Tom
Patience.
rich sears - The appropriate response to your postings has been correctly stated by several participants on this message board...
Laidlaw has the superior business model, and Clean Power has the inferior business model...
Therefore, PSNH chose to work with Laidlaw and not to work with CP... All of which is in the best interests of the end user...
CP's attempts to discredit Laidlaw in coordination with the small group of vocal opponents through a campaign of misinformation, false statements, and innuendo is failing miserably...
Laidlaw's success will be Berlin's success (in spite of the efforts of the current Mayor and certain City Council members to sabotage Laidlaw's legal rights to do business on the private property zoned for industrial use on which the project will be completed)...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience.
spencer - I do believe you are imagining the alleged "investor anxiety over Berlin"... The CEO closed on the property purchase agreement successfully, proving the small group of vocal opponents of the project to be completely wrong in their predictions that the deal would never close...
(Not to mention their predictions that the stock price would be zero now and the Company would disappear or go bankrupt...)
Laidlaw is now your neighbor... Hopefully the community and local government will now begin to treat the Company as a neighbor and member of the community...
Tom
Patience.
Spencer - Thank you for your thoughts...
Tom
Patience.
spencer - I was wondering what is your opinion of Steve Griffin? Is he a well respected member of the Berlin community? The recent story in the local newspaper was extremely interesting... How one individual came over from the "Dark Side" (the small group of vocal opponents of the Laidlaw-Berlin project whose public statements and positions are laced with false information, misleading comments, innuendo, acrimony, and an unwillingness to compromise)...
I highly respect the fact that Steve ultimately decided that an attitude of partnership, mutual respect, open mindedness, cooperation, and optimism are likely to accomplish far more positive outcomes for the benefit of the Berlin community...
A diverse consensus seems to be forming (at the local, county, and state levels) which recognizes the many benefits and positives which the Laidlaw-Berlin project will bring to the State of New Hampshire, Coos County, and the City of Berlin...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience.
==============================================================
REPOSTING BDS STORY.
Could Laidlaw offer a New Vision?
By Sally Manikian
BERLIN — In a move that could be interpreted as either consistent or aberrant, Steve Griffin withdrew from Citizens for a New Vision (CNV) to support the biomass project of Laidlaw’s Berlin biomass project.
"It’s obvious that it’s going to happen," he said. "My thought was, it’d be better for the benefit of the community to work with them than to be adversarial."
Citizens for a New Vision was founded following the closure of the Fraser Mill, and was formed with the purpose of preventing the former mill site for being used as a biomass plant or other heavy industrial use. The organization, an association of local merchants, residents, and civic leaders, recognizes that the use of the mill site is a key to the city’s future success.
The vision of CNV, as described on their website, includes a "collaborative planning process for the site that solicits input from all stakeholders, including the citizens of Berlin" and also "best-use, sustainable, redevelopment of the site after carefully considering the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the various alternatives."
As Mr. Griffin describes his reasons for supporting the Laidlaw biomass project, they seem consistent with the vision of CNV. The positives that could come from working with Laidlaw could be the attractiveness of the facility, moderating trucking hours to keep neighborhoods peaceful, and also alternative uses of the remaining property, including possibly as a location for a new Police or Fire Department. There would still be the vision of a riverside walking path.
"It’s about thinking outside the box," he said. Biomass also fits with the economy of the North Country, as it will boost the woods industry.
Mr. Griffin puts faith in the state of New Hampshire’s site evaluation process for strict scrutiny of the project, in terms of wood availability, finances, and environmental impact. It is the role of the community to put in its voice with how the project will appear on the ground, "and we can’t do that if we can’t work with them," he explained.
In response, Michael Bartoszek, CEO of Laidlaw, restated his company’s intention to work closely with the city and community leaders. "Steve Griffin is a well respected member of the Berlin community," he said, "and we are very pleased to have his support for our biomass facility. We want to be considered a contributing part of the community, both economically and aesthetically, and fully intend to make the facility as attractive as possible."
Jonathon0713 - Excellent commentary...
I think the decisionmakers in Concord will concur with virtually all of your responses... I am confident that the decisionmakers will do what is in the best interests of a majority of residents of the State of New Hampshire (which is their mandate)... New jobs, new tax revenues, new out-of-state investment, new contributions to the requirement of significantly increased alternative energy production, increased diversification of the business economy, lessened dependence by Berlin on financial handouts from Concord... The best choice is obvious to any who care to look at the considerations with an open mind and an unbiased attitude...
Tom
Patience.
Brungy - Thank you for the congratulations to Mike Bartoszek and the Company... Well deserved in my opinion...
Yes, Laidlaw shareholders who take a long term investment perspective tend to possess a great deal of patience... The long stock price cycles higher and lower offer significant rewards to patient investors who are willing to take the risk of buying low and then take some portion of the profits and risk off the table when the stock soars... [Many individuals seem to have difficulty following the simple investment proverb: "Buy Low and Sell High"...] Not to mention the possibility of a several hundred percent upside potential if only a few of the many opportunities which the Company is pursuing reach fruition...
Best Regards,
Tom
Patience.