Oh how nice it is to get an intelligent reply! So first off, Thank You. I wouldn't consider myself a lifelong resident of Berlin. I grew up in Gorham, attended the Public school system there, worked jobs here and there during High School in the summertime. Nevertheless, I would like to point out that I have nothing but the best interests in mind for the area and wish to see it prosper.
I'd like to address your first topic of concern, which is the physical location of the plant, supposedly blocking the Presidential mountain range. You and I both know that Berlin does not have a view of the Presidential's, at least one worth noting! I understand that some residents wish to make Berlin another North Conway or Gorham. That is not the goal that Berlin should be attempting to create. Coos county does not need another town for people to seasonally visit, spend money and subsequently leave. As I stated in earlier posts, that is not Berlin's history nor should it be its vision.
I believe you were addressing MW, not mw (milliwatts are what my electronics use). Not trying to dwell on small items, but as an engineer, terminology is very important. Upgrading the infrastructure to support 65 MW is not a complex task by any means. New lines can easily be strung up (Providing more jobs!) and the process to link Berlin to the nearest high power line (Which I believe runs through Gorham/Randolph/Gilead) would be a 5-10 mile undertaking AT MOST. Upgrading the current grid would do nothing but add more work and also provide a benefit for other companies to invest in NH's future.
I do not know much about Whitefield's plant other than they closed due to lack of maintenance and outdated technology. The Biomass plant that Laidlaw is proposing will no doubt be a state-of-the-art facility that would utilize current, efficient technology. There mission statement tells me nothing but.
Wind power is a great technology as well and should not be put on the back burner to any other emerging technology. But wind requires space and a constant wind source, both of which NH lacks. Wind does not provide the power per acre that a Biomass plant would. On that note, neither of them even come close to Nuclear (Which I also am a proponent of).
I like Laidlaw's plan of using scrap wood from across the country as well! Having lived in a hurrican-ravaged area (Gulf Coast of Florida) for a season... I know all too well how a clean-up/energy production cycle could be as beneficial and cost-effective as anything!
One last topic about multiple boiler usage... you clearly ignored the fact that a boiler can be set to run optimally (using only the power that is needed to produce the power output required). I do not know much about CPD but I do understand optimizing power usage and your car analogy does not hold up.
Another side note getting back to the skyline of Berlin... When photographed, Berlin's mill is almost always one of the focal points. Berlin is Industry. Why resent that? Why would one not want to embrace it as a source of pride! Berlin has the capability (with funding and horizontal upgrading) to become a major player in NH. Berlin no longer needs to be talked about as a decaying town, but a city to be proud of!
Thank You again for your reply! It really is great to hear the other side from an intelligent and well thought out point of view. Let's keep this up, shall we?
Til then,
Regards,
Matthew Borowski
AI
