Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.(fka LLEG)

[rich sears]

The Berlin City Council has voted to send a letter to Governor John Lynch stating that the proposed Laidlaw biomass facility or any industrial development on the former mill site lacks wide public support. Mayor Dave Bertrand drafted the letter to clarify the city’s position on the mill site and asked the council to support sending the letter during Monday night’s work session. The City Council voted 7-2 to support the mayor and send the letter to Lynch. The genesis for the letter follows a conversation Bertrand said he had with Lynch regarding the public’s opinion on the Laidlaw development on the mill site. Bertrand said Lynch told him that the word around Concord is there is wide support for the project. Bertrand said he felt it was important to communicate to the governor the sentiment regarding the project as expressed by the city council. “I felt I needed to set the record straight in Concord,” said Bertrand. Councilor Tom McCue said the fact this letter needs to be drafted is troubling. He added the council should to speak with the local legislators to discuss the issue. Councilor Tim Donovan said that it’s pretty clear there’s only a small, vocal group in favor of the development. Councilors Tim Cayer, Tom McCue, Donovan, Dave Poulin, Ron Goudreau, Lucy Remillard and Bertrand voted in favor of sending the letter. The only two councilors to vote against sending the letter were Mark Evans and Richard Lafleur. Evans said he planned to vote against the letter, but doesn’t want to depose the project. He added that he is still against the development on the mill site. Lafleur said he still plans to remain neutral on the matter of Laidlaw, and is waiting to form an opinion until he sees some more information on the project. Cayer asked Lafleur what additional information he needs to see before passing judgment. Lafleur said that he would like to see a business plan from the company. Laidlaw is not necessarily required to provide the council with a business plan, said Bertrand, and it’s part of the state’s permitting process. Both Donovan and Remillard voiced reservations whether the project will even come to fruition. Remillard said that rather than see a business plan, she wants to see Laidlaw verify they have the funding. “I’m convinced they don’t,” said Remillard. Donovan said that he’s seen information reportedly alluding to the ailing health of the company. He added that he’s gathered the proposed biomass facility may not go through. “It ain’t got a snowball’s chance in Hell of happening,” said Donovan. Aside from several reservations regarding the Laidlaw project, the council said it’s objective isn’t specifically against Laidlaw but rather in opposition to an industrial development on the mill site. Bertrand agreed and said that even if a different company, such as Clean Power, was looking to develop a biomass plant on the site he would be opposed. “It’s about a different vision for the city,” said Goudreau. Goudreau said that there are other opportunities for the property beyond industrial development. He added for concerns about the site’s environmental issues, some of the land can be sapped to allow other development. “As long as the stack is there, the opportunity isn’t,” said Goudreau.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/BerlinPDF/2009/3/4B.pdf