Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc.(fka LLEG)

[spencerforhire]

Yes and No. The north country is controlled by central and southern NH by voting power to begin with. I think they are certainly jealous of the attention Berlin has been getting of late, and many are irritated about that attention as they suffer through their own economic woes. If the 300 jobs you speak about are the construction jobs, that benefit is certainly a valid short term benefit. The direct and indirect job creation by Laidlaw's project is, unfortunately, putting at risk significantly more direct and indirect jobs at six other biomass plants and is scaring the hell out of New Page in Rumford Maine. The state is not ignoring this potential effect but rather weighing in all pluses and minuses. The property tax cut would not come close to 17%, however it would help Berlin and the state of course. Not sure where you're deriving a 1% increase in your electric bill.