Power Plant
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5617
Printed Date: Apr 29 2024 at 3:29am
Topic: Power Plant
Posted By: 409
Subject: Power Plant
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 5:36pm
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From MJ: $500M natural gas plant planned for Middletown A proposed natural gas-fired power plant for Middletown will represent an investment of more than $500 million and bring more than 400 jobs to Butler County. St. Augustine, Fla.-based NTE Energy announced Tuesday that it plans to develop, own and operate what it's calling "one of the most efficient natural gas-fired power plants in the United States." The facility, to be called the Middletown Energy Center, will generate enough power to supply approximately 400,000 homes. The center will utilize a Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas advanced combustion turbine that captures exhaust heat and utilizes it in a steam cycle, allowing the facility to generate approximately 500 megawatts of low-cost electric power. This next generation electric generating technology, fueled by clean burning natural gas, allows for greater operating efficiencies and results in up to 60 percent less emissions than that of older, more conventional sources of base load power. "As the energy landscape continues to change, the need for affordable, cleaner base load generation is upon us," said Seth Shortlidge, President of NTE Energy. "NTE Energy looks forward to working with the Middletown community in developing one of the cleanest, most efficient, and most reliable sources to fulfill this growing demand." During the construction phase, the center is expected to create approximately 300 to 400 construction industry jobs, the bulk of which are expected to be filled by the members of skilled trades unions. Once completed, the project is slated to add approximately 25 to 30 full-time jobs to the Middletown area, most of which are expected to come from the local workforce. The center has begun permit applications and entered the PJM interconnection queue, the regional transmission organization. The project is expected to begin construction in 2015 and become fully operational in 2018. NTE Energy develops and acquires strategically located electric generation and transmission facilities within North America. NTE is actively developing three projects located in southwest Ohio, West Texas and North Carolina as well as pursuing early-stage opportunities in several other locations. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Replies:
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 5:47pm
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http://www.middletownenergycenter.com/ ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 5:52pm
| Sounds like great news to me but give the grumpy old farts some time to tell us what type of back door deal this is. They love misery. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 6:36pm
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This certainly does sound like great news for the entire community!!! City Hall better put somebody on it right away to find a way to screw it up. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 7:21pm
Welcome back HHG we are all grumpy old fats some older and grumpier than others  |
Historic House Guy wrote:Posted By: Justsayin
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 7:53pm
| This great news! |
Posted By: Neil Barille
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 8:07pm
| This sounds pretty good, I guess. But 25-30 full-time jobs? That won't really move the needle much for this town's tax base, will it? |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 9:30pm
| Somebody please gag Marty Kohler and lock him in a back room somewhere!! |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 10:00pm
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A word of caution on the power plant. The technology is such the EPA has serious concerns about pollution and environmental effects. This wasn't a serious negotiation, this was finding a site where there was existing "tolerance" within the community for potential side effects. While natural gas is safe, the production and recapture the technology uses is such, only three sites have been chosen to date, the other two sites and in isolated areas in NC and western Texas, in areas where there is not dense population. Also, will this be an alternative to Duke, power autos, or replace coal burning power? The company hasn't even defined its market base yet. While Larry will use this $500 Mm and the previous $650 Mm to now state there has been in excess of $1 Bb in capital investment in Middletown, this plant, as was with SunCoke, the jury is still out, what its lingering effects to be. More answers are preferred.. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jan 28 2014 at 11:01pm
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This is similar to the combustion turbine/combined cycle arrangement that Air Products proposed to build inside AK to burn off blast furnace gas & produce electric. I believe that project was scrapped a while back due to the economy. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 3:54am
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Acclaro, I am not so sure that there are concerns about this technology. If I understand correctly, this facility (in fact, all three) will be using Mitsubishi M501-J-AC advanced combustion turbines. These are simply the largest and latest generation of Mitsubishi’s M501-G-AC turbines, which are tried and true with over 39 in presently in use in North America, the latest in Portland. If I am correct, they are air cooled, with the waste heat recovered to help generate more steam. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 6:17am
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"A proposed natural gas-fired power plant for Middletown will represent an investment of more than $500 million and bring more than 400 jobs to Butler County" THIS GRUMPY OLD FART, AS HISTORIC HOUSE GUY CALLS US, SAYS IT'S NICE TO SEE AN ACTUAL ATTEMPT TO BRING MORE JOBS TO TOWN. NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE JOBS PAY BEFORE DEVELOPING A WARM FUZZY FEELING ABOUT THIS THOUGH. AROUND $18 BUCKS AN HOUR WITH BENNIES.....OK. ANYTHING LESS.....EHH, NOT SO IMPRESSIVE. AND, PRAY TELL, WHERE WILL THIS PROPOSED PLANT BE LOCATED? KINDA OPENS THE EYES WHEN ACCLARO SPEAKS ABOUT ISOLATED LOCATIONS FOR THE OTHER VENTURES IN NC AND WEST TEXAS. GOTTA BE ISOLATED FOR A REASON. WILL THIS BRING MORE HEALTH ISSUES TO TOWN AS THE SUN COKE DISSENTERS SUGGESTED? BETWEEN AK, SUN COKE AND THIS NEW PROPOSAL, ARE WE CREATING MORE SHORT/LONG TERM RISK FOR THE PEOPLE? ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 10:34am
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I don't comprehend where the capital is coming from on this project. I don't see a top 25 private equity backing them such as Great Atlantic Partners, KKR, others. The team seems to be one that establishes a business, gets it running, and divests. I would not be surprised if this is built for Duke to purchase. Baffled as to why they are building it close to SunCoke when they easily could have had a similar deal of they wanted it. As Duke is growing rapidly in southeast, I thin k their job is develop footprint, accelerate government regulation roadblocks, more project managers with JD's, and then sell through acquisition point. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 11:08am
Long term, no. But in the 2-3 year construction time period additional income tax revenue from the 300-400 construction jobs could give a temporary shot in the arm to the city's finances. From looking at a map, the likely site is at the intersection of Cin-Day Rd and Oxford State Rd where Oxford State Rd. deadends. This could mean an extension of Oxford State Rd. to connect to Greentree and a potential future I75 exit at Greentree/Oxford State. The real question is what kind of additional economic activity could be spurred by this investment. The city is planning a major overhaul of Oxford State Rd and additional work on Yankee Rd (Oxford State to University). This with the more recent improvements to Yankee could make the available land more attractive which could have longer term economic impact. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 12:24pm
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QUESTION 1- Who will be buying the electricity? City, Hamilton, Southwest Ohio, Duke? QUESTION 2- Why was this site chosen? Proximity to nauural gas intersection, ease of distribution, et al. QUESTION 3- How does the company have 22 FTE's on revenues of $1.3 Mm and this is the first major project other than the consulting services business? How does a $500 Mm capital investment yield 30 FTE's? QUESTION 4- How much revenue per 400,000 households is generated per year to pay for a $500,000,000 capital investment? QUESTION 5- Is this the model in the future for supplanting coal burning plants to replace electricity? I understand T Boone Pickens is an investor in the LLC. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 1:41pm
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Q3- sorry....NTE has $1.3 Bb in revenue. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 4:54pm
 ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 6:41pm
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probably won't go fishing, swimming or drinking in Dick's Creek any time in the future..... Monroe must love this |
Posted By: Iron Man
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 10:08pm
Awaiting Trotwood's opinion... 
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 11:15pm
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Latest version from MJ: Power plant not a done deal for Middletown By Chelsey Levingston and Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Before an energy company planning to build a $500 million power plant in Middletown can start construction, it must clear a number of hurdles that include obtaining the necessary government permits and certification. The public will have the opportunity to provide input. Also, the organization that operates the Midwest power grid, PJM Interconnection, is studying the effects of connecting a new electricity power plant on equipment and supplies. Until government approvals are received and studies completed, the capital-intensive project Middletown leaders are calling a “flagship” for the city is not a done deal. NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced Tuesday plans to build three power plants nationwide fueled by natural gas in Butler County, West Texas and North Carolina. It is only the beginning stages of what’s likely to be a more than year-long vetting process. If everything goes as planned, construction of the new power plant will create 300 to 400 construction jobs, 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs, and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies, said Tim Eves, senior vice president of development for NTE Energy. “Our team has a great track record of success and we’re spending a lot of money on development, so we’re quite optimistic we will be able to cross a lot of hurdles and get to construction,” Eves said. “There are a lot of hurdles from here to the beginning of construction, and I think the city of Middletown will play a big role in helping us cross some of those hurdles.” City officials have been working to land the project the last six to seven months since the company contacted the local government, said Denise Hamet, Middletown director of economic development. “It’s really a win in many ways,” Hamet said. “It demonstrates faith in the community. It’s a technology partner that will attract other technology partners. It’s going to benefit the community from the top to the bottom.” NTE Energy’s proposal is to build a power plant running on natural gas on 50 acres near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. Middletown Energy Center, as the plant is to be called, would generate more than 500 megawatts of electric power, which could supply approximately 400,000 homes. The natural gas will burn in a combustion turbine, causing the turbine to spin and rotate a generator, generating electricity. The hot exhaust from the natural gas burning combustion turbine will be captured to make steam. And the steam will turn a second turbine producing electricity. Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas will manufacture the turbines for NTE Energy’s plants. “This natural gas plant will be extremely clean because of the fuel that we’re burning. We’re burning clean natural gas and we will have the latest state-of-the-art emission control technology at the facility,” Eves said. “The ability to take waste heat to create steam makes this a very efficient cycle.” The electricity NTE generates in Middletown would be sold wholesale to utility providers. NTE would not sell electricity directly to retail customers. So far, NTE Energy reached in October 2013 an option agreement to purchase the land at the proposed Middletown site for an undisclosed price from AK Steel Holding Corp. Other than the sale of the property, AK Steel is not involved in the project. The power plant would be independently owned and operated by NTE Energy. The Florida company started the process last October for the study by grid operator PJM, looking at the impact of connecting the generator to the system. PJM Interconnection serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. It manages the operation of the region’s transmission grid, which includes 62,556 miles of transmission lines. NTE Energy anticipates the PJM study to be complete by late summer 2015. “We don’t approve or disapprove a plant, we just tell them what the costs are to connect their plant to the grid,” such as the cost of adding or upgrading equipment, said PJM spokesman Ray Dotter. Other next steps include applying for Ohio Power Siting Board certification and an air permit from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Eves said NTE is preparing those applications with plans to submit them by the end of March. Additionally before the project moves forward, NTE will need to sign contracts to buy natural gas supplies and contracts to sell electricity to utility customers. Plans are in the next four to six months to hire an engineering, procurement and construction company to design and build the plant. The project will have to go through Middletown’s zoning and planning boards and city council, which is standard for any project, according to Hamet. “We don’t anticipate any zoning issues,” she said, noting the land is currently zoned industrial. Hiring will not start until at least this time next year. Company officials said the positions will be “good paying jobs that you can support a family on.” Once construction starts, it will take about three years to complete. The timeline calls for operations to begin in 2018. The project does not qualify to receive state tax credits, according to the Dayton Development Coalition. However, Middletown officials said they anticipate that NTE will be requesting a 20-year property tax abatement from the city. Natural gas a growing energy source Natural gas is a small but growing source of energy supplies, said Steve Irwin, spokesman for Ohio Power Siting board. In 2011, coal represented 78 percent, nuclear energy represented 11 percent, and natural gas 8.9 percent of sources of energy generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the last 18 months, the state siting board has certified the expansion of a natural gas-fired facility in Vinton County, approved a 799 megawatt natural gas-fired plant in Lucas County, of which construction has not yet started, and is currently considering a 700 megawatt plant in Carroll County, Irwin said. Natural gas powered energy plants are a growing trend in recent years because of the low prices of gas, said Dotter of PJM. “Most of the proposed plants that have come to PJM are natural gas fired,” Dotter said. “The abundance of natural gas is really driving the increase in development of natural gas plants along with environmental regulations.” “We’ve seen a number of (coal-fired plants) announce that they’re going to retire or have actually retired because of the cost of meeting the new environmental standards,” he said. Eves, of NTE Energy, said demand for more electricity is growing post-recession. “Why ours is going to be attractive is because it’s going to be one of the most efficient plants in the country with very low cost energy in an area with growing demand and shrinking supply,” Eves said. Choosing SW Ohio Middletown met key criteria for NTE Energy to build a new power plant: access to transmission wires, water to cool the equipment, a strong customer market and natural gas supply, said Rick Pearce, president and chief executive officer of The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton. “Our location fit all their needs,” Pearce said. The chamber president, other city leaders and a group of business officials met last week at Stained 1054 Bistro in downtown Middletown. It was the first time Pearce ever heard about the project to bring a proposed power plant to Middletown. He said the company and city officials kept “a tight lid on it.” In addition to ensuring the region had a robust market to sell electricity to here, Eves also said infrastructure was crucial — the property picked has natural gas pipelines and electric transmission lines crossing it. “The demand in Southwest Ohio is strong. The infrastructure is strong and what attracted us to Middletown was really the reception of the people in Middletown,” Eves said. “Picking Middletown as the location is almost completely dependent on the reception we got from Middletown.” Eves added that company officials have been pleased with the warm reception they’ve received from the city. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 11:34pm
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FACTS: 1) No one in Donham had a clue this was coming until 30 days ago. 2) NTE Energy chose Middletown because they knew Monroe had spent a fortune in treasure fighting SunCoke and lost. Several key leaders at NTE are lawyers and skilled at government regulations and approval. 3) NTE knew Middletown was desperate and would give 20 year tax abatements. Middletown is picking up little in taxes on any new business. 4) As Marcia Andrew correctly stated, revisions in Ohio tax code no longer allows for taxes to be collected on capital assets. This project will have little effect upon Middletown. Selling electricity to Duke doesn't do much for the consumer cost. 5) What will Monroe's position be? ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 29 2014 at 11:59pm
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Can't wait to hear what a role Cincinnati State and a "trained" workforce had upon NTE's decision. Aptly stated 409: Today is a beginning of a new error in a new era of total tax abatements. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:04am
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Acclaro and Spider: You know that I am usually on the same page with you two, but I am trying to stay impartial on this and speak mainly to technical/construction (as opposed to business/financial) aspects. Anyone fishing in, swimming in, or drinking of the waters of Dicks Creek is ill-informed now. This plant is highly unlikely to make matters worse. First, both Ohio and federal EPAs will on eagle-eyed alert. Second, water from Dicks Creek (or from any other source) used for process purposes will most likely be used in a “non-contact” manner. That is, for example, in heat exchangers where the water is piped in and out while air or “contained” water is circulated around it, but never allowed to contact it. Next, City Hall might claim that Cinci State had a key role in the site selection, but that is highly unlikely. The operating personnel required are not much different than those required by AK (in their motor rooms, for example, where they have large motor-generator sets) or by SunCoke, Duke or DP&L in their facilities. Such candidates are available from any of a number of colleges and technical school in the area. (Or, they could be proselytized from any of a number of area companies.) Next, while I am unfamiliar with NTE Energy, I am sure that there are a number of engineering companies that could competently handle this project. The first that comes to mind is one (I can’t recall the name) that evolved after Echleay (one of my old employers) went belly-up. Bob Grier assembled some of the ex-employees. They are tight-lipped (we kept the Rockport Works under wraps); they have a good working relationship with AK and knew all of the property in and around Middletown Works; and we had a working relationship with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (and had visited their facilities in Hiroshima). I’d bet a shiny new dime that they are in on this to some extent, and this is probably a good thing. Lastly, and Acclaro certainly knows more about this than I, while “capital assets” are no longer taxed, wouldn’t that apply just to the production equipment??? Wouldn’t buildings and land be taxed more than just unimproved land??? (I don’t know…just asking.) ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:09am
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Let it happen We have proven to be the cheapest place to locate and pollute--especially when they locate on the border of our neighbors No one pays property taxes here any more--another reason why cash flow is poor House Guy returns! Had a lot of bad info on my situation fueling his nasty, ill-informed and ignorant comments that he couldn't back up. So he ran off insulting and pouting with the usually false "I'm outta here, losers!" line. The guy met me--seemed ok. Never asked me a thng though I was always available. Obviously shilling for work with the dark side group. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:15am
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I forgot to mention the availability of techs and other employees from GE. This turbine is basically a jet engine. It is fueled by natural gas rather than Jet-A. It spins a generator rather than providing thrust. ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:18am
"Noise" pollution is more likely than any other kind, and that is easily handled by sound insulation. I concur with your opinion re: HHGuy! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:26am
You really want it? Here goes..... On the one hand, Middletown can use the jobs. We all know how hard the town has been hit. But you have to think about the cost. There is a reason why a giant natural gas burning plant is going in Middletown and not West Chester, Lebanon, Springboro or even Hamilton - they would oppose the extra pollution like crazy. Middletown, not so much, because anybody advocating for clean air in the city would be easily refuted by any person who has a finger and can point to AK Steel. So right now, it looks like Middletown is becoming a hub for the area's "hazardous industries" - like anything that emits lots of air and water pollution. When Mt. Rumple and Stony Hollow fill up, I would not be surprised to see a garbage dump move into that same general area around AK.... maybe even through hollowing out the just southwest of AK Steel off Oxford State Rd..... And the jobs are temporary. As in they get handed off to maybe 3-4 big contractors based in Cincy or Dayton, AK might get some steel contracts, Baker might get some concrete orders from the project, etc. When 2018 rolls around all that is left will be an undetermined mix of well-paid and not well-paid workers and another plant polluting the air. To me, overall, the costs do seem to be worth it for the small amount of benefit received. But I guess if this is the economic shot in the arm Middletown needs to put some additional capital into its retail services around Towne Mall so the Renaissance Project can gain some traction, then so be it. No way in heck this is going to influence getting a Greentree interchange or improve the quality of life in Middletown though...
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:41am
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Trotwood: I'm fairly stupid, and not nearly as smart as you, so please tell me this: Exactly how much and what kind of "pollution" will this proposed power plant produce??? EXACTLY??? ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:52am
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This NATURAL GAS power plant will replace the COAL-fired power plants that are being CLOSED by the EPA!!! Isn't that a GOOD thing??? Or do YOU think we should just DO WITHOUT ELECTRICITY??? ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:55am
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TROTWOOD: I'll sit here quietly and wait until YOU answer the two above posts!!! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 9:28am
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Mike, there are pros and cons related to NTE. The pros are it appears as you stated, natural gas is clean, and can be converted with the turbines in a clean and efficient manner. All things being equal, it is appears having 25-30 jobs in an area unused around Dick's Creek is a good thing, although I do not get excited about the numbers of jobs, rather insignificant. Whether they end up having 10000 subcontarctors run the place remains to be seen. Of course, the executive positions stay down in Florida, as they intended, to enjoy the state tax free status. So, maybe a GM/ Plant Mgr, and an engineer or two, and 25 work a bees. Theoretically, one may predict they will sell this to a consumer like many 3rd party providers do that use Duke, and hopefully for around .04/ KWatt Hr. I pay .046 now. Let me add: I share your position Mitsubishi will own part of all of this. This is a swat team assembled to get a project moving forward before doing the hand-off (acquisition point). I suspect they will pass this to M by 2018, or have a jv. The Negatives: Few FTE's, limited impact upon taxes, albeit payroll and property. Noise- turbine will produce noise (I don't know associated with no reverse thrust but I assume some noise associated with spin cycles making electricity. Brand image- once again, Middletown is known for the area of heavy construction and pollution. Maybe the natural gas element is cleaner, and it rebrands itself as the energy capital of Ohio, similar to the area around Knoxville associated with nuclear (said with satire). Oh....another plus. Maybe now Target will stay open and the Mall expand, associated with 25 jobs appearing. Finally on taxes. I don't have the full details on the deal structure for taxes, but they may have for BOTH payroll taxes and property taxes to have been abated for 20 years. I assume it was property taxes. Payroll taxes on 25-30 jobs is frankly.....peanuts. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 11:14am
Sorry, I was at work.... And I wouldn't say I was smarter than you at all haha. Anyways, you are 100% correct Mike_Presta. Burning natural gas is definitely cleaner than burning coal. No question about that whatsoever. But right now no one is producing power in Middletown. That's the issue. Middletown is becoming a magnet for undesirable industries, i.e. the type of industries that would be considered a nuisance in your typical middle-class community like Lebanon or Monroe. If you wondered why I referenced the garbage dump again above, it is because I am a stakeholder in Trotwood now. I watched as our city fought off a recent effort to put a garbage dump in about a mile southwest of downtown. I know one will be coming to the area soon.... both Stony Hollow and Mt. Rumpke are filling up fast. The issue is where and when. I'd personally rather see it go to Colerain or SW Dayton, and I'd be willing to bet you all feel the same. Middletown can do better. I know it can. It has great bones, good infrastructure, and a lot of people who care about its future (I doubt this forum would exist if that were not the case). There is no reason at all why it should become the polluted hole of poverty in the middle of an otherwise economically prosperous Butler-Warren region. So that is why, as a community, you all need to ask yourselves whether or not the costs are worth the benefit.... With this power plant, I can honestly see both sides, but I think there is a lot of risk of devaluing the community if it is built.
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Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 11:16am
Excellent analysis. Couldn't have said it better myself.
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 12:29pm
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[QUOTE=Trotwood But right now no one is producing power in Middletown. That's the issue. Middletown is becoming a magnet for undesirable industries, i.e. the type of industries that would be considered a nuisance in your typical middle-class community like Lebanon or Monroe. Trotwood... FYI...Monroe does have a power plant/peeking station on Todhunter Rd. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 2:24pm
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maybe I was wrong prior(ever read that statement on this forum?)-- IF it eventually happens, would it be replacing or substituting for a a greater polluting current entity? Wow--Monroe and the adjacent residents put up a pretty good fight last time--think they would do it again to delay? Going from beautiful farmland to Sun Coke/this plant in your back yard or neighborhood would be one kick in the teeth. Exactly what revenue does the city receive from Sun Coke now, other than keeping AK around(which is huge)? |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 2:29pm
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Hamilton also has its own utility service for electricity, which is a bit at > .08 1000/KW. They make nearly $86 Mm annually; on 30 K consumers. Extrapolate NTE, at 400,000 users, give or take, that's about $885 Mm annually.City of Middletown should negotiate in consideration of tax concessions, they get coverage for Middletown at COST + 7%, resell it locally at 10% (3 % margin). Estimates are NTE can produce 1000 KW under .02, nice margins, and leverage lower cost to bring in new residents. The city missed a golden opportunity with iFiber and their high speed network, as a point of leverage for the community. Undoubtedly, they intend to tap into the interconnect, and resell it to Duke, or the 3rd party deal which averages about .055/ 1000 KW through Duke Retail. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 2:46pm
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This plant apparently will not produce as much pollution as the SunCoke process and the added scrubbers used for air filtration and containment of after effects. However, my issue if I were in arguendo, a Monroe resident would be SunCoke produces electricity just for AKS; NTE for the general market. Their concern was erosion of property value associated with pollution, unknown elements in the air, et al. One would suppose they would have the same concern associated with this site, that is----property valuation loss, more so than pollution, because....at the end of the day, an industrial plant, is an industrial plant. A psychological element.Does Monroe have $1 Mm to fight this battle? Doubtful. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 5:19pm
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Sorry to beat this NTE stuff to death, but lets put the numbers of employees in proper context. Clark Shaeffer and Hackett (Middletown) and Casper and Casper alone, lost more employees via move or share of tax revenue, with Warren Cty (Casper), than NTE will make up if they pay tax on payroll. As Neil Barielle said, "it doesn't move the revenue needle." If they cut the utility bill by 50%, great.....but that is doubtful. Okay, giving the next Oakridge Ctr of Middletown a rest until 2018. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Neil Barille
Date Posted: Jan 30 2014 at 6:43pm
| Would NTE really cause much uproar? Certainly no one could have expected that site to be used for anything by industry. It's not like a Starbucks and Panera was going there. |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Jan 31 2014 at 11:06am
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I believe (and could be wrong) Monroe’s original grounds for
the SunCoke opposition had to do with the re-zoing of the land. There were also concerns addressed to the EPA b y Monroe. The land for the proposed power plant is already zoned industrial so that's a mute point this time around. A similar project has been proposed for Middletown before by
AirProducts, though its customer base was going to be AK Steel. Can anyone with technical/engineering skills compare/contrast the two projects? http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/ak-steel-cancels-310m-energy-project-1/nPwBR/ |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 31 2014 at 1:11pm
|
Without going through past articles, I recall attorney Schiavone in Monroe filed a lawsuit to his developer associated with the re-zoning as the SunCoke property was in very close proximity to the residential neighborhood he, and others lived. Their view was devaluation of the property (theirs) was an unacceptable outcome. I am not certain how that litigation ended against the developer.On the opposite end, Monroe sued associated with the fear of pollution. They argued also on the tax credits, and SunCoke skillfully reduced its output to that number, 45 I recall, which allowed them to secure the tax credits without hindering the required output.Air Products had underground natural gas pipes, which I recall were/ or did run directly to AKS. In fact, I believe my recollection is correct, a city of Middletown employee was killed when he went inside an opening to check something, or undertake maintenance, and was killed in seconds from carbon monoxide poisoning which stemmed (if my recollection is correct), which a leaking pipe from Air Products. Your point and NB's is correct; I doubt Monroe will fight this battle as the energy is cleaner vs the SunCoke less than stellar track record, at least in northeast Ohio, and it is zoned industrial. They'd be throwing $ away for a battle not to be one. I have heard speculation Obama is naming another Center of Excellence for Manufacturing Research in southwest Ohio like he did in Raleigh a few weeks ago. Sets up Hillary nicely, and this plant plays well to the taxation on coal production for electricity Obama and EPA are hitting the power companies with. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Jan 31 2014 at 1:44pm
|
They'd be throwing $ away for a battle not to be one.Won....not 1. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Justsayin
Date Posted: Feb 01 2014 at 9:01am
| There is a gas turbine plant located in Trenton. I drive by it everyday. I have never once smelled any nasty smells. You can't even tell that it is running by just looking at. Middletown was built by industry good or bad. It is what made it once a prosperous town. The departure of industry is what is killing this town. It is a fact that we need energy. What is wrong with Middletown stepping up and supplying the demand? Power plants, factories, and other industries produce jobs. These jobs allow the employees to purchase items, which in turn help local business like grocery stores, restaurants, accountants, doctors, etc. Who in turn hire more employees. It has to start somewhere. The fact is this town needs business and industry. I say thumbs up. |
Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Feb 01 2014 at 10:02am
|
hard for some to swallow--but so true Would be super to add in tech and professional offices and survices in order to give us a better up-scale mix in the community(which also benefits schools, public safety, public service volunteers etc). Still--we need the foundation of new jobs to match our current demographic of jobless but capable. Baby steps would be a beautiful beginning. Currently with our poor balance of needy vs.self-sufficient, we can't even sustain the bare minimum of geographically balanced retail/service. Face it straight on--we have gradually lost K-Mart, Dillard's Elder-Beerman, soon Sears and everything else @ Towne Mall, soon a fairly new Target, the Meadows, Capozzi, Schiavone and most other sit-down quality eateries are on life support. Dillman Foods after 51 years, McGee's after a similar good run, Marsh in Franklin and possibly in Middletown 2015. We have no flow in town--no concept of neighborhoods, neighborhood schools and small business. The core businesses in the former downtown area are there(struggling) only because they have been subsidized from their beginnings by tax money. If people don't step up and support what little is left, it will also be gone. Look in the mirroe--there is a reason that major businesses of all types(employers/providers) don't choose to locate here. Over time we have made it this way--it happens gradually, not all at once. Eventually you look around and it is all gone--over. And next to impossible to get it back/turn it around. Takes decades if at all. jmo It is not a c |
Posted By: Justsayin
Date Posted: Feb 01 2014 at 11:25am
| Baby steps Spider. Like a snow ball. |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 01 2014 at 5:18pm
|
I find myself repeating the same content over the years but one supposes that is attributed to philosophy of small threads growing bigger and encompassing larger macro issues or topics. Such is the case in pt in sj's post regarding the decline of Middletown.To be clear, I think we should wake up to the plans and vision of Donham leadership. Their plans, desires, forecast, shaping, direction of Middletown, is to make it a sleeper town of about 29,000, in the image of Lebanon.Will that ever occur? I don't ever see that coming to fruition. Ever.However, with downsizing comes lower consumption with less people. Is that a trend Target saw, The Towne Mall, others? Perhaps. But the city controls its expenditures and its efforts for development. You cannot blame citizens for what has occurred since the mid 1970's to Middletown.Historically, and I have stated this many times, Doug McNeil was well known to have told many at MRH and throughout town, the hospital would : 1) Be out by the interstate or out of Middletown 2) Part of a national or regional healthcare network. I repeat---since 1992.Advancing forward, for at least 3 years before the AKS strike, the management was prepared for a strike or lockout, and the community knew an acquisition target (AK being bought- was likely). One can follow the demise trail easily from the mid 1970's to the present. A major blunder as I have stated repeatedly, was taking temp cash from street funds to pay employees. As you call it sj, "feeding the beast." Add to that 8, potholes, demographics, brand issues, corruption, crime, and a deliberate effort by city hall to cut its population, Middletown sealed its fate nearly 35-40 years ago. It is not the lack of consumption by residents living in Middletown, it is numerous alternatives, and ease to shop. Combine that with declining population and economics of disposable income, crime, all the problems we are aware, and the shut down becomes the norm, while other communities gain. I blame that on Donham....not the citizen. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 01 2014 at 7:44pm
Shrinking Population, crime, potholes, shrinking wallets in Middletown, lack of forward thinking development, and citizens are to blame for retail expenditures? I don't think so: (Retailers know these numbers and effects upon p/l when opening storefronts)
------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Feb 02 2014 at 6:48am
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From MJ: Pending Supreme Court decision has implications for Middletown plant By Steve Bennish Staff Writer To get a better idea of why a Florida energy company would propose to build a $500 million natural gas-burning power plant in Middletown, look no further than a U.S. Supreme Court decision that’s due later this year. In December, the court heard 90 minutes of oral arguments over whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority when it issued a cross-state air pollution rule in 2011. Many analysts, in part based on questions asked by the justices, suspect the court will end up backing the EPA, and that would thrust Ohio’s coal-burning power plants into a new world of greater regulatory pressure. Seventy-eight percent of electric demand in Ohio is satisfied with coal combustion. EPA estimates that if applied, the rule would cost energy utilities $800 million annually to install pollution controls on plants. That could push the energy market into greater reliance on natural gas, which is now being found in abundance in Ohio’s Utica Shale formation. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution from coal burning is carried long distances, and the pollutants react with other substances to form smog and soot. The cross-border pollution, governors in the East Coast states say, has prevented many cities from complying with health-based standards set by law. NTE Energy’s proposal is to build a natural gas-fired power plant near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads that would generate more than 500 megawatts of electric power, enough to supply approximately 400,000 homes. The company’s timeline calls for operations to begin in 2018. Tim Eves, Senior Vice President of Development for NTE, said expected coal plant closures, growing demand following the recession and the regulatory environment contribute to the company’s decision. “The impact of the air regulations definitely have an impact on the generation that is built,” he said. The EPA’s rule targeted pollution from power plants in 28 states that drifts above states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Texas led 14 states and industry groups in challenging the rule in court. Most downwind states support it. When natural gas burns, it produces half as much carbon dioxide, less than a third as much nitrogen oxides, and one percent as much sulfur oxides as coal, according to the EPA. In 2012, half the additions to the U.S. electric grid were from renewable sources and the other half from natural gas, said Bill Spratley, Executive Director of Green Energy Ohio, a Columbus-based promoter of renewable energy. “From a renewable standpoint, a good partner is natural gas. We will have this supply a long time,” he said. “I think you will see more of this.” ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Feb 02 2014 at 6:51am
|
From MJ: Energy plant to bring jobs, revenue to region By Chelsey Levingston and Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — It’s nearly impossible to put a dollar amount on the economic impact the $500 million power plant would have on the Middletown community, financial experts said. But they said the Middletown region certainly would benefit from the power plant that NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced Tuesday that it wants to build near Oxford State and Cincinnati Dayton roads. NTE Energy’s proposal is to build a plant running on natural gas on 50 acres that would generate more than 500 megawatts of electric power, which could supply approximately 400,000 homes, company officials said. If everything goes as planned, construction of the new power plant, called the Middletown Energy Center, will create 300 to 400 jobs, and once open in 2018, 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs, and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies, said Tim Eves, senior vice president of development for NTE Energy. Eves said the company is spending “a lot of money on development.” The project does not qualify to receive state tax credits, according to the Dayton Development Coalition. However, Middletown officials said they anticipate NTE will request a 20-year property tax abatement from the city. Hiring will not start until at least this time next year. Company officials said the positions will be “good-paying jobs that you can support a family on.” That has the possibility to create “a potential economic boom” for the city, said Janice Kinghorn, an economics professor at Miami University Middletown. “These will be good-paying jobs, stable jobs.” She said the plant could be the “catalyst to move the economy in the right direction” because it may spur additional business in the area. City officials, construction union representatives, Middletown residents and business owners agree. The timing of the announcement that NTE Energy chose Middletown to build one of its three power plants — the other two are in Texas and North Carolina — in the United States, was perfect for the cash-strapped city. In recent years, the Manchester Inn, once considered the city’s “gem,” has closed and is on the market; the city is trying to sell its golf course, Weatherwax Golf Course, because of budget concerns; Target announced it was closing the Middletown store location in the spring because of poor sales; and Finish Line recently closed inside the Towne Mall Galleria. The news couldn’t be coming at a better time considering the city’s employment health. Ten years ago, on average, there were 24,200 Middletown residents working and the unemployment rate in the city was 6.3 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Last year, on average, there were 21,900 Middletown residents working and the unemployment rate was 7.7 percent. Then the city received “a shot in the arm” last week, said Les Landen, the city’s law director. Once the power plant is open, Landen said between $2 million to $2.5 million in wages will generate $35,000 to $40,000 in payroll taxes for the city. “Is that number huge? No,” Landen said. “But economic development is a long and slow process. It’s a step, a good step.” When asked if he could attach an economic value to the plant, Landen said, “There’s more to things than just numbers.” He was quick to point out that when the construction workers are in town, they will spend money at hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. And if the permanent workers are from out of town, they will need to buy homes or rent apartments, he said. He said the plant is “a great opportunity for the community” because it will provide high-tech jobs, what he called “exactly the type of jobs we’re trying to attract.” Once known as a steel town, Middletown hopes to move in “a different direction,” Landen said. Are there any negatives regarding the power plant? “Nothing jumps out at us,” Landen said. Then he mentioned increased traffic along Oxford State Road, which already is heavily traveled because of AK Steel. “You can always find negatives,” he said. “But the positives so outweigh the negatives.” David Fehr, Butler County director of development, added: “We look at it as something positive. Nobody wants one of those in their backyard, but this is a fairly well-established industrial area. It should be a fairly good neighbor for the community.” Landen said the company’s decision to build in Middletown shows that the city is “a great place to be and to build.” Then he added: “This is a positive piece in the puzzle. It shows that we want to move forward and we are a place where people want to be.” Rick Pearce, president of the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, believes once the plant opens it will “put our area on the map when people hear about this new clean energy process. It will draw attention to us. It will have a positive impact on the area.” Denise Hamet, the city’s economic development director, said the project was “very significant” for the city because an outside company contacted Middletown and said, “We want to be here.” She said the deal is a “win” for the city and “that’s what we are looking at.” In the last few weeks, as negotiations turned serious and company representatives met with city officials, Hamet said the company said they wanted to be part of the community. They asked how they could help the local school district, she said. She said the keys to a successful partnership are “collaboration and connection,” and the company “saw potential in the community.” Dave Burrows, director of economic development programs for Dayton Development Coalition, called the proposed plan “a huge investment.” When asked about the Middletown location, he said: “Logistically it’s a great place and it’s in the midst of multiple energy sources.” More job creation is happening 30 jobs at a time, Burrows told the Journal-News in a 2013 interview. “You will see more companies in the 25 to 100 jobs rather than the 500 to 2,000 jobs, although we’re trying to get those,” Burrows said. But new job announcements for more than 500 positions at a time are “few and far between.” At Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, the number of employees the last 10 years has risen from 1,470 to 1,581, according to hospital officials. Since the lockout at AK Steel nearly eight years ago, the number of union members at the Middletown Works has dropped from 2,700 to 1,700 and there are about 2,100 union and salaried workers in Middletown. Chris Webster, business agent for Plumber Pipefitters and Mechanical Local 392 in Cincinnati, said he was “astounded” when he read in the newspaper that the power plant was wanting to build in Middletown. “It’s a great thing for the Middletown area,” he said. “This will be a major job.” He said his company has heard “bits and pieces” and had “feelers” about the power plant wanting to use union workers. The estimated cost to build the power plant — $500 million — would represent the largest business investment in Butler County in recent years, bigger than the approximately $400 million SunCoke Energy coke plant built in Middletown to supply AK Steel Holding Corp. SunCoke Energy Middletown opened at the end of 2011. The proposed power plant is also a larger capital investment than the current mega-retail project in the pipeline in Liberty Twp. at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Ohio 129. Columbus developer Steiner + Associates is supposed to start construction this year of Liberty Center, a mixed retail, entertainment, dining and housing center that would cost more than $300 million in its first phase of development. “What makes (NTE Energy) so expensive is all the equipment,” Fehr said. “That helps the local economy because even if parts come from all around the world, locally you have to buy steel, piping, insulation and bricks, for example.” The chance to bring any new jobs to the city was welcome news, especially for businesses near the plant’s site. Erica Kuhbander, new owner of Shear Kaos Salon, 1300 Cincinnati Dayton Road, just down the street from the proposed site, said the plant “sounds good for the community. I hope any new business, they use local contractors. That’s the main thing.” Roland Whitaker, licensed master barber/owner of Family Barber and Beauty Shop, 2907 Cincinnati Dayton Road, said while the plant isn’t scheduled to open until 2018, the jobs it’s expected to create “sure is good news.” Middletown council member Anita Scott Jones added: “This is exactly the type of economic development we need to bring to the city with the number of jobs and the type of business.” ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Feb 02 2014 at 6:52am
|
MIDDLETOWN ENERGY CENTER NEXT STEPS NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., announced Tuesday plans to build a power plant fueled by natural gas in Middletown. It is only the beginning stages of what’s likely to be a more than year-long vetting process. Among the hurdles still to clear are: •Final sale of the property •Apply for Ohio Power Siting Board certification •Apply for air permit from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency •Hold a public information meeting near the project location •Sign contracts to buy natural gas supplies and contracts to sell electricity to utility customers •Hire an engineering, procurement and construction company to design and build the plant •Obtain building and zoning permits from the city of Middletown ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 02 2014 at 12:35pm
|
NTE in perspective, and statements which are nothing but spin. By the way, the city makes 5x and > in Section 8, than NTE projected payroll tax. City just buying time. By http://www.journal-news.com/staff/chelsey-levingston/" rel="nofollow - - Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — It’s nearly impossible to put a dollar amount on the economic impact the $500 million power plant would have on the Middletown community, financial experts said. But they said the Middletown region certainly would benefit from the power plant that NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced Tuesday that it wants to build near Oxford State and Cincinnati Dayton roads. NTE Energy’s proposal is to build a plant running on natural gas on 50 acres that would generate more than 500 megawatts of electric power, which could supply approximately 400,000 homes, company officials said. If everything goes as planned, construction of the new power plant, called the Middletown Energy Center, will create 300 to 400 jobs, and once open in 2018, 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs, and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies, said Tim Eves, senior vice president of development for NTE Energy. Eves said the company is spending “a lot of money on development.” The project does not qualify to receive state tax credits, according to the Dayton Development Coalition. However, Middletown officials said they anticipate NTE will request a 20-year property tax abatement from the city. Hiring will not start until at least this time next year. Company officials said the positions will be “good-paying jobs that you can support a family on.” That has the possibility to create “a potential economic boom” for the city, said Janice Kinghorn, an economics professor at Miami University Middletown. “These will be good-paying jobs, stable jobs.” She said the plant could be the “catalyst to move the economy in the right direction” because it may spur additional business in the area. City officials, construction union representatives, Middletown residents and business owners agree. The timing of the announcement that NTE Energy chose Middletown to build one of its three power plants — the other two are in Texas and North Carolina — in the United States, was perfect for the cash-strapped city. In recent years, the Manchester Inn, once considered the city’s “gem,” has closed and is on the market; the city is trying to sell its golf course, Weatherwax Golf Course, because of budget concerns; Target announced it was closing the Middletown store location in the spring because of poor sales; and Finish Line recently closed inside the Towne Mall Galleria. The news couldn’t be coming at a better time considering the city’s employment health. Ten years ago, on average, there were 24,200 Middletown residents working and the unemployment rate in the city was 6.3 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Last year, on average, there were 21,900 Middletown residents working and the unemployment rate was 7.7 percent. Then the city received “a shot in the arm” last week, said Les Landen, the city’s law director. Once the power plant is open, Landen said between $2 million to $2.5 million in wages will generate $35,000 to $40,000 in payroll taxes for the city. “Is that number huge? No,” Landen said. “But economic development is a long and slow process. It’s a step, a good step.” When asked if he could attach an economic value to the plant, Landen said, “There’s more to things than just numbers.” He was quick to point out that when the construction workers are in town, they will spend money at hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. And if the permanent workers are from out of town, they will need to buy homes or rent apartments, he said. He said the plant is “a great opportunity for the community” because it will provide high-tech jobs, what he called “exactly the type of jobs we’re trying to attract.” Once known as a steel town, Middletown hopes to move in “a different direction,” Landen said. Are there any negatives regarding the power plant? “Nothing jumps out at us,” Landen said. Then he mentioned increased traffic along Oxford State Road, which already is heavily traveled because of AK Steel. “You can always find negatives,” he said. “But the positives so outweigh the negatives.” David Fehr, Butler County director of development, added: “We look at it as something positive. Nobody wants one of those in their backyard, but this is a fairly well-established industrial area. It should be a fairly good neighbor for the community.” Landen said the company’s decision to build in Middletown shows that the city is “a great place to be and to build.” Then he added: “This is a positive piece in the puzzle. It shows that we want to move forward and we are a place where people want to be.” Rick Pearce, president of the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton, believes once the plant opens it will “put our area on the map when people hear about this new clean energy process. It will draw attention to us. It will have a positive impact on the area.” Denise Hamet, the city’s economic development director, said the project was “very significant” for the city because an outside company contacted Middletown and said, “We want to be here.” She said the deal is a “win” for the city and “that’s what we are looking at.” In the last few weeks, as negotiations turned serious and company representatives met with city officials, Hamet said the company said they wanted to be part of the community. They asked how they could help the local school district, she said. She said the keys to a successful partnership are “collaboration and connection,” and the company “saw potential in the community.” Dave Burrows, director of economic development programs for Dayton Development Coalition, called the proposed plan “a huge investment.” When asked about the Middletown location, he said: “Logistically it’s a great place and it’s in the midst of multiple energy sources.” More job creation is happening 30 jobs at a time, Burrows told the Journal-News in a 2013 interview. “You will see more companies in the 25 to 100 jobs rather than the 500 to 2,000 jobs, although we’re trying to get those,” Burrows said. But new job announcements for more than 500 positions at a time are “few and far between.” At Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, the number of employees the last 10 years has risen from 1,470 to 1,581, according to hospital officials. Since the lockout at AK Steel nearly eight years ago, the number of union members at the Middletown Works has dropped from 2,700 to 1,700 and there are about 2,100 union and salaried workers in Middletown. Chris Webster, business agent for Plumber Pipefitters and Mechanical Local 392 in Cincinnati, said he was “astounded” when he read in the newspaper that the power plant was wanting to build in Middletown. “It’s a great thing for the Middletown area,” he said. “This will be a major job.” He said his company has heard “bits and pieces” and had “feelers” about the power plant wanting to use union workers. The estimated cost to build the power plant — $500 million — would represent the largest business investment in Butler County in recent years, bigger than the approximately $400 million SunCoke Energy coke plant built in Middletown to supply AK Steel Holding Corp. SunCoke Energy Middletown opened at the end of 2011. The proposed power plant is also a larger capital investment than the current mega-retail project in the pipeline in Liberty Twp. at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Ohio 129. Columbus developer Steiner + Associates is supposed to start construction this year of Liberty Center, a mixed retail, entertainment, dining and housing center that would cost more than $300 million in its first phase of development. “What makes (NTE Energy) so expensive is all the equipment,” Fehr said. “That helps the local economy because even if parts come from all around the world, locally you have to buy steel, piping, insulation and bricks, for example.” The chance to bring any new jobs to the city was welcome news, especially for businesses near the plant’s site. Erica Kuhbander, new owner of Shear Kaos Salon, 1300 Cincinnati Dayton Road, just down the street from the proposed site, said the plant “sounds good for the community. I hope any new business, they use local contractors. That’s the main thing.” Roland Whitaker, licensed master barber/owner of Family Barber and Beauty Shop, 2907 Cincinnati Dayton Road, said while the plant isn’t scheduled to open until 2018, the jobs it’s expected to create “sure is good news.” Middletown council member Anita Scott Jones added: “This is exactly the type of economic development we need to bring to the city with the number of jobs and the type of business.” ________________________________________________________________ Your leaders? MUM econ prof- this has possibilities. Wow, staggering insight. Les Landen- new type of industry. Oh really, another blue collar, industrial site. Anita Scott Jones (what embarrassment)- type of jobs, numbers, development needed. Oh really, 30 jobs, only need 10,000 more to go. I thought Middletown was a biomedical hub? Denise Hamlet (comical)- they called us, they show people want to invest in Middletown). Try again Ms. Hamlet- FACT- land in area already established for heavy industry, interconnect access for grid tap, keep outside the coal producing regions like West Va, Ky. Rick Pearce- it will put us on map. Draw people to area because of clean energy. Hey Rick, nuclear has been around for about 50 years (clean). Clueless folks. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Feb 02 2014 at 2:01pm
| Yep, SEC 8 makes the city more money,fact,The city is under a FEDREAL INVESTAGATION with HUD over their running of that program. They could very well lose the administration of that program. What are they going to do for money then because they may also lose other FEDERAL grants because HUD may not trust the way they spend it. Their track record hasn't been good or trust worthy. I guess we'll see. |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Feb 17 2014 at 9:11am
|
From MJ: Middletown energy plant hopes to open in 2018 By Rick McCrabb Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Two representatives from the company that plans to build a $500 million natural gas-fired power plant in Middletown were in town last week to meet with the Southwestern Ohio Air Quality Agency and city leaders. Tim Eves, executive vice president of development at NTE Energy, said the St. Augustine, Fla.-based company started looking to build a plant in southwestern Ohio about five years ago, and after meeting with city officials, they considered a “handful” of sites. He said the one at the corner of Oxford State and Cincinnati-Dayton roads in Middletown was attractive because transformers and pipelines were present on the property. He said once opened in 2018, the plant will operate as the “most cost effective” facility in the United States and generate enough power to supply about 400,000 homes. Mike Bradley, senior vice president of commercial, said the plant, called Middletown Energy Center, will operate about 80 percent of the time and use no oil or coal. Residents will only see trucks during construction, he said. He said the permit applications are being filed, and the ground-breaking is tentatively set for the second quarter of 2015. He said the construction of the plant will require 300 to 400 workers, and hopefully most of those will come from local unions. During operation, the plant will employ 25-30 workers. The plant will create “all kind of opportunities,” Bradley said. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Feb 17 2014 at 9:12am
 ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: TonyB
Date Posted: Feb 18 2014 at 8:37am
| acclaro; I agree with all of your statements above save one: nuclear energy as "clean" . Ask the people in Fukushima how clean that energy is! |
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Feb 21 2014 at 2:36pm
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Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Mar 04 2014 at 9:51pm
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New article on the plant / power in SW Ohio: http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/potential-for-six-power-plants-to-operate-in-butle/nd4PB/ Looks like Middletown might be smart to capitalize more on its natural gas accessibility. The downside will be that pollution will go up and quality of life will go down, especially south of Roosevelt. Time for demolitions / eminent domain to begin.
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Posted By: Iron Man
Date Posted: Mar 04 2014 at 10:56pm
I'm not so sure, I like your idea about kicking AK Steel out and building a major airport more. |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Mar 08 2014 at 1:37pm
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^hahaha I do too! As politically impossible as doing it would be, imagine the economic potential of having a hub airport in the Cincinnati-Dayton metro again. But hey, Middletown needs whatever it can get I guess. I still am going to be vocal on here from time to time about the need to consider the RESIDENTS of Middletown, so it doesn't just degenerate into the economically disadvantaged and polluted hole within the region. And proposals like this one do bring up that fear.
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jul 26 2014 at 9:29am
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MIDDLETOWN City steps closer to $500M power plant The Florida company planning to build a $500 million natural gas-fired power plant in Middletown provided Tuesday an update about financing for the project, saying its secured private investors to help pay for the project. Middletown Energy Center is one of three natural gas-fired power plants that NTE Energy is planning to build, along with power plants in North Carolina and Texas. The total investment in all three facilities is more than $1.1 billion according to NTE Energy. Capital Dynamics and Wattage Finance LLC, which is owned by a group of private investors and managed by an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners LLC, will work with NTE Energy to finalize the development and prepare the three projects for construction financing, according to NTE. NTE Energy’s three power projects are in the late stages of development and are expected to close financing and go into construction in the next 9 to 12 months, the company said. Meanwhile, NTE Energy is seeking regulatory approvals from Ohio Power Siting Board and Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, which it must obtain before proceeding with construction in Middletown at the proposed site near Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: Jul 26 2014 at 12:44pm
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Over The Hill - We can only hope that HUD conducts an honest, thorough investigation of other "entitlement" programs besides Section 8. I'm wondering what Doug Adkins and Kyle Fooks will have to say regarding the convoluted CDBG, NSP, Stimulus and HOME grants that they are responsible for?? |
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Jul 26 2014 at 3:02pm
| Like you say Perplexed we can only hope. But I wonder if the "agreement " they signed made some sort of provision that HUD won't persue further legal action if they agree to move the program to WCMH and BMHA . They had to make some sort of deal to keep them from prosecuting. I know Dougie said "we haven't done any thing wrong" but we all know that wasn't the truth. So I guess that expensive attorney paid off for them. He got them a sweet deal. IMO |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Oct 16 2014 at 12:12pm
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From MJ: Draft air permit issued for Middletown power plant MIDDLETOWN — A proposed natural gas-fired power plant in Middletown has received a draft air permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, another step in the approximately $500 million project’s development before construction could start. Public comments about the project are now being accepted. Ohio EPA along with its local monitoring arm Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency will host at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, a public meeting to share information about the project, answer questions and record public comments. Written comments can also be mailed to: Kurt Smith, Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, 250 William Howard Taft Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45219. The application, draft permit and other related materials are available for review at local arm of the EPA by calling 513-946-7759. The upcoming meeting will be held at Middletown City Council Chambers, at One Donham Plaza. If the state agency approves the air permit, it would allow NTE to start construction pending other regulatory approvals from other government agencies with oversight. The air permit regulates emissions from the facility such as particulates (ash and dust), carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases, said Dina Pierce, spokeswoman for Ohio EPA. “The permit would set limits on the emissions,” Pierce said. “People know the local area better than we do, so we want to hear what they have to say.” NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced in January this year plans to build an approximately $500 million natural gas plant in Middletown. If everything moves forward, plans are to start construction midway through 2015 and open in 2018, producing more than 500 megawatts of electric power year-round. The power plant could be built near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Oct 30 2014 at 9:30am
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MJ: Middletown power plant project called a “game-changer” for region By Chelsey Levingston Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Plans to build a natural gas-fired power plant in Middletown have so far faced no public opposition and developers say they’re on schedule to start construction of the more than $500 million project next year pending regulatory approvals. NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced in January of this year plans to build a power plant in Middletown that burns natural gas to generate electricity. The company must still obtain necessary government permits and certifications, and a pair of public hearings held this week in Middletown is another hurdle crossed in the process. If everything moves forward, plans are to start construction midway through 2015 and open in 2018, producing more than 500 megawatts of electric power year-round. The power plant could be built near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. At the public hearings held Monday and Tuesday at Middletown City Council Chambers, supporters spoke out in favor of the project. No criticism was expressed. “It’s certainly going to be a game changer I think for Middletown and really the surrounding region,” said Middletown Mayor Larry Mulligan Jr., also the Butler-Warren market president for First Financial Bank, at Monday’s meeting. That hearing was organized by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and its local monitoring arm Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency. “With so many coal-fired plants that are coming offline the next six to 10 year period, having new sources of clean energy are going to be vitally important to our region and really the economy and the manufacturing base that we have here,” Mulligan said. Additionally, the capital investment and the 300 to 400 construction jobs that the project is expected to create will provide the city a large, one-time influx of cash to spend on improving roads and other infrastructure, City Manager Doug Adkins said in testimony provided Tuesday. The second hearing was organized by Ohio Power Siting Board. “We are now in a place where we are ready to move forward coming out of recession, and we’re poised for growth. We sit on a major interstate. We have a great location between Dayton and Cincinnati, which is continuing to grow towards us from both sides,” Adkins said. “We have rail access, we have our own operating airport.” “Our hope is to take the benefits of this project, which will be a one-time large influx of income tax dollars for the city, pool it with the fact that our schools are now in the process of developing two to three new schools, which will expand again our source of one-time revenues, and use that strategically with our new plans to develop infrastructure,” he said. The proposed Middletown Energy Center, as the project is called, is the biggest development project in Middletown since the approximately $400 million SunCoke Energy coke plant was built on Yankee Road to supply AK Steel Holding Corp. SunCoke Energy Middletown opened at the end of 2011. NTE Energy expects to sell the facility’s output to wholesale, regional power suppliers, spokeswoman Danielle Milman said. “Improving the available energy supply of our businesses and residents will create a long-term benefit for the local economy,” said Denise Hamet, Middletown’s economic development director. “Interruptions in power supply can cause critical work stoppages for businesses, so anything that increases the supply of power, enhances the reliability of energy for businesses,” she said. The proposed site where the power plant would be built is located strategically in an area — along the Cincinnati-Dayton Road corridor — that local nonprofit development group Middletown Moving Forward wants to help develop, said Ken Cohen, the group’s president. “It’s perfect because of the access to railroad, access to gas and it’s really on the perimeter of the heavy industry area of Middletown,” said Cohen, also president of Middletown-based metal recycling company Cohen and a member of the board of The Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton. “As far as the community is concerned, Middletown is making a lot of headway. Morale in the community is moving up,” Cohen said. Ohio EPA has released a draft air permit for the project. The draft is open to public comments through Monday, Nov. 3. Written comments can be mailed to: Kurt Smith, Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, 250 William Howard Taft Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45219. The application, draft permit and other related materials are available for review at local arm of the EPA by calling 513-946-7759. The air permit regulates emissions from the facility such as particulates (ash and dust), carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases, said Dina Pierce, spokeswoman for Ohio EPA. NTE Energy is also seeking certification from Ohio Power Siting Board, which examined the environmental impact and public need for the new power plant. Ohio Power Siting Board staff has recommended the project be certified, and the government agency’s board members will issue a decision at an upcoming meeting. However, no date has been set for the board to make its decision, said siting board spokesman Matt Butler. In the meantime, written comments can be mailed to: Ohio Power Siting Board, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Include the case number 14-0534-EL-BGN in the letter’s subject line. While construction of the new power plant will create 300 to 400 jobs, once open in 2018, 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs will be created, according to NTE Energy. “The state of Ohio needs a lot more projects of this nature,” said Chris Webster, business agent for Plumbers, Pipefitters and Mechanical Equipment Service Local 392 of Cincinnati. The union represents more than 2,300 members, of which a large portion lives in Butler County, Webster said. “The more coal-fired plants that go offline, the more plants we need like this,” to prevent manufacturers from looking elsewhere to meet their energy needs, Webster said. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Oct 30 2014 at 10:36am
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From the article "At the public hearings held Monday and Tuesday at Middletown City Council Chambers, supporters spoke out in favor of the project. No criticism was expressed." It surprises me that no one expressed any opposition to this. ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: middletownscouter
Date Posted: Oct 30 2014 at 10:41am
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Monroe must not have been notified.
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Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Oct 30 2014 at 9:22pm
Surprises me too. If I owned property in Middletown or Monroe, I surely would have been there to voice my concerns. I think too many are looking at the short-term gains and not enough at what's really happening. VietVet sums it up well in the other thread.
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Nov 22 2014 at 10:39am
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MJ: Final air permit approved for Middletown power plant project By Chelsey Levingston Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said it approved on Nov. 5 an air permit for a natural-gas fired power plant proposed in Middletown, clearing one of the regulatory hurdles for the company before construction can start. NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced in January of this year plans to build an approximately $500 million power plant in Middletown that burns natural gas to generate electricity. The company has to obtain necessary government permits and certifications including the air permit, and certification from Ohio Power Siting Board. If everything moves forward, plans are to start construction next year and open in 2018, producing up to 540 megawatts of electric power year-round. The power plant could be built near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. The state EPA approved the air permit for the so-named Middletown Energy Center following a pair of public hearings held at the end of October in the city. The air permit regulates emissions from the facility such as particulates (ash and dust), carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases, said Dina Pierce, spokeswoman for Ohio EPA. Generally, “we try to be as efficient as possible,” Pierce said. Once a permit is drafted, it is ready to approve pending public feedback, she said. “The fewer comments we get, that speeds up the process,” she said. During the October hearings, organized by the state environmental agency and siting board, the project faced no public opposition. One additional written comment was received, according to the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, which is Ohio EPA’s local monitoring arm. “Upon receipt of the final air permit and site certification, NTE Energy expects to financially close and start construction in the second quarter of 2015,” said NTE Energy spokeswoman Danielle Milman. NTE Energy is still seeking certification from Ohio Power Siting Board, which examined the environmental impact and public need for the new power plant. Ohio Power Siting Board staff has recommended the project be certified, and the government agency’s board members will issue a decision at an upcoming meeting, said spokesman Matt Butler. In the meantime, written comments can be mailed to: Ohio Power Siting Board, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Include the case number 14-0534-EL-BGN in the letter’s subject line. While construction of the new power plant will create 300 to 400 jobs, once open in 2018, 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs will be created, according to NTE Energy. The facility will connect to Duke Energy Ohio’s transmission lines, which are part of a regional electric grid managed by PJM, Milman said. PJM Interconnection serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. It manages the operation of the region’s transmission grid, which includes 62,556 miles of transmission lines. NTE Energy expects to sell the future facility’s output to wholesale, regional power suppliers. “The presence of this facility in the Middletown area will provide improved grid reliability in the region,” she said. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Nov 24 2014 at 9:42am
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“The presence of this facility in the Middletown area will provide improved grid reliability in the region,” she said.
This is good news for the area including Monroe and Middletown. ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Nov 24 2014 at 6:46pm
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MJ: Middletown power plant receives another key approval By Chelsey Levingston MIDDLETOWN — In a space of weeks, plans by a Florida company to build a natural-gas fired power plant in Middletown have gained two key regulatory approvals. Most recently on Monday, the Ohio Power Siting Board approved NTE Energy’s application to construct a more than 500-megawatt gas-fired, combined-cycle generation facility in Butler County. The company sought a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the state agency. Ohio Power Siting Board’s decision follows one made by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Ohio EPA said it approved on November 5 the final air permit for Middletown Energy Center, as the proposed power plant is called. “Today’s approval was another major milestone in the permitting process and we’re still on track for a financial close late first quarter next year,” said Michael Schuster, project lead for NTE Energy. “We’re still on schedule.” The state approvals allow the company to begin construction pending the completion of a study by grid operator PJM, looking at the impact of connecting the generator to the system. PJM Interconnection serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. It manages the operation of the region’s transmission grid, which includes 62,556 miles of transmission lines. PJM’s study consists of three levels analyzing the project’s feasibility, impact on the system and facilities. Each level is more detailed. As the company receives results from PJM, the company decides whether to proceed to the next step, PJM spokesman Ray Dotter previously explained. To date, the grid operator completed the feasibility and system impact reviews and the final leg — the facilities study — is underway, Schuster said. NTE Energy LLC of St. Augustine, Fla., publicly announced in January of this year plans to build an approximately $500 million power plant in Middletown that burns natural gas to generate electricity. If everything goes as planned, the project will create 300 to 400 construction jobs, create 25 to 30 permanent operator and maintenance technician jobs, and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies, company executives previously said. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 10:40am
I didn't realize we had grid reliability issues...? Anyways, this is a disaster for both Middletown and Monroe. Normally when I go from Oxford to Dayton I go via Middletown, but last weekend when I went back I decided to mix it up and go through Monroe. What a pathetic excuse for a town that place is. It's sickening. Now with the giant-a$$ racetrack, as you're coming down I75 you can get a nice glimpse of the Holy Roller's Fake Jesus, tacky plastic giraffes, and the "fake luxury" of the track all in the same glimpse. It's pathetic, like Atlantic City with less class and fewer morals. Now to throw in another smokestack, we might as well just go ahead and line the hookers up right at the BP station. They might add some class to the city. At least Middletown has dignity, heritage, and architecture. Monroe does not. That city's death will be both swift and painful, but rejoiced from my perspective.
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Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 11:15am
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I like Monroe in all its gaudiness. After all gaudiness is next to godliness. ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 11:17am
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"I didn't realize we had grid reliability issues...?" Trotwood Yes we do have brownouts and blackouts out here on the east end of Middletown. A good thunderstorm or windstorm can knock out power. ------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 11:23am
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Now wait a minute Trotwood. Don't understand the assault on Monroe and the defense of Middletown as to the successes and failures of each. Monroe has come a long way from a 1950's cornfield burg with limited population and limited potential to a community that is building, albeit slowly, with a nice school system, developed from scratch, to businesses moving in their industrial parks, to a city that is run much better, with clearer objectives than Middletown at this time. Monroe's entrance to their city off of I-75 is alot more interesting and offers more than Middletown does at this point in time. Monroe has demonstrated that their approach to city development has much more competence than Middletown. I don't see Monroe with tunnel vision development of their downtown area as is the case with Middletown. Middletown's leaders seem to have placed the east end/I-75 corridor areas in the back seat and have placed the area 7 miles to the west as the sacred cow for development. Just don't understand that thinking. Monroe seems to have been smarter in it's development program by focusing on two or more fronts from the I-75 entrance to the industrial parks on Rt 63 as you approach Yankee Rd. Actually, at this time, while I am a Middletown native, have been around for 66 years off and on, and care about Middletown (THE WAY IT USE TO BE), looking at the way the two are run, I would prefer to live in Monroe to get away from the lunatics running the asylum formally known as Middletown. This new breed of Middletown leadership are totally lost, totally useless and mis-focused and don't have a clue what the people of Middletown want for their city. I get the feeling that the Monroe leadership is much better connected with the people they represent. Would actually have to live there to confirm that statement though. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: middletownscouter
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 1:11pm
| The "racino" is in Lebanon, just across from the prison. Five Dollar Footlong Jesus and the two flea markets are in Monroe. |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Nov 25 2014 at 3:00pm
| I think Trotwood is joking a bit but, if not, I would agree there is a tacky element to the Monroe exit. I'm not sure they could've prevented some of it though. Who would have guessed a mega-church would move in and build that statue? As for the Hustler and the flea markets, maybe better zoning would have helped but I don't know the history there. I would imagine at some point if development continues the flea market owners may sell the land to developers for "better" commercial development. We'll see. |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Dec 06 2014 at 10:45am
Interesting. Good to know Mr. Beagle, thanks!
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Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Dec 06 2014 at 11:19am
Very sorry about the late reply Vietvet. Anyways, here is fundamentally where we differ. I don't consider either of us to be "right" or "wrong", it's just a different perspective on what is progress and what is not. Let me explain: You see Monroe "growing" from a small 4-block town surrounded by cornfields into the city of 10,000+ it is today as "progress". And although this is economic progress in a sense, it's also not if you look at the sum total of the region. Population and economic growth in SW Ohio is virtually stagnant. So when one community builds, it's often at the expense of another. And when the kinds of places being built are ones that are built using cheap construction methods that lack quality (like pin-up industrial construction, pre-fabricated housing, 2x4 constructed vinyl sided houses, etc.) then I have an issue with it. Because that means we are decreasing our standard of living in the region, not increasing it. Every time a nice Cape Cod near downtown Middletown is demolished for a Ryan Homes - built house with half the material value on a half-acre plat in Monroe, I see it as a sign we are collectively taking a step backwards. Vietvet, you said you care about the way Middletown used to be. I wasn't around for it, but I would also like an era where similar communities could be built. Heck, Middletown is one of the very few places where remnants of the kind of community built around tight-knit, friendly neighborhoods - look at all of the hole-in-the-wall bars that still operate on residential streets in solidly working-class neighborhoods. If you look at other cities like Hamilton, Dayton, etc. you won't see the same. That's uniquely Middletown, and something like that sure as heck couldn't exist in Monroe. Imagine if people once again valued being able to walk to the neighborhood pub, hardware store, butcher, grocer, diner, etc. once again. It can happen, but first communities have to be built properly for it. They can't be the faceless, throwaway, Idiocracy-style domains we are creating now like Monroe. They have to be built for mixed uses, organically, and carefully, like Middletown. Not like Monroe. And it's starting to happen. In baby steps. Look to Carriage Hill in Liberty Twp., Liberty Town Center, the new Union Village at the Otterbein retirement community, even Settler's Walk in Springboro for a current example. People are starting to value living in a more walkable, connected, and diverse communities (and no, I'm not explicitly talking about race - economic diversity among other forms counts too for me). The way Middletown is already built in most spots is light years ahead of these places. So that's one of the reasons why I rail on AK Steel, and this new power plant, and anything else in town that causes massive amounts of pollution. In order to create a healthy environment where people want to get out of their cars and walk around their neighborhoods and talk to one another, you have to have clean air for people to breathe, clean water and ground for children to play on, and clean streets as enforced by proper policing so people can feel safe but not threatened in their neighborhood. If Middletown cleaned up its act, it could be something amazing. Heck, look at the strides places like Kettering and Hamilton are already taking. Economic development is booming, older houses are being restored, property values are going up, schools are getting better, and more people are choosing to move in. Then look at places that were built with very similar demographics and by very similar means as Monroe is today - Forest Park, Colerain, West Carrollton - they're not doing as well. So I see a future, if Middletown is careful in its current strategy, where it can be the garden spot of the region. A place where people want to live, just like Liberty Twp. is now. And I don't see any future like that whatsoever for Monroe. With the way it was developed out, it'll just be thrown to the trash heap of development in 30 years like those old cheaply-built houses in West Carrollton are now. And all Trader's World, the racetrack, Hustler Hollywood, et. al. isn't going to help its case.
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Mar 26 2015 at 6:55pm
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Middletown to consider tax abatements for power plant By Ed Richter Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Middletown City Council will have a short meeting Friday morning to consider the approval of two emergency ordinances in regard to the NTE project. The meeting is set for 7:30 a.m. in Conference Room 2C on the second floor of the Middletown City Building. The only two items on the agenda include a proposed emergency ordinance to authorize an agreement with NTE Ohio LLC for water and sewer services along with a second ordinance approving the agreement with NTE Ohio, LLC providing for the construction of an electric power generation facility as a development project and tax exemption through the State Urban Jobs and Enterprise Zone program. The legislation was slated to be considered at council’s March 17 meeting but were pulled because the city did not provide the required 14 days notice to the Middletown Board of Education as it regarded consideration of a tax abatement. The city administration is requesting council approve both ordinances as emergencies so the company can finalize the financial package by March 31, city officials said. The enterprise zone agreement calls for the city to grant NTE Ohio a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement for the approximately $500 million project to be constructed west of the Greentree Business Park. The company is expected to hire about 25 new full-time permanent employees with an estimated annual payroll of $2.15 million and generate $36,000 a year in city income taxes after the plant starts operations, according to city officials. During the abatement period, the school district would receive a reimbursement of 50 percent of the city income taxes collected as required by state law. According to the enterprise zone agreement, NTE Ohio has agreed to reimburse the city for the income tax sharing requirements to the school district. The total value of this portion of this agreement is projected to be $400,000 or more a year over the term of the abatement. The project is estimated to generate $24 million in payroll during the three-year construction period. The city is also working on a contract to provide water and sewer services to the plant. Once in operation, NTE Ohio would be the city’s largest water user at 2.1 million gallons a day. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 26 2015 at 8:14pm
| Just another "Act of Desperation"...mercy |
Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 26 2015 at 8:39pm
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Why do this? NTE locked in to location associated with the tap in pipe existing, so city has a rather captive position. Hmmm....isn't the $400,000 Doug Adkins was indicating the city would use to pave streets, one time payment. So, the city is throwing away money available w/o need for tax incentives while being quoted in Journal plans were to use it for road repair, Breihel wasn't it? City playing tax abatement catch up, and its too far behind to catch up. Well, they do have the cash cow school buildings to cling to. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Factguy
Date Posted: Mar 26 2015 at 10:45pm
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Besides providing the state of California much needed water, the city is re-activating the water line because it expects to make quite a bit of annual money from NTE from water; in fact, more so than property and income tax. It is for NTE that the city is exploring the back-up water line. And, Governor Brown is playing well on water desperately needed as CA has been in a drought for 5 consecutive years.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 6:18am
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Factguy, I see you're still going with that California water supplying story. That 10 mil ain't gonna happen with the DC-3 delivery system you had described earlier. Too slow, too little delivery per load and too much fuel and maint. costs. Pipe dream at best. It is quite entertaining to read about all the circus schemes and sorry attempts at revenue generation in this cash strapped city. First, it was Fed HUD money obtained by making the city a freebie, hand-out, low income ghetto. Now, the latest and greatest is selling water? What's next? Wonder why your pals at the city building just don't do it the way everyone else does it through job creation, payroll and corporate taxes? Past history has shown us that the econ. dev. dept. doesn't have a successful plan that would make a real impact for the city. Not nearly enough jobs created to offset the money spending habits of the city leaders and to maintain the basics like road repair, infrastructure and safety. ------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Factguy
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 9:52am
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Here's another project the city has been working the past 6 months, that can generate over $ 3 Million in direct tax revenue and ancillary benefit. Lufthansa Airlines has one training center for pilot certification located in Arizona. Hook Field is perfectly suited for a second site east coast based, and closer to Cologne, Germany, Lufthansa Airlines headquarters. This to date, has been viewed very positively by company executives. http://www.atca.net/" rel="nofollow - http://www.atca.net/
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Posted By: John Beagle
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 10:17am
Not againMiddletown to consider tax abatements for power plantSource: http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/middletown-to-consider-tax-abatements-for-power-pl/nkgDk/" rel="nofollow - http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/middletown-to-consider-tax-abatements-for-power-pl/nkgDk/
------------- http://www.johnbeagle.com/" rel="nofollow - John Beagle Middletown USA News of, for and by the people of Middletown, Ohio. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 10:40am
Mercy.------------- I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over. |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 11:19am
| The reason so much flight training occurs in Arizona is the perfect year round weather for it. Ohio, nor the East Coast, has that advantage. |
Posted By: FmrMide81
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 11:33am
| We also lack a depression treatment center which apparently Lufthansa needs... |
Posted By: Factguy
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 12:29pm
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Frightening isn't it. Hop on a plane for a short hour flight. Can't imagine the horror those poor souls experienced. Airline captain taking axe in futile attempt to break down door. What a crazed world it has become. Hop on an Amtrak and find conductor had too much to drink. Live is an assisted living facility, and find your caregiver is a psychopath, with a bent on murder (Howe). Drive in a limo around town, after surviving reporting in the worst areas on the planet, and become killed, as the driver was drunk (CBS news correspondent and 60 Minute reporter). Hop on a plane and go down in the Pacific, when pilot was found to be a sex offender, and was to be fired, after this last flight (Egyptian Air). Recently watched Alone in The Wilderness. Nice documentary. Something to be said about living in Alaska in a cabin. Obama doing deal with madmen in Iran, giving them nuclear bomb path, and all sit idle as if these events don't occur. Its becoming too hard to discern who lives in the quack cage; sane or insane?
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Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 1:46pm
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FG: perhaps the true message is individuals need to take time to deliberate the capabilities and stability of the person they put their trust. This includes bus drivers, pilots, conductors, neighbors, council members, board members, and management. In simpler terms, fate may lie in those whom are harmful when on first blush, we think we are in safe hands. Many times, we are betrayed. ------------- 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 27 2015 at 10:40pm
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Updated: 5:31 p.m.
Friday, March 27, 2015 | Posted: 6:26 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2015
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Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: Mar 28 2015 at 4:54pm
| Hello: Who's asleep at the wheel? |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Mar 28 2015 at 6:53pm
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over the hill... They are not even on the bus..mercy Past time to empty City Hall |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: Mar 28 2015 at 8:16pm
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How stupid can you people get?? Seriously though. Might as well start giving racketeers and drug lords tax credits while you're at it. ~Trotwood.
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Mar 29 2015 at 10:04am
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limo driver? reminds me of a local story.... Rev.Billy Graham was to do a series in Cincy, but decided to fly in to Hook Field and limo to the event. Driver picked him up, and started to exit the airport, when Rev.Graham commented, "Sir--there is one thing that I have always wanted to do, and that is drive a limosine. Would you allow me to drive?". The driver knew that this was against all rules, but considered the person making the request. "Well--OK" he replied, and they switched seats, with the driver in the dark-windowed rear. "One more request--Can I wear the chauffer's cap?" stated Rev.Graham. "Abosulutely" replied the driver. Well--it took Rev.Graham 30 seconds to trip a red light camera and get pulled over for speeding by one of Middietown's finest police officers. Rev.Graham rolled down his window and stated, "What can I do for you, my son?". The officer immediately recognized the driver, and was not sure what to do. He excused himself to check with superiors how to handle the situation. He called the shift commander and stated, "I have a high profile person pulled over for traffic violations, and am wondering what to do." Shift leader said "Oh no--it isn't the Mayor drunk again?". Officer replied "Oh no--much bigger than that." Leader answered, "Rep.Boehner with a car full of girls?" Again the officer stated, "Oh no--much bigger than that." "Governor?" said the shift leader, "I have the Chief on the line--talk to him". Chief replied, "No one from State in the area, it must be Federal--is that it?" Once again, the officer replied, "Oh no--much bigger than that." The Chief was puzzled and replied "Bigger? Well--who is it?". Officer answered, "Chief, it must be the second coming of Jesus, because Rev.Billy Graham is driving the limo!" nice Easter story with local flavor |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: May 15 2015 at 4:55pm
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MJ: Funding needs closed before Middletown power plant construction starts By Chelsey Levingston Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — The company planning to build a $500 million natural-gas fired power plant in Middletown is continuing to work to close the financing deal with lenders to pay for the project, but still expects construction to begin this summer. Project Developer Michael Schuster of Florida-based NTE Energy LLC gave this news outlet the latest update this week. “We’re working towards the late June time frame now,” Schuster said. “It’s all moving along really well.” At the end of March, Middletown City Council approved an emergency ordinance to authorize an agreement with NTE for water and sewer services. A second emergency ordinance approved at the same time was for an enterprise zone agreement with the company that will provide property tax incentives. The city will grant NTE a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement on its property tax bills, although the company will still make a payment to the school district. Plans were first announced last year to build the power plant in Middletown, and later those plans easily passed several key regulatory approvals from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Power Siting Board. If everything moves forward, NTE Energy plans to start construction this year and open in 2018, producing more than 500 megawatts of electric power year-round. The power plant could be built near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. It would provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies, company executives previously said. So far, NTE Energy has: received an air permit from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency; received a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Ohio Power Siting Board to construct an electric generating facility; received approval of its application to Ohio Power Siting Board for Middletown Energy Center’s electrical interconnection; and completed the Feasibility Study and System Impact Study of PJM’s three-part study process, looking at the project’s ability to interconnect to the electric system, according to the company. PJM Interconnection operates the region’s transmission grid and serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. Before NTE Energy can start construction, it must still: complete the Facilities Study with PJM; finalize the project’s financing; and once the financing closes, the general contractor will complete its design of the power plant and obtain the remaining approvals from the city to start construction, Schuster has said. Projections are that the equivalent of 200 full-time temporary construction jobs will be created in the city as a result of the approximately $500 million power plant build. Those jobs will generate a total payroll of about $24 million between this summer and the power plant’s opening in 2018. Estimates call for the creation of 300 to 400 total jobs for people including full- and part-time work at a peak. Once built, the power plant will hire about 25 permanent employees for ongoing operations and maintenance. Those workers will generate about $2.2 million in new annual payroll, generating an additional $36,500 a year in revenues for city coffers, according to a staff report prepared for city council to consider financial incentives. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Jul 17 2015 at 5:13pm
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MJ: Construction of $500M power plant in Middletown weeks away By Chelsey Levingston Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Construction on a more than $500 million natural gas-fired power plant in the city could be only weeks away, according to the project’s developer NTE Energy. NTE Energy of St. Augustine, Fla., plans to build the power plant near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. Once Middletown Energy Center opens in 2018, it could produce more than 500 megawatts of electric power year-round and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies. Only two major steps stand in the way of beginning construction: closing a deal on financing to help pay for the cost of the project; and signing an Interconnection Service Agreement with PJM and an Interconnection Construction Service Agreement with Duke Energy Ohio, which owns the transmission lines, according to Michael Schuster, project developer for NTE Energy. PJM Interconnection operates the region’s transmission grid and serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, other major hurdles in the project’s development have been crossed, such as completing a facilities study with PJM, the final step in a three-part process looking at the project’s ability to interconnect to the electric system, Schuster said. Also, NTE has reached a contract with Gemma Power Systems of Connecticut to construct the facility. “The evaluation and selection of the (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor is a major milestone in the development of the project,” Schuster said in an email. “Completing this activity is key to the completion of the development effort and closing of financing for the project.” Plans were first announced last year to build the power plant in Middletown, and later those plans easily passed several key regulatory approvals from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Power Siting Board. Projections are that the equivalent of 200 full-time temporary construction jobs will be created in the city while the power plant is built, according to a Middletown city staff report. Those jobs will generate total payroll of about $24 million between this summer and the power plant’s opening in 2018. Estimates call for the creation of 300 to 400 total jobs for people including full- and part-time work at a peak. Once built, the power plant will hire about 25 permanent employees for ongoing operations and maintenance. Those workers will generate about $2.2 million in new annual payroll, generating an additional $36,500 a year in revenues for city coffers, according to the staff report prepared for a city council meeting in March. There have already been economic benefits of the project for the city, said Middletown Economic Development Director Denise Hamet. Every time NTE company officials visit Middletown as part of the development process, they spend money on local hotels and dining, Hamet said. Once construction starts, the city will collect taxes on payroll for construction workers, and those workers will also be staying nearby and eating at area restaurants as well, she said. “Getting the contractor on board is a huge step and then closing on the financing… opens the door to starting construction,” she said. The Kleingers Group of West Chester Twp., a civil engineering firm, has worked on the project for over a year providing surveying, master planning and design services for the site. As far as Jim Kleingers knows, the firm’s president and chief executive officer, and Middletown resident, it’s the company’s first power plant project. “It’s probably a top five percenter in terms of our mix of product type and revenue from a project, so it was a nice, high-profile job we’re proud to be a part of,” Kleingers said. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |
Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: Jul 17 2015 at 7:30pm
| Any development that brings jobs and new construction to the city is better than none |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Jul 27 2015 at 5:00pm
We already do its called section 8, food stamps and medicaid.
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Oct 02 2015 at 5:07pm
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Construction on Middletown power plant to start ‘immediately’ By Chelsey Levingston Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — After closing a financing deal Friday, construction on a natural gas-fired power plant in the city will start “immediately,” according to the project’s developer NTE Energy. Lenders and business partners committed approximately $645 million to the project, according to the company. Previously stated cost estimates were $500 million. NTE Energy of St. Augustine, Fla., plans to build the power plant near the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton and Oxford State roads. Once Middletown Energy Center opens in 2018, NTE officials have previously said it could produce more than 500 megawatts of electric power year-round and provide a cleaner source of energy to the region’s electricity supplies. Financing represented the last major hurdle in the way of facility construction starting. “We are very excited to have hit the important milestone and we’re looking forward to getting the Middletown Energy Center project constructed,” Michael Schuster, project developer for NTE, told Journal-News on Friday. NTE has also signed an Interconnection Service Agreement with PJM and an Interconnection Construction Service Agreement with Duke Energy Ohio, which owns the transmission lines, according to Schuster. PJM Interconnection operates the region’s transmission grid and serves 61 million people in 13 states, including Ohio and the District of Columbia. Construction of an access road to the property has already been completed, Schuster said. Site work will continue on infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, stormwater lines and a natural gas pipeline lateral to connect to a main pipeline, he said. With the project now fully funded, Gemma Power Systems of Connecticut — the engineering, procurement and construction contractor that specializes in power and renewable energy projects selected for the Middletown power plant — can begin building the facility, he said. The city of Middletown will partner with Monroe to coordinate construction traffic, said Denise Hamet, economic development director of Middletown. “This is an exciting day in Middletown,” Hamet said. “It just shows confidence in Middletown that a project of this magnitude could be constructed.” “It’s going to have a pretty far reaching benefit… this is where energy is going (to clean energy),” Hamet said. Plans were first announced last year to build the power plant in Middletown, and later those plans easily passed several key regulatory approvals from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Power Siting Board. Projections are that the equivalent of 200 full-time temporary construction jobs will be created in the city while the power plant is built, according to a Middletown city staff report. Those jobs will generate total payroll of about $24 million between now and the power plant’s opening in 2018. Estimates call for the creation of 300 to 400 total jobs for people including full- and part-time work at a peak. Once built, the power plant will hire about 25 permanent employees for ongoing operations and maintenance. Those workers will generate about $2.2 million in new annual payroll, generating an additional $36,500 a year in revenues for city coffers, according to the staff report prepared for a city council meeting in March. ------------- Every morning is the dawn of a new error... |