Letters to the Editor

Indiana needs Edwardsport facility

To the Editor:

Duke Energy's clean coal facility in Edwardsport and the importance of the project should not get lost amid all the media attention regarding the interaction of select Duke personnel with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

When Duke proposed Edwardsport as the world's state-of-art and cleanest coal-fired power plant, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce along with many other business entities -- and even some environmental interests -- strongly supported the development. Why? The Edwardsport facility is a significant, positive investment in the state's economy and energy future.

Just recently, the State Utility Forecasting Group (SUFG) report of electricity demand and resources for Indiana highlights the approval and construction of the Edwardsport Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant as one of the reasons why, in the near term, additional electricity resources are not needed in Indiana.

The majority of Indiana's electricity -- over 95% -- comes from coal. It is critical that our energy suppliers find a way to use this abundant, native resource in a way that provides for environmental sustainability. Edwardsport's use of the IGCC technology does that by providing lower air emissions, less water use and a more efficient way of producing electricity than a conventional coal-fired power plant. In fact, the Edwardsport station will produce 10 times the power as the adjacent power plant that's been operating for 60-plus years. And, the new facility will have lower emissions than the old plant -- 70% lower sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions combined. The plant will also use 30% less water and generate less solid waste than a conventional power plant. An added bonus: Some of the IGCC station's byproducts can be beneficially used in agriculture and construction.

The Edwardsport facility has also been a boon to the area's workforce and economy, with 3,000 workers on-site today. When the plant is operational it will have a permanent high-skill, high-wage staff of 120 that will have a projected payroll of $11 to $12 million in annual wages. It will use approximately two million tons annually of Indiana coal that will employ an estimated 170 Indiana coal miners. The state will also see monetary benefits: During construction and in its first decade, the Edwardsport plant will pay about $37 million in property taxes and around $5 million per year thereafter.

The Indiana Chamber believes that the Edwardsport plant will benefit all Hoosiers as a pioneering step in the right direction to lowering the environmental impact and carbon intensity of our state's energy supply. It will be doing so by providing needed additional electricity and advancing Indiana's economy. Both are critical goals that need to be fostered, not forgotten.

Kevin Brinegar

President, Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Indianapolis

Sparks family says thanks for support

To the Editor:

The family of Donald R. Sparks would like to express our sincere appreciation for the prayers, visits, flowers, food and all acts of kindness during Sparky's time spent in the hospital and his passing.

Thank you to Jim Meng and his staff at Anderson Poindexter for the excellent service provided. Thanks to Brother Virgil Bland for his comforting words. Thank you to the American Legion Post 22 for the funeral detail. It was a very memorable service.

I would like to thank his friends Mike Booker, Jason Cooper, Wes Cody, Pete Dove, Mike Wolfe, Mark Barnett, Tim Booker and Tom Terrell for being pallbearers. Thanks to all of Sparky's friends for coming to the visitation and the funeral and for providing a memory about Sparky.

Thank you to Nick and Dixie House for their trips to the hospital and praying with Sparky. A big thanks goes out to Dixie House, Nancy Anderson and Mike Booker for being at the hospital when I truly needed someone.

I especially want to thank our family and friends for providing the wonderful dinner after the funeral.

Thanks to our special cousin, Sandra McDonald, for making the trip home from Utah and for everything that she did including the wake in memory of Sparky.

Thanks to Jason Cooper and Carrie Kinnett for being two of his very close friends and for caring for Sparky whether it be in conversation or giving him a ride to therapy.

I would also like to thank Glenburn Home and our administrator, Scott Swaby, for my time off from work and everything that they did including the prayers and the money collected from my co-workers.

Jerry and Marge Anderson

and family

Linton

Sponsors helped

make event a success

To the Editor:

The Jasonville Senior Citizen Center wishes to thank the merchants and individuals who donated items for door prizes and bingo games for the Christmas Party.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to Janet Salesman, Janice Padgett, Pizza Villa I & II, Jasonville Dollar General, Walmart, Twist & Shake Jasonville, Dave's 76 Stations, Jasonville Independent, GFWC/IFC Wednesday Research Club, Rosie Dickey, Real Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Kountry Kitchen, Casey's Jasonville, and Save A Lot Linton.

Our sincere apology to anyone we might have inadvertently missed.

Naomi Thomas

Jasonville

Thank you to Greene County General

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the doctors and staff of Greene County General Hospital.

Thank you.

Arthur R. Heacox

Worthington