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Show ODD 0" Ih) 00 S 0 JDS DTTD Milford and Beaver County has been bombarded with hope, promises and misconceptions mis-conceptions so many times it's no wonder that most citizens first response to an an-i an-i nouncement of mining ventures, power plants, or industry is, "Show me! I'm from Missouri." This was the case again last week as VTN, Thermal Power Co., Amax and O' Brien of Canada told local residents their plans to build a 55 megawatt power plant at Roosevelt Springs. While most of those in attendance were at once optimistic and hopeful, just a few questions revealed what most already knew. The power plant depends upon approval ; of a Dept. of Energy loan, approval of an environmental impact statement, approval of the State Water Engineer, proving the reservior, drilling more successful wells, the need for the energy, i William d'Olier, who did most of the j talking , admitted that they did not have ai firm committment for a single killowatt, j besides the three megawatts the plant it- j self will consume. Bountiful City Power, who has its own geothermal property at Roosevelt Springs may purchase 10 megawatts mega-watts and they hope to dispose of the other 42 megawatts to Utah Power and Light or other municipal users. J The point of this editorial is that this 1 group, like most who have filled local citi zens with dreams and promises over the past ' 100 years, has little more to offer than a ! twinkle in somebody's eye. ! To make a statement that they will have power on the line by 1982 Is absurb with the groundwork that has been done. This is not to say it is not possible but it's highly improbable. Even Phillips Petroleum, who has most of the marketing and construction details worked out, has conducted extensive testing test-ing of the reservoir and has five commercial commer-cial wells in the KGRA, has not received approval of the State Engineer on Water applications. They must still go through an environmental assessment, and receive approval to go into production. Can .they deliver by 1982 we doubt it! Earth Science first approached Milford In November 1973. Construction was to start in 1974. Since last Sept. 9th, the Environmental ImpactStatement has been on Sec. Andrus desk, and still awaits approval. Will it still be there five years from now? Certainly, we do not want to chide these companies for false statements. We wish to encourage them In every way. We welcome them into our communities, and for the open and general discourse. We recognize recog-nize they have little control over bureaucratic bureau-cratic delays. Still, it does chagrin this editor to print press releases, or report .statements as fact, that we know are almost impossible. We don't like being the tool for speculators, specula-tors, and stock promoters. We dontlike to raise the hopes of our subscribers that a brighter day is just around the corner when often there is just another corner. We realize that the biggest answer is cutting bureaucratic red tape. But is it not also possible for those companies to supply sup-ply a time table on EE 's and EA's as well as construction time. Could they not say, we will be at this stage if we can get permits and approval from the various agencies? Most of Beaver County sincerely wants development. We're happy to hope and dream with you but if we're a little less than enthusiastic you'll understand, we've been there before! "Red" |