Posted June 21, 200618 yr From the 6/20/06 Youngstown Business Journal: Columbiana Port Authority Eyes $3B Coal Liquefication Plant Jun 20, 2006 7:29 a.m. By Dennis LaRue EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio -- The Columbiana County Port Authority Monday night took the first steps toward what it hopes is the construction of a $3 billion coal liquefaction plant in Wellsville that would employ 200 to 300 technicians. The plant would convert coal mined in Ohio but would also accept coal from Pennsylvania and West Virginia, said Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the port authority. He declined to identify the party interested in locating in Columbiana County, noting the company is exploring other sites as well. To that end, the board of the port authority approved an option to purchase 192 acres in Yellowcreek Township and, just southwest, in Saline Township, Jefferson County. Read more at: http://www.business-journal.com/ColumbianaPortEyesCoalLiqueficationPlant.asp
August 19, 200618 yr From the 8/18/06 East Liverpool Review: Wellsville site looks good for coal conversion plant By LUCILLE HUSTON ([email protected]) WELLSVILLE — A Columbus source has revealed that Columbiana County is expected to be the site of a $4 billion coal conversion plant in the near future. The land is just outside the village of Wellsville on the hillside overlooking the river above the Intermodal Industrial Park. The area has rail, river and truck transportation to offer, which is vital to BAARD Co. of Vancouver, Wash., the firm planning to construct and operate the plant. Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=2826
August 19, 200618 yr From the 8/19/06 East Liverpool Review: Hoppel: proposed plant a boom to county By MARY ANN GREIER ([email protected]) LISBON — Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel said the plan for locating a coal conversion plant in the Wellsville area isn’t a done deal, but it’s a welcome deal. “We’re in total support of it,” he said Friday. According to plans announced Thursday, the $4 billion plant would create thousands of jobs for the area, with an estimated 300 to 400 workers at the plant, an estimated 1,200 to 2,000 workers needed for construction and another 750 to 1,000 workers needed in the coal industry to provide coal to the plant. “If it happens, it will be a great boom for the county and the entire Ohio valley...it will contribute positively,” Hoppel said. “One of the best and quickest ways to improve the economy is to put people to work.” Full story at: http://reviewonline.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=2854
August 25, 200618 yr From the 8/24/06 East Liverpool Review: Blasdel: Funds will help attract coal liquefaction plant to Wellsville COLUMBUS — Speaker Pro Tempore Chuck Blasdel (R-East Liverpool) has announced funding for the Columbiana County Port Authority’s Fiber Optic Project is his number one priority in the upcoming State Capital Budget. The completion of this project is vital for the potential acquisition of the nation’s first coal liquefaction facility. The Wellsville Intermodal Facility is one of the premier locations for such a plant to be erected. “I am committed to the economic development of Columbiana County,” Blasdel said. “Throughout my tenure in the Ohio House of Representatives, I have worked tirelessly to see that state monies not just go to Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati but go to rural areas like Columbiana County as well. We have an opportunity here to not only enhance existing business in the region, but attract new business and new family-wage jobs as well.” Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=3000
November 17, 200618 yr From the 11/1/06 East Liverpool Review: Consultant is named for coal conversion plant By LUCILLE HUSTON, lhuston@\ reviewonline.com EAST LIVERPOOL— Baard Energy LLC and its project company, Ohio River Clean Fuels LLC, have announced that Civil and Environmental Consultants (CEC) has been hired to address potential wetland and stream impacts and to commence other permitting work associated with a coal to liquids facility near Wellsville. According to the news release from Baard, CEC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has offices in Columbus and Cincinnati. The firm has started fieldwork on the wetlands delineation and streams identification for the site southwest of Wellsville. Lawrence A. Drane III of Negley, a consultant with the firm who is a graduate of Beaver Local High School, said Tuesday the firm has been working at the site about eight months, doing the preliminary studies. Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=4385
November 17, 200618 yr From the 11/17/06 East Liverpool Review: Officials explain proposed coal to liquid fuel plant By LUCILLE HUSTON ([email protected]) WELLSVILLE — Thunderous applause greeted an announcement by John Baardson that if the coal to liquid fuel plant is constructed on the hillside outside the village, it will bring 200 permanent jobs. Baardson, president and chief executive officer of Baard Energy LLC of Vancouver, Wash., and Ohio Clean Fuels LLC., stated the jobs will be technical in nature, and persons hired will need special training. He said workers will need at least an associate degree from a college or junior college. Asked if Kent State East Liverpool had been approached about the subjects that would be required, Baard said he was not too concerned, that he was sure the training would be there. Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=4688
January 23, 200718 yr Governor urges support for plant Tuesday, January 23, 2007 The proposed plant would make liquid fuel and electricity. By D.A. WILKINSON VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU EAST LIVERPOOL — Political and financial support is rolling in for a proposed plant that would turn coal into liquid fuel. Tracy Drake, chief executive officer of the authority, told its members Monday that Gov. Ted Strickland had expressed his support for the project to U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. In a Dec. 27 letter, then Gov.-elect Strickland wrote, "The proposed project will both help make Ohio a leader in the development of new technologies and allow the United States freedom from dependence on foreign oil." Strickland urged the energy department to approve loan guarantees for the $4 billion Ohio River Clean Fuels project. The ORCF company plans to build the plant in Yellow Creek Township in southern Columbiana County. It would create about 225 permanent jobs. Read more at: http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/298946774626170.php
April 18, 200718 yr From the 4/17/07 East Liverpool Review: Project moving forward By LUCILLE HUSTON, [email protected] EAST LIVERPOOL — The coal to liquid fuel plant project is moving forward, Port Authority Director Tracy Drake reported to board members Monday. Drake said the permit process is nearing completion. He also reported a grant being sought from the Ohio Department of Development to purchase the land should be acted on within the next week. Some $156,000 is being sought. Port Authority members voted to sell 12.9 acres of land near the Leetonia Industrial Park. the land is to be purchased by Craig T. and Joanne J. Mercer who reside on state Route 14 and who are farmers. Read more at:http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=7328
April 29, 200718 yr From the 4/29/07 PD: Coal gets drafted Proposed $4 billion Ohio plant would yield clean-burning synthetic fuel for military Sunday, April 29, 2007 John Funk Plain Dealer Reporter Try to imagine a coal-fired bomber. Or battle tank. Or naval frigate. All clean-burning, as well. The Pentagon has been working for a decade to make that a reality, to create a secure source of fuel insulated from global tensions. Its Assured Fuels Initiative is the modern equivalent of trying to turn lead into gold. In this case, the lead is dirty Appalachian coal -- mixed with 30 percent environmentally acceptable wood waste. The gold is ultra-clean synthetic jet and diesel fuel, created in a process first used extensively by the German military 60 years ago. Read more at: http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-2/117774955341450.xml&coll=2
May 10, 200718 yr Ohio liquid coal advocates cheer pollution study Thursday, May 10, 2007Sabrina EatonPlain Dealer Bureau Washington - Politicians and businessmen who want to produce diesel and jet fuel in eastern Ohio from coal and farm waste hailed a study Wednesday that predicted the "coal-to-liquid" product would pollute less than more conventional fuels. Baard Energy of Vancouver, Wash., wants to build a $4 billion plant along the Ohio River in Wellsville that would use an updated version of World War II-era technology, producing about 50,000 barrels per day of fuel, as well as chemical byproducts used in the plastics industry. The Ohio plant would be the first of its kind in the United States, although coal-to-diesel technology is widely used in South Africa. Baard CEO John Baardson said the plant would use a carbon removal process to make fuel that is cleaner than any that was previously derived from coal. Read more at: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/117878628745100.xml&coll=2
May 11, 200718 yr From the 5/10/07 East Liverpool Review: Wilson leads D.C. push for Wellsville project WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) Wednesday joined Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, Congressmen Tim Ryan, and Zack Space to offer support for the progressive environmental technology that will be implemented at Baard Energy’s planned coal-to-liquid project in Wellsville. Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=7753
June 22, 200717 yr From the 6/21/07 Steubenville Herald Star: Kiwanis learns of major Columbiana project By DAVE GOSSETT, Staff writer STEUBENVILLE — The Kiwanis Club heard details Tuesday of a $4 billion coal-to-liquid project that is slated for construction just north of the Jefferson County line. Baard Energy has announced plans to build the coal to liquid plant on approximately 600 acres west of Wellsville. Tracy V. Drake, CEO of the Columbiana County Port Authority, told club members at the luncheon held at the YWCA the completed project will mean 200 to 300 jobs that will average $60,000 in salaries a year. “Baard will be looking for a lot of engineers. People with oil field experience and refinery experience,” explained Drake. Read more at: http://www.heraldstaronline.com/articles.asp?articleID=14890
July 6, 200717 yr From the 7/6/07 East Liverpool Review: Plant project discussed as chamber meets By LUCILLE HUSTON ([email protected]) WELLSVILLE — The coal to liquid fuel plant project is moving forward, Tracy Drake told members of the Economic Committee of the Chamber of Commerce during a meeting Thursday. Drake, executive director of the Columbiana County Port Authority, said the hope is to get permit approval by next August. Construction is expected to take three to four years, with the target for opening for production set in 2012. Drake said Baard Energy selected this area because with the Ohio River, it is the center of the industrial heartland of the country. Read more at: http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=8805
July 11, 200717 yr From the 7/10/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Chambers cooperate on plant The chambers of commerce want to help companies working on the project. By D.A. WILKINSON VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU EAST LIVERPOOL — Should information that could be helpful to a proposed coal to liquid fuel plant be stored on paper or electronically? That question will be answered in time, Pamela Hoppel, chief executive officer of the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said Monday. The chambers of commerce in Columbiana County have agreed to work together to support the proposed $4 billion Baard Energy plant that may be built near Wellsville. Read more at: http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/298399716768263.php
April 26, 201114 yr Baard Financiers Halt Coal Plant Project April 26, 2011 7:14 a.m. By Jeremy Lydic EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio -- The future for Baard Energy's coal liquefaction plant in Wellsville is unknown, as the Columbiana County Port Authority waits for Baard and one of its investors to reach a resolution -- if they can -- on how to move forward with financing the proposed $6 billion project. At the port authority's board meeting Monday evening, its CEO, Tracy Drake, said Planck Trading of Boca Raton, Fla., has ceased financing for purchasing the land needed for the project until it can reach an agreement with the Vancouver, Wash.-based Ohio River Clean Fuels, a subsidiary of Baard Energy. Since signing a memorandum of agreement with the port authority in October to purchase the land on Baard's behalf, Planck has financed the purchase of about 275 of the 522 needed acres. Some $4 million worth of land is still needed for the project, Drake said. Drake spoke with Baard Energy's CEO, John Baardson, who is optimistic that the two entities will reach a resolution and move the project forward. But, Drake said, conversations with representatives from Planck do not echo Baardson's optimism. Read more at: http://business-journal.com/baard-financiers-halt-coal-plant-project-p19046-1.htm
October 18, 201113 yr Planck, Natural Gas In; Baard, Coal Out Oct. 18, 2011 7:14 a.m. By Jeremy Lydic WELLSVILLE, Ohio -- A new developer and a new fuel -- natural gas -- has changed the direction of the Ohio River Clean Fuels project and ended, for now, the objections of environmental groups. Disputes over the proposed coal liquefaction plant came to a head Friday when environmental groups reached a settlement with the project's new developer, Planck Trading of Boca Raton, Fla. In the agreement, coal is being taken out of the production process, with natural gas used its place to make diesel and Naphtha transportation fuels. Planck, which assumed all controlling interests in the project from the former developer, Baard Energy of Vancouver, Wash., will use natural gas to create a synthetic gas, which will then be used to make the transportation fuels, said its vice president of development, Steven Dopuch, who joined Planck after holding the same position with Baard. READ MORE AT: http://business-journal.com/planck-natural-gas-in-baard-coal-out-p20207-1.htm "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 31, 20214 yr A year old but we sometimes forget about some of our Ohio River cities: Development Projects Advance in East Liverpool EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — Two economic development projects are in the works here, with action taken this week to advance the projects planned for downtown and in East End. https://businessjournaldaily.com/development-eyed-for-east-liverpool/
May 31, 20214 yr East Liverpool to submit riverfront trail plans for federal funding https://www.morningjournalnews.com/news/local-news/2021/04/east-liverpool-to-submit-riverfront-trail-plans-for-federal-funding/
October 9, 20213 yr East Liverpool Sees Uptick in Business October 2021 https://businessjournaldaily.com/article/liverpool-sees-uptick-in-business/ In July, a ribbon-cutting was held for 11 new businesses, including Renovatio’s Tap Room and Restaurant, which entailed renovating a 1924 bank building at a cost of more than $1.1 million....
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