Three dozen businesses have signed onto a letter asking state and utility leaders to support the Fair Haven Energy Center project. The proposed Energy Center is a 29.5 MW woody biomass power plant that will produce baseload power for 34,000 homes. It would be combined with a pellet production plant that would produce 110,000 tons of wood pellets each year. In addition, plans call for the plant to offer a heat source for a large scale greenhouse or other local food production center.
The local businesses have come together to support the project because of the anticipated two-year construction phase of the project, which would bring 1,000 jobs to the area; the plant would also generate about $1.1 million in annual property taxes. In addition, the facility is projected to produce$32 million/year inannual operational spending. The plant will employ 50, with another 180 jobs created in the logging operation, as well as hundreds of â multiplier’jobs throughout the community.
The full text of the letter and the signatories are below. The letter can also be found at http://beaverwoodenergy.com/open-letter-to-state-and-utility-leaders/.
"An Open Letter to State and Utility Leaders
Vermont needs more good paying jobs and new businesses that will grow our economy. This is particularly true for the Rutland County area where we have felt the impacts of the recession more than other areas of the state.
We understand state and utility leaders are looking to increase our use of renewable energy.
The proposed Fair Haven Energy Center would integrate the operations of a renewable biomass electricity plant, a wood pellet production facility, and a year-round greenhouse operation. It promises 1000 jobs during the two-year construction process. Once operating, it will create hundreds of much needed jobs in Rutland County, revitalize the working forest economy and inject tens of millions of dollars annually into the community through wages, taxes and business activity.
As business leaders, we encourage state and utility leaders to support the proposed Fair Haven Energy Center."
Signed,
American Fund Raising, Fair Haven
Brookside Woodworking, Castleton
Browns Orchard & Farmstand, Castleton
Browns Quarried Slate, Castleton
Burlett Plumbing and Heating, Salisbury
Camara Slate, Fair Haven
Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Fair Haven
CR Beach Slate Co, Fair Haven
Deter Security, Inc, Fair Haven
Donna P. Johnson Physical Therapy, P.C., Fair Haven
Durable Home Products, Inc., Castleton
Fair Haven Auto Supply, Fair Haven
Fair Haven Fitness, Fair Haven
Goldstone Marble Co, Fair Haven
Green Mt. Country Depot, Castleton
Happy Paws Daycare, Castleton
Lake Region Laundromat, Castleton
Lakes Region Car Wash, Castleton
LandVest, Inc, Newport
Liberty St. Discount, Fair Haven
Maplewood Inn, Fair Haven
Marble Mansion Inn, Inc., Fair Haven
Markowski Excavating, Inc., Florence
McNeil & Reedy, Rutland
Plum Creek, Essex County Landowner
Ron Adams Construction, Fair Haven
Ruby Construction, Castleton
Ruby Printing, Fair Haven
R. W. Barnard Inc, Rutland
Southern Vermont Energy Park, Pownal
Slate Valley Physical Therapy, Castleton
Stannard Land Surveys, Fair Haven
T W Ferguson Corp, Fair Haven
Wheel Inn Restaurant, Benson
Wood One Forestry, Fair Haven
Wooden Soldier Meeting Place, Inc, Fair Haven
FAIR HAVEN, VT, 4,.5.2012 â More information about Beaver Wood Energy and the Fair Haven Energy Center project can be found at http://beaverwoodenergy.com/