Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday Solar Facility Tour
--- On Wed, 7/22/09, Natalie Shannon <natalie@tropicallobbgroup.com> wrote:
|
Monday, July 20, 2009
Clean Energy, Renewable Energy Plant
Clean, Green, Renewable Energy Plant Proposed for
Port Drum BrownfieldPort Arthur Council Approves Resolution to Support Co-Gen Project for the City
Port Arthur, TX (July 17, 2009) – On July 14, against a backdrop of ever increasing concern about global climate change, growing demand for and the rising costs of energy, the Port Arthur City Council took a giant step for its citizens. In passing a Resolution pertaining to the development of alternative energy sources, the Council is seeking to reinvent the City’s energy future.
“How fitting it is for Port Arthur, which has had a major impact on the global oil and gas markets, to take a lead role in the development of alternative energy options,” said Mayor Bobbie Prince. With the Mayor’s lead, City leaders gave approval for Tide Wind Alliance Corporation (Tide Wind), a local company, to begin feasibility explorations for the construction and operation of a Co-Gen plant in Port Arthur.
Tide Wind proposes to develop a 50MW Co-Gen plant for the city to provide power to all municipal-owned facilities. According to Tide Wind president and CEO Lael Alexander, “The power produced at the plant will reduce the city’s overall energy costs.” In addition, Tide Wind will seek to negotiate the sale of excess energy back to Entergy, the local energy provider, at no cost to Port Arthur taxpayers.
"City staff and I believe the entire city council and Port Arthur 4A EDC Board would strongly support this project based on the jobs created and the other economic development opportunities this project would create," said Port Arthur city manager Steve Fitzgibbons.
“We are excited to develop the first project here in Port Arthur,” said Alexander. Our Municipal Energy Reliability Program helps provide the foundation and infrastructure needed for cities to move closer to a newer cleaner energy reliability standard.”
Tide Wind will serve as project manager for the project and will use Build America Bonds (BABs) as the financial instrument for raising the necessary capital. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama in February of this year made BABs possible. Under the program, State and local governments can sell an unlimited amount of taxable BABs in 2009 and 2010.
Port Drum, formerly the location of a company that chemically cleaned 55-gallon storage drums, is the proposed site of the first Co-Gen plant in Port Arthur. The Port Drum project will create the need for approximately 85-120 construction jobs and 30 permanent operations jobs and the necessary training. Mayor Bobbie Prince is excited about the jobs and the catalytic potential the project has to spur further economic development. “With the unemployment rate currently at 13.3% in Port Arthur, we need employment opportunities for our citizens,” said Mayor Prince. “The Tide Wind opportunity is one the council welcomes.”
Councilman Beard said," We want to try to make sure we are conservative. Utilize the resources we need, not be wasteful, save money and make Port Arthur greener all at the same time."
About Tide Wind Alliance Corporation
Tide Wind Alliance Corporation is a developer of alternative energy production plants. The company, based in ¬Port Arthur, also has offices in Fort Worth, Texas. Port Drum is the first CHP Plant pressed into service outside its traditional industrial use.
Tide Wind is a concept of founder and CEO Lael Alexander, an entrepreneur whose interest in alternative technology development evolved during his years of working in the oil and gas industry. Alexander’s company PREMARC (Plan Resource Execute Monitor Audit Report Control) Turnkey Systems, established in 2007, focuses on project management and engineering for major industrial expansion projects. The company specializes in project costs controls, systems auditing, planning and scheduling, pipe and structural design, and quality control. Pursing opportunities to provide services to the industry spawned the company’s transition into the Texas markets of Port Arthur and Beaumont. “PREMARC is not just our name,” said Alexander, “it is our approach to your projects.”