Letter: State legislators offer taxpayer money to support coal-to-diesel plant water study
In a private meeting last Tuesday, Greg Merle, Riverview Energy President, admitted to State Senator Mark Messmer and State Representative Stephen Bartels that he had not purchased the land to build his refinery. Not even the land on which the tiny guard shack was hurriedly erected to avoid losing their Air Quality permit.
This information was shared with me by two different people in attendance.
Are our state representatives so out of touch about the Riverview project, or just don’t care, that they are willing to sell off the beauty and health of Southern Indiana to an out-of-state refinery that, after 12 years in Indiana, cannot come up with $350,000 to pay the town of Santa Claus to do a water study for a 2.5-billion-dollar project?
Our state representatives are wanting to use taxpayer money through state resources to pay for the study. I understand the state offers monetary help to industry, but do we do this when that industry cannot even come up with a drop-in-the-bucket amount to do a study?
When will our state representatives do their job and research this project and its financing?
Will it come down to the taxpayers, many who are opposed to the project, being asked in the future to build the entire refinery?
Hoosiers work hard for their money, and we have been fortunate to receive federal monies to improve our infrastructure. There are many who do not want their tax money or state resources for improving the state going to an industry that has yet to put forth a substantial amount of money to get the project off the ground.
According to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s notes on Riverview, received through a Public Records Request, the refinery was to start production in 2022. Riverview began its efforts to come to Indiana 12 years ago under another name, Clean Coal Refining Corporation, before later changing its name to Riverview.
These efforts began in Vermillion County and Riverview had land options with the Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority (NeCDRA). After six years of dealing with Riverview, the NeCDRA passed Resolution No. 2016-2 with the telling statement “Whereas the board sees little hope that continued negotiation of an Option Extension is likely to lead to a mutually satisfactory conclusion and does not believe that extending the Option further under the terms proposed by Riverview Energy is in the best interest of the citizens of Vermillion County or NeCDRA.”
When will our state officials open their eyes and take the NeCDRA’s lead and think about the best interest of their citizens? Are the landowners who optioned the land the only ones profiting from this project, and will taxpayers pay for their options?
Mary V. Hess, Southwestern Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life
Ms. Hess, perhaps you might see more construction at the site if you, Valley Watch and Earthjustice drop your lawsuits against Riverview Energy?
With the global supply of low sulphur diesel fuel in great demand, financing for this project will fall into place once all the lawsuits are settled. Riverview Energy would help us become more energy indepedent.
Daryl Hensley, Jasper
Mesmer and Bartels turn a blind eye to big money. The citizens they represent are their lowest priority!
Before any commitments are made, Senator Messmer and Representative Bartels need to have the courtesy of meeting with the folks from Valley Watch and the Southwest Indiana Citizens for Quality of Life to better understand why this proposed project is full of broken commitments and is bad for the health of SW Indiana citizens which already has significant air and water pollution issues.