Amy Roe provided this image "The latest diagram of The Data Centers LLC's power plant / data center complex appears in their "official" air permit application to the State of Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This new version now includes 10 smokestacks that are 165 feet high. Note the proximity to the Devon neighborhood."
Markell policies deceptive, hurt jobs growth
Gov. Markell’s op-ed on jobs clearly demonstrated his solution to the “jobs crises” is more propaganda, not better public policy or government accountability. He cites the need for predictability for business. We agree this is necessary in a fair and equitable democratic society. However, the governor falls short by ignoring the root cause of the problem; the deceptive activities and failure of his administration to implement the state’s laws.
Freedom of information requests document the misleading way the data center rezoning was justified. During his 2008 campaign, Markell often stated “sunshine is an amazing disinfectant.” Public documents have surfaced proving plans were being made far in advance of the rezoning, yet Newark City Council was told the zoning change was to allow a small ancillary power supply, “like one for an IKEA” store? In light of such deception, why doesn’t the governor extend the same right of predictability to residents that he extends to corporations? The governor might better serve the public by listening to all sides, ensuring equitable rights to predictability, and perhaps engage all parties in siting energy facilities.
The Delaware City Refinery is even more concerning. Contrary to the governor’s rhetoric, the Coastal Zone Act in Delaware clearly allows environmental degradation provided the damage is offset by an improvement measured by environmental indicators. This requires that the corporation apply for the permit and that DNREC not ignore the law. The administration arbitrarily made a backroom deal not to require a permit and has failed to develop the required environmental indicators. It is this failure by the administration that has created the uncertainty for the refinery.
A large part of our solution to “jobs” rests with better accountability of government officials that have forgotten they take a constitutional oath to uphold these laws. Short-sighted reactionary government that grants special privileges will not solve the problem. We hope the governor will back off his deceptive propaganda campaign, and face the reality that we need a more thoughtful long-term approach to job creation that also protects our residents and environment.
David Carter
Conservation Chair
Delaware Audubon Society
With a few comments ~
The letters below are in today's paper- Ha Ha Ha!!!! The DABS has no room to criticize about jobs when every single time a business, such as the Delaware City Refinery, or Bloom Data Center attempts to bring jobs to the area you morons are out there stomping your little feet and filing lawsuits because you want nothing disturbed without your explicit blessing and approval. Your radicals, your unwanted, your pathetic, go away and everything will be fine.- There is no Bloom Data Center. There is a Data Center with a 279mW powerplant being proposed and a completely different company Bloom energy boxes company that is already in production. Two very different things. This is what we are talking about. Uninformed people ready to blast others and they don't even know what they are talking about. Get informed and then you can comment.
Governor should not pick on Rep. KowalkoThe following letter today is from a teamster. I wonder if he's one of the teamsters who contract with Tim Boulden?
The Delaware Voice column by Gov. Markell indicates the public conversation about creating good jobs has become a personal attack on one state representative, simply for giving voice to the concerns of his constituents. As an elected representative in municipal government, I cannot be silent as we are led down this path.
John Kowalko’s first job is to represent his constituents, even when, or maybe especially when, they hold unpopular opinions. One can disagree with Kowalko’s choice of message or presentation style, but his legendary passion for his constituents is beyond question. Anyone who follows Delaware politics understands Kowalko can be relied on to courageously fight for his constituents, whatever the issue, and whatever the consequences. He deserves our thanks for his continued service to our community.
I wholeheartedly support the governor’s continuing efforts to bring good jobs to Delaware. Let’s invest in the community so that we can improve education and protect our environment. Let’s rigorously evaluate the actual facts in light of the existing laws and standards. Let’s embrace the technologies of the future and let the mistakes of the last century remain in the past. Let’s welcome the public input to the decision-making processes and let’s not chastise the messenger for doing his job.
Mark Morehead
Newark
Markell favors more jobs no matter the cost
Gov. Markell’s predictable opinion (“Let’s create jobs here, not send them away”) attacks a fellow Democrat, Rep. John Kowalko, on the divisive issue of the proposed power plant on University of Delaware land.
Markell favors jobs at any cost, and says public opinion be damned. Kowalko’s point is that the affected residents are up in arms because this proposal was secretly negotiated for two years between the state administration, the university and the power plant people before the public learned of it. A UD chicken processing plant also would create jobs with less environmental impact.
John Stowell
Newark
Handful of people oppose data center, jobs
Some residents of the city of Newark seem to think that $2.23 an hour plus tips is an acceptable wage. That is the rate for servers and tipped employees of an economy that is based on service instead of production. The data center is a state-of-the-art facility that brings with it hundreds of decent-paying jobs and thousands of local jobs to build it.
In the place of the Chrysler plant, a new office building and support facility that is far more eco-friendly will be built. This facility will generate millions of dollars to the tax base of the city of Newark, state of Delaware and Christina School District. This in turn would help keep down the taxes in each of the municipalities. Restaurants, stores and numerous support businesses would grow up around the area and provide various other job opportunities. It’s time for the state of Delaware and city of Newark to put out a sign “open for business” instead of the ones have put Delaware as the 47th worse state for job creation.
A handful of residents have opposed the data center based on environmental concerns. The Sierra Club, a leader in environmental impact, has endorsed the project and applauds the use of an old brown site rather than a new green site. Using a site that was the base for an environmental nightmare is preferred to excavating virgin farmland. The facilities on the site would meet or exceed all government regulations and go further than any other comparable facility to reduce the negative environmental footprint. In plain terms, it will spend millions to use available technology to keep the city of Newark a great place to live, a place to raise families and become part of the community.
The data center will spend more than $1 billion to build a facility that will be envied by all. It will place Delaware in the position of a leader in technology and signal to other observers that we are business friendly.
Len McCartney
Newark
delaware building & construction trades - Delaware Building and ...
www.debuildingtrades.com/_fileCabinet/afflist2012updatenocell.pdfCOUNCIL, AFL-CIO. 911 New Road - Wilmington, Delaware 19805 ... factman326@aol.com. Len McCartney, Bus. ... Newark, DE 19702. Office: 302-636-7400. PDF]5.1.13 Labor Committee Meeting Minutes.pdf - Delaware State ...
legis.delaware.gov/.../5.1.13%20Labor%20Committee%20Meeting%20...May 1, 2013 - OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE POLICE OFFICERS' ... Len McCartney, from Teamsters Local 326, noted that this bill is about .
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