Alpine Town Meeting Draws SRO Crowd
It was standing room only at Gertrude’s Restaurant on St. Croix as some 250-300 residents came out to the Alpine Town Hall Meeting to discuss the waste-to-energy proposal for the Virgin Islands.
The three and a half hour meeting was sponsored by Crucians In Focus and the Virgin Islands Ratepayers Association and was presented as an opportunity for the community to hear presentations on all aspects of the controversial project. The Alpine Energy Group has entered into a contract with the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) and the Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) to generate power by burning a combination of trash and petroleum coke. The petroleum coke, and its potential cost, health and environmental impacts, are the focus of the community attention to this project.
CIF President Michael Springer moderated the event which consisted of a panel discussion and a question and answer period. After calling for a moment of silence in respect for the victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster, he told the audience the purpose of the meeting was “to have individuals from this community get an opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of the Alpine Energy Group.”
Panelists addressing the issue were Steffen Larsen, renewable energy proponent; Mario Moorhead, radio host and historian; Dwayne Callwood, Clarence Payne, Darryl Miller, and George Moore, community activists.
Sen. Nellie O’Reilly and Paul Chakroff, Virgin Islands Ratepayers Association, arrived at the meeting after attending Sen. Craig ‘Barshinger’s hearing on the Alpine proposal held on St. Thomas on Wednesday. WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge, VIWMA Director May Adams Cornwall and Alpine’s James Beach were to have attended the session, but were committed at the Barshinger hearing and were unable to participate.
Selected audio clips from the meeting will be posted on the Document Library page of this website on Friday. Following is a summary of comments from the panelists.
Larsen’s presentation focused on renewable energy sources that would provide power for the territories without the use of oil based products like the petroleum coke that will be a factor in the Alpine process. He called the project a “slap in the face “ to the Administration of US President Barack Obama and his “green initiatives” and warned that going ahead with this project might make the Virgin Islands a tool for the Republican party in its campaign against the Obama administration in the next election.
“And before we know it, we’ll have Sarah Palin down here for a photo op with Governor deJongh and Hugo Hodge at the Alpine opening ceremony,” Larsen quipped.
A most thoughtful and comprehensive presentation was given by Moorehead, who challenged the audience and the public to read and understand the Alpine contract document before drawing conclusions.
“As a community we have contracted a virus that seems to be spreading like wildfire,” saying the community has become cynical and mistrustful of previous contracts, including Hess Oil, Fortune and Diageo, and that cynicism has clouded their consideration of the Alpine Contract agreement.
But that cynicism, he said, should not be carried over into consideration of the Alpine agreement, which he said, “makes Diageo and Cruzan (contracts) seem to be an elementary pop quiz on spelling and grammar – it is that thorough, in my opinion,” and praised Hodge for “using his intellect” to craft a comprehensive agreement that protects the interests of the Virgin Islands.
“Every step of the way, there’s a check, there’s a balance, there’s an assurance, a surety there is even a precaution,” that the community is protected should any of the regulatory agencies “from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) right on down to the Corps Of Engineers” fail to approve the agreement during the upcoming permitting process,” Moorehead said.
That protection is in the form of an escrow account that, per the contract, Alpine is required to maintain. Funds from that account are available to WAPA should Alpine fail in the permitting process or to produce the level of energy outlined in the agreement. He further emphasized that these protections are not in place only for the construction phase of the project, but throughout the life of the agreement.
Callwood agreed that the contract was well written, saying it was a “godsend” compared to previous agreements. But he went on to say, “the science is the science, and this is where my education, or my questioning, or my inability to be comfortable with the agreement lies.”
Callwood said his concerns stem from the past performance of regulatory agencies, like the EPA, who would be responsible for monitoring the plant’s effect on the environment. He discussed the 40 million gallons of oil in St. Croix’s underground water table that resulted over time from operations at the Hovensa refinery and questioned whether the EPA could be relied on to monitor the Alpine situation when they were not diligent in the Hovensa incident.
“Where were they when all this oil was leaking into the ground?” he asked. “It didn’t get there overnight.”
In perhaps the most impassioned presentation of the night, Payne warned “I do get emotional because I love these Virgin Islands bad bad bad.” The St. Thomas resident lives in Bovoni close to the proposed plant site.
Payne questioned Alpine’s qualifications to administer the contract, including the length of time the company has been in business, its experience in managing projects like the one proposed for the Virgin Islands, the appropriate of using petcoke in a renewable energy project and, whether Alpine could provide three references from other clients for whom they have managed projects of this type.
Darryl Miller, active in ratepayer monitoring activities, encouraged the audience to continue to engage in public activities and “to be a part of the solution. Join an organization that you can be a part of, that you can question the government.” The reason he became involved, he stated, was to assure that the community had a voice when government agencies decide to make decisions for ratepayers.
His concerns are the rates, the environmental impact, and the privatization of the power and water businesses, he said.
“We want to see safe, reliable and affordable and efficient services and rates,” he said, emphasizing that the best way to assure this was through the formation of active community organizations.
Speaker George Moore focused on the chemical makeup of the materials that would bne used in the Alpine process, particular the residual emissions and content of petroleum coke, and the health effect this residual can have on the residents of the territory, the environment and nature.
Sen. O’Reilly and Paul Chakroff, VI Conservation Society, arrived during the question and answer session, coming straight to the session from their day’s participation in the hearing on St. Thomas.
Sen. O’Reilly, who participated in a trip to a similar plant last week in Jacksonville, Florida, stated that the plant operators indicated their biggest challenge was the disposal of fly ash, a residue produced in the burning of pet coke, and that issue had heightened her concerns about bring this technology to the islands .
“My position now is we are too small an island and a territory to continue to utilize and expand on the use of fossil fuel especially now that we know that Jacksonville, with all of their resources … if they cannot get rid of the waste, what are we going to do with the waste,” she asked. “I can see that become just another mountain of red dirt.”
But she was clear on another point and addressed other concerns she has heard from the public on the development of the Alpine agreement. “I am not focusing on an act of corruption or conspiracy,” she stated emphatically, say that she believes that Hodge and Cornwall are “doing the best they can under the circumstances.”My focus is what the impact would be on public health – the health and the environment.”
Chakroff displayed examples of what pet coke looks like and told the audience that it is a and expressed concern that the contract will commit $800 million over the next 20 years – $440 million to pay back the initial investment and $18 million that the Waste Management Authority will pay to Alpine for processing the trash per the agreement.
He outlined other methods of renewable energy he said would be more cost effective and, in his view, a more worthwhile use of those funds.
After a spirited question and answer session, Springer thanked the panelists, sponsors and audience for attending and making it a successful event. The meeting was broadcast live on WSTX, 970 AM.
“This is democracy in action,” he said.
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And please let me add that Mario Moorhead was superb in his presentation and logical way he handled the issues. The audience appeared almost spellbound whenever he spoke. IMHO he was the star of the show. In fact the only person on the panel that spoke with reason about the WAPA-WMA-AEG agreement. His characterization of the commitment of WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge in trying to come up with workable solutions for future VI power production and waste mitigation was right on point.
Most of the others, many of them would be politicians looking for recognition, really had nothing much to add except rhetoric.
Herb,
You will be reminded repeatedly of your own words, which you have chosen to characterize Mr. Moorhead: “Mario Moorhead was superb in his presentation and logical…”
I do agree with you; Mr. Moorhead is ALWAYS superb and logical!
I really hope our senators are paying attention to how upset the people attending these meetings are. If this is a preview of what’s to come on Election Day, a lot of them could be gone by next year.
Speaking of Election Day, I was wondering. I did some research on The Political Graveyard, and I noticed that in the 1984 VI elections, about 10 incumbent senators got voted out and replaced with a new batch of people. In 1986, seven senators were voted out. Can somebody explain to me what was going on during those election years for this to occur? By the way, here is the address:
http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/VI/ofc/legis1980s.html
The subject is the Alpine deal. It has been endorsed by an influential talk show host, Mario. Contrary to some, he not only thinks the contract is well written,he wholeheartedly believes it offers a viable solution to our electricity and waste problem. It should be noted that Mario’s brother, Alex, is employed by Hovensa. Alex wrote a letter about pet coke a year ago.Do you see a connection?
The opponents could scream and spread their propaganda until they are blue in the face.They have no power to influence the majority of senators. None of them are smarter than Hugo Hodge or more articulate than him. It would be a waste of money to abandon the Alpine project at this point.Pay attention to the information being released by Hugo Hodge and May Cornwell.
I am interested in reading an intelligent argument of why the Alpine project should not be allowed. So far, I am not hearing the opinions of well-informed individuals. How could someone be certain that the project is not going to be successful? The EPA will regulate the emission levels of carbon dioxide.Is there any entity or agency that could be trusted by the cynics?
The EPA does not have a glowing track record in the VI or in the USA. The EPA is often headed up by a major polluter. You should by a home near the plant. I am sure there will be plenty of them for sale.
You should buy a home near the plant
Don’t believe the exaggerations of AEG naysayers about EPA control of CO2 emissions, a carbon tax, cap and trade, or anything at this point that will further downgrade our nations economy. It just is not going to happen. Even the Democrats in Congress are facing oblivion in 2010 if they touch this. With CO2 the EPA only requires a report if the levels are above a
pre-determined industrial level. So they get a report as they may require. Big Deal!
People are continued to be mislead by by the Algore global warming crowd when in fact there is insufficient evidence to suggest that human activity has any significant impact on our cyclical macro-climatic patterns. They tell you that some bureaucrat will come here to regulate the island’s carbon footprint and charge an energy tax, a depletion tax, a toilet tax, own their own.
Nuttin Tall Go So!
Keep drinking the Koolaid Herb and lying defending deJongh and clueless Hugo.
Who paid you off to betray the residents here?
And for a guy who is EMPLOYED by property and procurement, you certainly have a lot of time on your hands to write on blogs and call and listen to all the talk shows.
Typical government employee living off the taxpayers and not working for your salary.
That’s right, Change. Alpine didn’t even existed three years ago, so they don’t even HAVE a track record to speak of. Plus, they cannot guarantee that the pet coke and trash being incinerated will not be harmful to the environment and our own health. Even if you cannot see physical smoke coming from the stack, there are tiny pet coke and trash particles in the air, and those particles could fly on our roofs and into our cisterns.
I find it interesting how in the eyes of some Mario is the devil one day and a logical intelligent guy the next day (when he agrees with the party line).
Herb, Mario does not need your validation or testimony to his intellect. Stop the flip flop.
All AEG employees are consultants who previously had a company called E3 in Boulder, Co. That company went bankrupt. They are still ‘in’ or at least have the very same phone number for AEG that used to be E3.
We need to stop the nonsense and move on to a proven entity that has actually done a project. We don’t even know WHO will be building the plant since these guys are just consultants.
Go green……..we could be the model for the Caribbean instead of the dirtiest one in the region.
The cynics will always see the glass half empty!
Go green…give up the usage of modern appliances. Wash your clothes by hand, wear them wrinkled, take cold splashes in the sea, walk instead of drive, make babies instead of watch TV,…Do not use anything that plugs into an electrical socket. Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden. Life was so beautiful. There was no electricity, but plenty wind and sunshine. Is this your concept of green?
Let me have Alpine and I will be happy to purchase a mansion close to it, if it would cost me less than $100,000.00 and comes with a sea view!
To Good Grief…….you are wrong on everything. I was hired by Governor Juan Francisco Luis in 1979, OK? I have not been standing in the feeding line for any of our current last list of governors. Nor have I ever received anything from either of the gentleman you mentioned in your flame. I will retire soon after putting in 30 years. That should end your angst about feeling your not getting your money’s worth from me. Can you explain that how my post at 6:11 AM when I am having coffee in my den and at 11:45 am when I punched out for lunch at 11:30AM conflicts in anyway with my work. Maybe you want more Bomba’s to scourer the work cubicles with a lash and a cat “o” nine tails. That should improve productivity, right? Or like Tennessee Ernie Ford used to sing….”I owe my soul to the gummmint store”
So let me get this straight: In the new AFD administration down the road no one can call talk shows while working for the government, even on the union contracted breaks? Even while in line at the bank or a fast food place.
No one can send e mails or post to blogs from their Blackberry even if sitting in the loo? Thanks for bringing this out in front for all of us to see.
Modern industry especially with the most successful Silicon Valley companies find that in this century freedom of expression is no curtailed, in-house daycare centers are big, TV to watch the major league playoffs is in, running tracks, weight rooms, flex time, full internet access all contribute to better bottom line and employee morale and less turn over. IMHO a successful politic approch would be to explain to employees (voters) how their work experience is going to be better with their election.
Tell me now where have you seen any of that in V.I. Government work stations. Maybe we do not treat gummint employees well enough as some appear to have indeed morale issues but since they don’t speak out that doesn’t bother you, does it?
Herb,
You appear to be in the tank for deJongh. How much are you being paid?
Now you are upset because someone called out that you are probably using the Government’ time, our tax payers dollars to write your drivel, foolishness and non-sense.
Since you seem to be grossly unhappy with your working conditions. Why have you stayed there for almost 30 years?
You said, you will soon be retiring. Does this mean you will finally leave St. Croix (pleasssse!!!!)
I will personally buy you a one-way ticket and throw you a going away party.
Herb,
As an ultra, right-wing republican why did not you spend your last 30-years in the private sector as a true republican would do.
Instead, you have been feeding off the local-territorial government.
As you said, “I have not been standing in the feeding line for any of our current last list of governors…”
In fact, you have been in the feeding line of this government, and it is this government, which will be feeding you for the rest of your life.
God bless the Virgin Islands and God Bless America!
@blogger #16:What is it about you insecure pepole that make you so blind with hatred? Damn,you people must live torturous lives.A person has the right (EVEN NON-VIRGIN ISLANDERS) to work for whom they please and where do you get off with this utter nonsense that ‘it is this government which will be feeding you for the rest of your life’? The man has given 30 long years of his life to the government and its people.Has made statutory contrbutions to the retirement system and will be eligible for a monthly stipend.Do you understand what that means? It means he is entitled to a fat pension…
something you apparantly won’t be entitled to.Bunch of forward people!!!
Eyes Wide Open 2010 is wrong again:
Let me get this straight. You seem to object having Republicans working for the government, right? It seem you prefer a one-party monolithic state where everyone even personal opinion is under the control of the puppeteer. You seem to indicate that diversity in expression is not good for an enlightened society.
First of all I am not now nor every have been an “ultra right-wing Republican”. I am indeed a Republican, a very Libertarian Republican seeing the role of Government as a protector rather than a provider. In another error that you stated people who retire are living off the government. Not so. They are getting back money they contributed to their own the pension fund. Its their money not yours! They worked for it, earned it. and have a right to it even though some bureaucrats have used it to fund political feel good projects some of which are in failure mode. But that’s OK. They are doing what they do best misspending other peoples money.
It is obvious we differ a lot in our core values. I believe in freedom and Constitutional principles. Freedom of choice, freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of religious beliefs and the freedom of opportunity to define oneself which I have just done in reply to you missive.
Answer this for me: Why is it that each time someone speaks to a public policy issue your only reply is personal attack? Why can’t you stick to the issue at hand?
Oh the sun will soon rise and I must get ready and do some work in our *private sector*……. so knowing that should make you feel a bit better.
Have a nice day of leisure as I will be working most of it.
I don’t know how you do it Herb.The way you’ve been attacked,ripped apart,spat upon and still able to ‘turn the other cheek’.Since I only know of one other person who,some 2000 odd years ago,has ever done that,I say the manner in which you conduct yourself speaks volumes and is a testament as to WHO and WHAT Herb Schoenbohm,the man,is all about.I say kill them with kindness and don’t you ever let them get to you.I do not know you and may not always agree with some of the things you espouse (and vise-versa to be sure),but I respect you for who you are and for the things you have to say.
Those of us who know Herb, also know the “snake in the grass” he personifies.
In my opinion, it is blasphemy to dare compare Herb, to the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was a man of kindness, peace, excellence, great wisdom and love. None of those things in which Herb exemplifies.
We know your kind Herb and we are onto your “agenda”.