The Knob and Valley Audubon Society serves as an environmental “watchdog” for our area. In that role, we try to monitor proposals and ensure that they meet standards of sustainability that will serve, rather than damage, our future. We are currently monitoring the proposal for a 32 mega-watt “bio-mass” power plant being proposed for Milltown, and we are very concerned.

Several aspects of this plant are troubling, but the size of the plant and source of “bio-mass” fuel is our principle concern. There are a number of these facilities operating across the nation. Most are located next to a source of fuel — a sawmill, paper factory, or other wood using concern. The Milltown plant is not.

Plans, as best as we understand them, are for wood waste products, including “clean” construction debris, to be hauled from the Louisville metropolitan area, by way of a facility managed by Koetter-Smith in Floyd County.

There are a number of concerns with such a plan — additional road congestion, particularly in Floyd County, is one. The validity of hauling materials is another.

The plant, at minimum, would use almost 700 tons a day of wood waste. We question whether this volume of clean material would be available; whether the shipping costs would be affordable; and if the road system can support the additional traffic. In other locations, these plants have run out of wood fuel and begin burning tires and garbage. It is a likely scenario.

We fear that this project is like the “ethanol boom” that we saw several years back. Billions were invested, corn prices skyrocketed, and then the market tanked. Ethanol plants sit idle all over the Midwest. While some of the principle investors in the Milltown proposal have experience with electric utilities, none have any experience with bio-fuel generation. It should also be noted that at least one of those same investors has had significant legal problems.

Burning wood waste for electricity can be better for air quality and climate than burning coal, but a failed facility, or one that become a garbage burner, is no help and creates many economic and environmental problems. A better proposal might be to burn local wood waste in our existing coal plants with the coal. This could cut down on the waste and the transport costs, while improving emissions. What is important now is that we ensure that such facilities are sustainable as built and that we won’t be subjected to the “bait and switch” we’ve seen in other locations.

Group expresses concerns over plant

Ask your representatives to keep an eye on this project and demand a full accounting of resources and impacts.

— David Coyte, Treasurer, Knob and Valley Audubon Society





Majority of U.S. does not want universal health care



Congressman Baron Hill recently commented that the Democrats had been trying since Harry Truman to get universal health care legislation passed. He and all of the Obama Care people have overlooked the obvious since 1948 — the majority of the population does not share their views of universal health care. Therefore, it has never become law.

Rep. Hill might try listening to his constituents rather than his left wing leader Pelosi.

— Nick McIntosh, New Albany



Reader appreciates bike lanes



I write to express appreciation for the new bike lanes on Spring Street.

I live in the Silver Grove neighborhood on the east end of town, and I am now able to bike to downtown much more quickly and safely while enjoying the beautiful East Spring historic district. In the future, I hope the city will add additional bike lanes throughout town and restore Market, Elm, Pearl, and Bank streets back to two-way traffic.

These are the types of things that motivate people to live, work, and play in the city. Thank you for giving me one more reason to love my city.

— Brandon W. Smith, New Albany



Another view on health care



I don’t understand this obsession with giving away our freedom and allowing the federal government control over every aspect of our lives.

We already have government-funded health care — Medicare and Medicaid — which will be out of funding within a few years.

So our government’s solution? They propose cutting back those programs to save money and add coverage for another 40-plus million people, whether they want it or not. To do this, they have to cut health care for everyone to make it cost effective.

In a democracy, government should never compete with private companies like they are doing now with banks and the auto industry. Instead of fixing what we already have, they are adding more problems to an already over-taxed system.

Some people have said they trust the president with their health care more that insurance executives, because the president makes less money. I don’t trust either one.

Health care decisions should be made by the patient and their doctor, not government bureaucrats or a panel of individuals, no matter how well meaning, whose only interest is controlling costs.

Congress could start cutting costs with their own salaries — and frequent salary increases, retirement pay, all their other perks such as private planes and trips around the world for them and their families at taxpayer expense on fact-finding missions. Note that all the cost-cutting measures are at our expense, not theirs.

Our health care has to be cost-effective and the way to do that is to cut out all those expensive tests and overrule all those pesky greedy doctors. Why have a costly operation when a few inexpensive pills will do — like all those countries whose people have nationalized health care? If their national health care system is so great, why do those people with serious problems come here for treatment?

Because, even if they can afford to pay, it is not available under nationalized health care; it is not cost effective.

I believe President Reagan was correct, government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.

Just a year ago, some people in government were saying disagreement was patriotic. Now, those same individuals call everyone who disagrees un-American, troublemakers and even terrorists.

As a last resort, all our problems are blamed on greedy big businesses, greedy health insurance companies and greedy doctors, but no one mentions the greedy lawyers.

Hmmm, I wonder why?

— Betty Rinker, Clarksville



Reader to miss sportswriter’s work



I was very sad to hear about the departure of sportswriter Matt Cress from The Evening News and Tribune. It is always a pleasure to come across people who consistently give their best effort because they really care about the level of quality in all the things they do.

In the world of sports Mr. Cress reported on — while you will regularly see the greatest athletes often put forth award-winning performances — athletes will sometimes give their best effort and their performance may miss the mark.

While many of Mr. Cress’ stories were splendidly done, the thing that most impressed me was that of the ones that were not award winners. It was always clear that he had given his best effort to try to make the story a memorable one.

I don’t recall reading any stories over the past several years where he obviously didn’t care about the quality of the work and went through the motions to just get the story done.

Whenever you have someone who has that kind of pride in their performance, they are an asset to have as a part of your operation. I will very much miss reading his work in The Evening News and Tribune.

— Lou Lefevre, Clarksville