More on Big Stone II and Hyperion

Thanks for the Support

I got many, many phone calls and emails urging me not to quit writing my weekly letters. More than one reminded me of the article I wrote a couple of weeks ago, “If not me, who…if not now, when?” that I was deserting everyone with only 2 months to go before the public hearing on the refinery. I have to admit they were correct. I apologize, and promise I will keep up the good fight.
That said, for those of you that read the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, there was an article in there last Friday that should have made your ears perk up. The EPA had previously objected to the construction permit for Big Stone II power plant near Milbank, SD. They objected to the fact that the pollution controls were not stringent enough to curb pollution from the plant. Clean Water Action reported that this would be the nail in the coffin for the plant, but the state DENR said this was just a bump in the road in the application process. You know, sometimes I get the feeling that the state DENR is not only inept, they are totally incompetent. Somewhere in the state codified laws there must be something that says these state agencies are here to protect us. I keep getting this sinking feeling that the state agencies like DENR are in place to be an aid to BIG Business, and the hell with the people that live here. Do you feel the same way? It is so damned frustrating to see the DENR putting up roadblocks every step of the way. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this should be the other way around. Is this the governor’s way of getting his agenda through? If it is, I think the governor should step back and ask himself why he was elected to that position.
Here is a kicker for you. Senator Thune jumped in and supported the BSII project. "If the EPA were to begin regulating carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act, electricity generation would become far more expensive and energy consumers would be left to pay the price," Thune said. "At a time when people in South Dakota and across the nation have either lost their jobs or fear losing them in the future, the EPA is potentially moving toward costly policy changes in an industry that employs many and provides a necessary service at a low cost.”
Are you ready for this??? What a load of crap. He is a big supporter of Hyperion and now BSII. I just don’t get it. It seems like we elect people to congress and they start holding their hand out. I am a very conservative Republican, but I’m getting sick and tired of our congress people acting irresponsibly. Senator Johnson doesn’t even answer the question, and he is from Vermillion. You would think he would be all over this like ugly on a stick, but he sits silent and says nothing. Don’t even take the time to write to Stephanie. It falls on deaf ears. What is it with our elected officials that they won’t take a stand on something? Are they so worried about getting reelected that they won’t make a statement for fear of not getting some more money for their reelection campaign? Maybe it is my attitude when I send these letters. Maybe I should be begging them to stop this instead of trying logic and understanding. It seems that the mere fact that what Hyperion is trying to do is not within the law does not apply here.
Dan Sharp is a spokesman for BSII. He is a real “winner.” Look what he has to say about the power plant."If the EPA were to begin regulating carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act, electricity
generation would become far more expensive and energy consumers would be left to pay the price," Thune said. "At a time when people in South Dakota and across the nation have either lost their jobs or fear losing them in the future, the EPA is potentially moving toward costly policy changes in an industry that employs many and provides a necessary service at a low cost.
Why don’t we just roll over and stick our feet in the air and say “Oh Hell, just do what you want.” We will be so grateful to get anything.
I hate being so cynical but for the life of me I do not understand why. I don’t understand why government can’t look out for our best interest instead of holding their hands out for gratitude’s. I don’t understand why companies wouldn’t take the extra effort to build things with the safety of the people as their foremost goal.
A number of people are concerned that with all the money being thrown around for the stimulus package that Hyperion might just get the money to build the refinery. That is not going to happen. There is money out there for refineries, but Hyperion must get in line behind the Big Boys. Exxon Mobile, BP, Shell, Conoco Phillips are all ahead of Hyperion. The big boys want money for improvements and upgrades. They already have people employed and they are already in operation. Hyperion is still working on the Wing and a Prayer theory. So rest easy. Remember Doug Sez it ain’t gonna happen.