Annual Meeting Features AEP Tour

Note: Article courtesy of the Evansville Courier & Press
When laws curbing the release of greenhouse gases take effect, it's likely that only the cheapest and most efficient coal-fired power plants can continue operating at a profit.

Judged by those criteria, the mammoth plant in Rockport, Ind., stands a good chance of being around far into the future, said a representative of the plant owner on Thursday.

Venita McCellon-Allen, an executive vice president for American Electric Power Utilities East, told members of the Lincolnland Economic Development Corp. at an annual meeting Thursday that the Rockport plant is the cheapest and most efficient in the company's eastern fleet.

A step-up transformer converts 26,000 volts of electricity to 765,000 volts for distribution to the Rockport plant.

That's good news for the roughly 250 employees there and others who see the coal-fired generator as a boon to the local economy.

McCellon-Allen said the advent of rules meant to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will force utility companies to reassess the costs and benefits of burning coal to produce electricity.

Each plant in a company's fleet is likely to receive individual consideration, she said.

"What we will see as a result is that some plants will live on and will have new investments and new machines added on," she said. "And some plants will not."
American Electric Power's plans now call for adding scrubbers and other equipment needed to remove emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide starting in 2017.

The company also has begun to experiment at a plant in West Virginia with technology meant to capture greenhouse gases before they can get into the air, where they are believed to contribute to global warming.

McCellon-Allen said any plan to use such equipment can go forward only so long as it is affordable. American Electric Power is likely to find that it costs too much to bring some of its plants into compliance with new standards.

"New plants will need to be built," she said. "And that too will cost additional money for our customers."

From the audience, John DiDomizio, director of business development with Morley & Associates, noted that American Electric Power's Rockport plant burns coal from Wyoming because it contains less sulfur than local coal.

Will new equipment, DiDomizio asked, enable the company to begin using the high-sulfur kind found in Indiana?

McCellon-Allen said such a switch won't occur in the near future.

"Given the environmental controls, we simply can't do it with Indiana coal," she said. "That's not our choice. That is a choice we have to make on behalf of the environment at many of our plants."

She said American Electric Power is working with Congress in the debate over theso-called Waxman-Markey bill, which proposes to control emissions of greenhouse gases through a cap-and-trade system.

She said the company prefers that such rules be imposed through law rather than be left to the discretion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Last year, the EPA ruled that greenhouse gases are pollutants and a danger to human life. That decision opened the door for federal regulators to begin imposing rules on companies that emit such gases.

McCellon-Allen said American Electric Power has several reasons to prefer that new environmental rules come from lawmakers.

"Legislation provides a more orderly and cost-effective outcome for our customers than regulation through the EPA," she said.

"Regulations through the EPA is very onerous, and it has few checks and balances. And it comes with a great deal of litigation, which is very costly and drives up customers' bills unnecessarily."

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Holiday World Rides Receive High Honors

Holiday World in Santa Claus says The Voyage has been named the top wooden roller coaster in the U.S. by the Los Angeles Times. The Raven, which is also at the southern Indiana park, is ranked number 7. Holiday World is the only park with two coasters on the list.

LEDC Annual Meeting January 28

The LEDC Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, January 28th, 2010, 11:30am (central) at the Trinity United Methodist Church Gideon Hall (Corner of 5th and Main Streets in Rockport, Indiana). Luncheon will be served.

Our keynote speaker is Venita McCellon-Allen, Executive Vice President of American Electric Power East Utilities. She will be speaking on the subject - Why Coal-Generated Electricity's Reliability and Affordability is Vital to the Nation's Clean Energy Future.

A tour of AEP's Rockport Plant will be offered following the luncheon. RSVP is required to attend this free event. Please call (812-649-2119) or email Megan Guth by Friday, January 22nd.

Full details and map are available as a PDF document by clicking here.

Spencer County Visitors Bureau Names New Director

The Spencer County Visitors Bureau has hired a new executive director. Hoosier native Melissa Wilkinson most recently worked as director of public relations at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Palm Beach County, Florida. In her new position, she will be responsible for marketing Spencer County's historic sites and attractions as an overnight destination.

The Winner & Still Champion...

For the third year in a row, Holiday World’s Voyage ride has been named the No. 1 wooden coaster in the world. The announcement was made by the trade journal Amusement Today during the annual “best of the best” Golden Ticket Awards ceremony at Legoland California.

The 1.2-mile Voyage is the Southern Indiana theme park’s longest, tallest and fastest coaster, known for its 24.2 seconds of “air time” (passengers lifted from their seat). For the 10th straight year Holiday World was named the country’s cleanest park, outranking Disney World, Kings Island, Dollywood and Cedar Point. It came in second in the friendliest park category.

Splashin’ Safari remained the No. 2 water park in the listing and its ZOOMbabwe water slide ranked as the second best water park ride. Holiday World President Will Koch called the Voyage’s top ranking an “incredible honor” because there are so many “amazing roller coasters around the world.” The awards are based on surveys of "well-traveled" theme park customers.

Holiday World to Unleash 'Wildebeest'

Holiday World in Santa Claus has announced the second-largest ride in the park's 64-year history. The $5.5 million Wildebeest is expected to open in Spalshin' Safari next May. Park officials are describing it as The World's Longest Water Coaster, which will cover more than two acres. The project is the second-largest single ride investment ever at the park. President Will Koch anticipates the expansion will lead to an additional 50 seasonal employees next summer.

Christmas-themed Store to Open in Santa Claus

A new attraction in Santa Claus, Indiana is under construction and is scheduled for
an August opening. The Santa Claus Christmas Store will be located in the Kringle Place Shopping Center. Owned and operated by Philip Koch and his Santa Claus based company HO HO HOldings, LLC, the store features over 6,500 sq. ft. of retail space including gifts, indoor and outdoor Christmas lights, wreaths, tree trimmings, nativities, Christmas yard art, home d•cor and collectibles.

Commercial decorations and lighting will also be offered along with an online store currently under development. Within the store is a magical place called Santa's House. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, children can visit with and have their photos taken with Santa. In 2010, Santa will be available May through December. Candy, fudge, cookies and other items will also be sold in the store.

Lincoln Attractions Expected to Boost Tourism

Spencer County officials believe the area will receive a significant economic boost from some new Abraham Lincoln attractions. A new plaza to mark Lincoln's youth was recently unveiled at Lincoln State Park. A Fort Wayne artist and architectural firm combined on the $300 thousand public art project. The Lincoln Amphitheater has reopened after three years of inactivity with a play entitled Lincoln.

'Coal to gas' touted as future for energy

Aa proposed coal-to-gas plant is evidence that on its own, the state can begin to reduce its carbon footprint without pummeling Hoosier ratepayers in the process.

With the U.S. Department of Energy set to provide low-interest loans to finance the first
generation of coal-gasification projects, developers who want to build such a plant near
Rockport, Ind., expect to learn within two months whether theyʼll qualify for a loan.

Governor Mitch Daniels' energy policy director, David Pippen, says the proposed Rockport plant has “tremendous potential to provide a clean energy source to Hoosiers.”

William Rosenberg, a developer who leads Indiana Gasification, says clean coal is
cheaper and more stable than natural gas, making it a better option even if
cap-and-trade legislation does pass. “If thereʼs going to be a carbon dioxide constraint in the production of electricity, then itʼs going to drive up the price of natural gas and drive down the price of coal,” he said.

Rosenberg said Indiana Gasification also is negotiating with a Gulf Coast company to build a pipeline to transport the sequestered carbon dioxide for use in oil fields.
Earlier this year he predicted negotiations would take place on all fronts this spring. Rosenberg says everything remains on track, and he expects a clear picture of the plantʼs future to become evident by July.

Holiday World Wins Award For Allergen-Friendly Menu

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari's decision to introduce an allergen-friendly menu has led to a national honor. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network has named the Santa Claus operation a recipient of its "Making a Difference" Award. Holiday World is the only business to receive the honor this year. Several of the park's restaurants are planning to expand their menu of pre-packaged items that do not include some of the most common food allergens.

More Steps Forward in Spencer County

Lincolnland Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Tom Utter says his organization has helped secure land for the proposed facility, but negotiations are ongoing.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels traveled to Spencer County to discuss a proposed substitute natural gas (SNG) project. He met with local officials and community residents. Daniels recently signed legislation that establishes a funding mechanism, helping pave the way for a possible SNG plant in Rockport.

The state says the proposed facility in Rockport is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs, 500 permanent jobs and save energy customers billions of dollars.

 

Substitute Natural Gas Plant to Employ Hundreds

Governor Mitch Daniels has signed a bill clearing the way for a substitute natural gas (SNG) plant in Spencer County. The proposed facility in Rockport is expected to create 1,000 construction jobs, 500 permanent jobs and save energy customers billions of dollars. The plant will use coal to produce SNG, which is essentially the same as natural gas. Daniels says Indiana coal prices have proven to be more stable than natural gas and one plant could produce enough enough SNG to meet 15 percent to 20 percent of Indiana's current residential and commercial gas consumption.

Crews to Put Final Touches on New Holiday World Ride

Riders will drop a record 131 feet at a top speed of 50 miles-per-hour,
creating a wall of water splash that is 45 feet high and 90 feet wide.

Crews will install the final piece of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari's newest attraction, Pilgrims Plunge, this morning. A huge crane will lift a 46 foot-long section of steel and place it at the top of the elevator tower. Holiday World says the 135 foot Pilgrims Plunge is the world's tallest water ride and will be open May 2.

 

The world’s tallest water ride — the $4.3 million Pilgrim’s Plunge — is coming to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari next spring. The classic “shoot the chute” ride will use an open elevator to swiftly lift 10-passenger boats 135 feet in the air. The 15-foot-long boats will pause briefly and then rapidly descend a record 131 feet at a 45-degree angle, creating a wall of water splashing 45 feet high and 90 feet wide.

Governor Mitch Daniels, together with local and state officials, broke ground last week on two additional segments of the US 231 Corridor in Spencer County. In all, the US 231 Corridor, which will improve access between Kentucky and Interstate 64, is a $146 million project. Contracts totaling $47.7 million have been awarded for this portion of corridor.

(L) Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson presents a
key to the city to Thomas Kennedy (R) as Greater
Owensboro Economic Development Director Nick Brake looks on.

Artist Thomas Kennedy was pleasantly surprised when he was presented the key to the city of Owensboro, Kentucky today. Kennedy and Tom Utter of Lincolnland Economic Development Corporation were at the Owensboro City Commission meeting at the invitation of Nick Brake, Owensboro Economic Development Director, to present a signed, numbered limited edition print of Kennedy's painting, "The Life of Abraham Lincoln" to Mayor Tom Watson, the people of Owensboro, Kennedy's' home town, and the people of Daviess County. The presentation was meant as a gift of gratitude to Kennedy's home town and a gesture of regional cooperation for the upcoming Lincoln Bicentennial.

Following the unveiling of the print, Thomas was asked to remain at the podium for a special presentation. On being presented with the key to the city, he remarked that it was one of the greatest honors he has ever received.

For more information on Thomas Kennedy, his painting, "The Life of Abraham Lincoln", or his other work visit his website @ www.thomaskennedyart.com.

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