Stop whining about coal and propose solutions

I have listened to commercials on a local radio station decrying the proposed Usibelli coal development project. I have read the arguments. I have yet to read or to hear one substantive argument or legitimate, relevant fact in opposition to the mine that makes any sense or has any bearing whatsoever on whether or not Usibelli will operate within the boundaries of the law. All I have read to date and heard on the radio ads in opposition to the coal mine are the most egregious misrepresentations and outright lies.

Where is there any evidence of potential damage to a watershed or the specter of an air quality violation? Where is there evidence of any damage to property values or to the ability to get a loan on property? First National Bank of Alaska and Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union have both denied the allegations of those opposing the mine. Yet, the lie is maintained in the radio ads.

This campaign against Usibelli has been undertaken with the typical liberal penchant for making the most outrageous claims without any basis in substance or fact. The only issues that opponents can bring up are areas that are the responsibility of our federal and state agencies. They imply with their gross misrepresentations that these agencies are incompetent. They imply by their advertising that the EPA, DEC, DNR and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been suborned to the coal company’s “evil” purposes, that these agencies and the professionals who staff them will not evaluate Usibelli’s plans under the scrutiny of state and federal law.

I have a solution.

Let these whining liberals who have decided that this Valley does not need this development pay into the Mat-Su Borough’s and the state’s coffers the tax revenues that would otherwise be generated by this project. Let them also put up a fund to compensate local business for the loss of revenues generated from the lost wages were this project not to come to fruition. Let them put their money where their mouths are, because all they have done so far is to whine, cry and express their liberal, anti-development tirade at the expense of those who need, want and otherwise would support the development of a resource that has a long history of development in this Valley.

Given the unlikelihood of those opposing doing their civic duty and compensating for the loss of the mine, I propose the following alternative.

Why did Alaska Railroad stop maintaining the track to Sutton after the coal mine shut down? Bad policy, and a Palmer City Council that did not want coal trains moving through Palmer. The ARR, rather than float the bonds to repair and refurbish the rail system, and to circumvent Palmer if necessary, has required any company that needs rail services to move coal or minerals from that area to pay for the track. Must be nice to have a monopoly. However, that is not what the ARR is all about. It is a quasi-public corporation that is supposed to benefit the state, which is the only shareholder.

Governor Parnell’s DNR, the Valley legislative delegation and ARR should get together and figure out the benefits of the coal mine to the Valley and the state. Instead of squandering $214 million on a 500mmcf/da natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Nikiski that will never be economically viable, will cost millions in subsidies yearly and raise our natural gas prices in Southcentral, using the money to repair and upgrade the rail to Sutton would be of greater benefit to Alaska and the Valley in the long term.

Jobs would be created for the refurbishment of the rail line. Alaska Railroad could rehire those it just laid off because of the shutdown of the Fairbanks Flint Hill Refinery. Jobs for Valley residents would be created by the mine development, and there would be no trucks on our highways. Rail would haul the coal from Sutton to Seward or Point MacKenzie.

Once again, coal would fire the economy of the Valley and provide year-round, high-paying jobs. The railroad would be supporting resource development as it is supposed to do, rather than acting as a financial impediment to further development of energy and mineral resources.

Larry Wood is a 57-year resident of Alaska and businessman who is “Butte trash” since 1961 and proud of it.