Baard Energy officials comment on air permit approval

WELLSVILLE - In a press release issued Friday, representatives of Baard Energy commented on the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's decision to issue a final air permit to the Ohio River Clean Fuels project.

The permit is the third and final state environmental permit necessary for Baard Energy to proceed into final design and construction of the 53,000 barrel-per-day coal/biomass to liquids plant at the Columbiana County Port Authority site in Wellsville.

Also on Thursday, officials with Baard Energy learned the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers issued the only federal permit the 404 Streams and Wetlands Permit - required for the project.

"Securing the various air, wastewater and streams/wetlands permits for this plant was necessary for us to confidently advance into the final engineering design and construction phase of the Ohio River Clean Fuels plant," John Baardson, CEO of Baard Energy stated in the press release. "This Herculean task has been completed in just over a year by the Ohio EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers.

"Some questioned the ability of the project, the State EPA, and Governor Strickland's staff to accomplish this task in such a short time frame. However, due to the leadership of Governor Strickland and the Ohio EPA director, a rigorous work process was established which enabled the issuing of the permits. This type of professional approach will definitely help to create more jobs in Ohio."

Baard Energy officials also lauded the help of federal and state officials leading the charge, including U.S. Representatives Charlie Wilson and Tim Ryan.

"I'm so pleased to see that Ohio EPA has issued the final air permit for the Ohio River Clean Fuels, LLC coal-to-liquid plant," Wilson stated in the press release. "I have been a long-time proponent of coal-to-liquid fuel, and I pledge to continue working with Baard Energy to do everything I can to make this project a reality, bring jobs to this area, and help meet our country's energy needs."

Baardson added, "This is the first plant of this kind in Ohio as well as in the nation and there were many questions that had to be addressed. The Baard team, led by engineers from Civil and Environmental Consultants and CH2MHill, worked very closely with the Ohio EPA and the Army Corp as well as the entire Wellsville community.

"Even though this was a complex process, the groups were able to work together and get this done. I am still amazed and deeply touched at the welcoming spirit in Eastern Ohio. We are especially appreciative of the assistance received from Congressmen Ryan and Wilson as well as State Senator Jason Wilson, Representative Linda Bolon and all of the County Commissioners and many others."

"This is another step in the right direction," state Senator Jason Wilson is quoted as saying in the release. "We still have more work to do in order to make this project a reality, but getting the permit from the EPA shows our commitment to creating jobs in Eastern Ohio."

The plant, when fully constructed, will blend coal and biomass and gasify this feedstock to produce a pure stream of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This stream, called synthesis gas, or "syngas" will next be converted in a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) section and produce ultra-clean, renewable diesel and jet fuel as well as naphtha, a low-octane gasoline that will be used as a feedstock in the chemical industry.

"With these permits, we can now complete the initial financing to finish the engineering and proceed with construction," Baardson stated. "This is important to know since, for example, there were a lot of puzzling statements made recently related to an EPA ruling on an air permit in Utah. These statements were simply meant to cause uncertainty. This ruling has no impact on the ORCF project and we are moving forward quickly."

Baardson added, "Even at today's oil prices, we can make a fuel that has a lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based fuels and still compete with foreign oil. Having our permit proves to interested investors and the community that Ohio is ready to take the next steps."