At this stage, the only news being reported about Baard Energy's proposed $6 billion coal-to-liquid plant outside Wellsville borders between bad and worse.
For two years, the project, first brought to our attention in the mid-2000s, was stalled because of Baard's inability to obtain private funding. That perhaps should have been a warning sign of things to come.
The Columbiana County Port Authority obtained four extentions during that span on purchase/option agreements with the 17 owners of the 552 acres sought for the project.
Finally, in October 2010, Plack Trading LLC came on board, providing the port authority with enough funding to purchase 275 of the acres.
Although it covered only four of the 17 property owners, the purchase provided us with a positive feel - something that had been lacking since the initial announcement about the plant.
Purchase/option agreements for the remaining properties again were established. However, that agreement ended in December and another 3-month extension - the sixth - ended March 31.
Again local officials were discussing extensions with the property owners.
That ended April 9.
It was learned that Plack told Port officials to stop negotiating. Plack wants a long-term agreement in place with Baard, and, apparently, that's not happening soon.
We can't blame Plack. The Florida-based firm perhaps sees the writing on the wall - that the proposed plant never will see the light of day.
Obviously we hope that doesn't happen. Obviously we hope Plack and Baard work something out. Obviously we hope Baard's plans to build the plant become reality.
But we can only be optimistic for so long.
It doesn't help that on March 30, we learned an engineering firm owed money by Baard filed suit in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
CH2M Hill Inc. is owed more than $222,000 by Baard, according to a U.S. District Court ruling in Cincinnati. Baard had hired the company in 2006 to work on the project, but, apparently, ceased making payments.
Baard also didn't pay its legal bills for a time, but it appears that issue has been resolved.
We want to feel good again about Baard. We want to feel good about the possibilities that exist with opening a $6 billion plant within our communities. We want jobs at the plant - both the temporary ones due to construction and the permanent ones due to its operation - to be filled by the locals. We want to see other businesses started and those currently in place flourish due to Baard being in operation.
But our optimism is dwindling, seemingly like the chances of Baard taking up residence.
