TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 47
BERLIN, N.H.
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SEC approves joint Laidlaw/Berlin Station motion BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
CONCORD – The state Site Evaluation Committee Friday approved a joint motion allowing Laidlaw Berlin BioPower LLC to transfer its permit to build a biomass plant on the former mill site to Berlin Station. The SEC last year issued a conditional certificate of site and facility to Laidlaw. Since then, Laidlaw has announced a major corporate reorganization. The developer also announced a change in its major contractor and wood supplier as well as an increase in generation to 75 megawatts. Closing statements and deliberations had been
continued until Friday after the SEC heard a full day of testimony and cross examination on May 18. NewCo Energy LLC, a project company managed by Cate Street Capital, will remain the principal owner. A new corporate entity, Berlin Station, is being formed be to replace PJPD Holdings LLC and Laidlaw Berlin BioPower, LLC. While Berlin Station retains ownership and responsibility for the project, the motion states New Market Tax Credit rules prohibit it from directly operating the plant. Because of that restriction, Berlin Station will lease the facility to Burgess BioPower. The project expects to generate $2.25 million in
New Market Tax Credits that will be used to establish a community loan fund and another $500,000 for a city project. Waldron Engineering and Construction Inc., will be the construction engineer and will oversee Babcock and Wilcox, listed as the engineering, procurement, and construction firm. Delta Power Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Babcock and Wilcox will serve as operation and maintenance contractor of the owner. Black & Veatch will serve as the independent engineer primarily responsible for overseeing construction on behalf of the lenders. Stone & Webster will act as reserve consulting engineers to see SEC page 6
Stimulus funds impact energy efficiency and jobs at WMCC BY GAIL SCOTT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
Jen Pelletier, of Berlin, scrapes dried foam from one of the steel frames installed by workers employed by Louis Memolo contractor, to renovate the north wing of the White Mountain Community College. The foam insulation (installed by Romik Developers LLC) can be seen between the steel frames. The window wells behind Pelletier demonstrate the depth of the added insulation, calculated to save WMCC energy costs in the future. Pelletier was one of three unemployed workers that Memolo was able to hire for this project, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment funds which are paying for the work. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
BERLIN—Thanks to $264,262 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the north wing of the White Mountain Community College building is being renovated for energy efficiency and is already showing a saving for the college. During the Spring break from March 14-18, workers assembled by general contractor Louis T. Memolo, of Gorham, installed 53 new energy efficient windows in the renovation effort. Precise data measuring the benefit of the new windows has yet to be calculated but the school reports that following the installation of the new windows, north wing rooms responded to morning heating demands in ten minutes rather than the formerly customary one hour, according to Bill Gabler, manager for the ARRA funded projects for the New Hampshire Community College System. The windows are manufactured by Serious Materials Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. There is a suspended film between the panes of these windows which are filled with Krypton and argon gas, Memolo said. Much more in savings is expected when the project—which includes the new windows, firstfloor to roof foam insulation in the walls, and see STIMULUS page 6
School budget cuts outlined by school administration at Thursday meeting BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – The school administration has identified $410,000 in cuts to meet the council’s proposed
school fiscal 2012 budget of $16.275 million. At Thursday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Corinne Cascadden reported it appears the council is holding firm on the number for the school
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