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Woodmore meeting
$28 billion ‘ripple’ effect By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com
By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com Is the financial condition of the Woodmore School District stable enough to reinstate some of the positions that were cut two years ago as part of an austerity move to offset a looming deficit? The agenda for the school board’s Feb. 21 meeting will include discussion of four positions, including a curriculum/testing director, groundskeeper, tech integration specialist/teacher, and an elementary school teacher. Corinna Bench, board president, said some of the positions, if approved, could be implemented on a part-time basis and there may be grant funding available to help pay for the elementary teaching post. Hiring a tech integration specialist would help the district proceed with a goal of eventually providing Chromebook computers for students from sixth grade through high school on a one-to-one basis so the devices can be taken home. The specialist would also be involved in training teachers. Bench said there is also a need to replace the curriculum director position. “There isn’t one person designated to do that now,” she said. “Someone is needed to oversee the district strategy from pre-K through 12 so it’s being constantly evaluated and improved, helping teachers with the student learning objectives.” In 2015, the district cut about $300,000 in staff and programs, according to figures compiled by the administration. Bench said there is still some concern among board members about the proposals and whether this is the time to allocate the funding. “We want to be responsible about stewarding the finances. At the same time, we recognize there is a real need to move out of the status quo,” she said. Board member Cara Brown said the board needs to adopt a long-term outlook when considering the positions. Enrollment questions “Our enrollment has been dropping Continued on page 4
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everyone wants OEC to succeed and reach a successful conclusion,” Siderewicz said. Some of the major players include — • Siemens Energy, a $100 billion market capital company, will supply over $200 million in primary equipment supplies, most of which are made in the United States. Siemens also makes medical imaging equipment. Much of the supplies will be brought to the site by rail or by barges down the Maumee River. • Fluor Corporation, with $19 billion in yearly sales, will provide engineering, procurement and be the construction contractor. They develop oil and gas facilities, power plants, airports, and port systems for customers from around the globe, and Siderewicz expects them to interface with many Northwest Ohio contractors on this project. • BNP Paribas, a French bank head-
Clean Energy Future - Oregon, LLC President Bill Siderewicz says once its second gas-fired electricity producing power plant is up and running, the two power plants will have a total “ripple” effect of $28 billion to the local economy. Siderewicz says each power plant has a lifetime 40-year impact on Ohio, measured at $14 billion per plant. As part of its Oregon Energy Center (OEC) Project, a new 955 megawatt gasfired electricity production project will be constructed east of N. Lallendorf Rd., at the end of Parkway Rd., and immediately south of the existing railroad line. Under current plans, the facility will be financed by January 2018, break ground in February 2018 and be fully operational by June 2020. Its wholesale electricity output will be adequate to meet the power needs of about 900,000 homes. This is in addition to an 800 megawatt facility already under construction at the site and expected to be completed by this spring. Both plants combined could provide low-cost power to 1.8 million homes, “which is pretty phenomenal for a piece of land that covers about 30 acres,” Siderewicz said at an Oregon-hosted news conference Wednesday. Siderewicz said the financial benefits will come through new construction jobs, purchase of local construction goods and services, local income tax, state sales tax, local property tax, water purchase, wastewater service purchases, new full time jobs, state income tax, purchase of local gas transport services, purchase of Ohioproduced natural gas and local labor and parts necessary for plant maintenance and turnaround. In addition, local union work forces, including hundreds of construction workers, will have steady work for a 2½ year period. Once up and running, OEC is expected to employ about 26 people and have an annual payroll of $3 million. “It puts people to work, brings us lower-priced energy and achieves things for us to keep this region competitive for many years,” said Oregon City Administrator Michael Beazley. Siderewicz’ venture company, Clean Energy Future, LLC, has been involved in this non-utility business since 1980 and has completed 35 such facilities representing 14,350 megawatts of generation capability. For developers Siderewicz and William Martin, it is the fifth project in Northern Ohio — an investment of $4.5 billion in the state. CEF is headquartered in Manchester, Massachusetts. Siderewicz says non-utility firms such as CEF have met 100 percent of any Ohio coal plant disclosures by bringing private investment to Ohio to build projects
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Clean Energy Future-Oregon, LLC President Bill Siderewicz speaks at a press conference as Oregon City Administrator Michael Beazley and Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian look on. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Toledo, Oregon to integrate water
Global partners joining in By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com Clean Energy Future, LLC President Bill Siderewicz says his company has formed a team consisting of four major players from around the world to advance the continued development of Oregon’s Energy Center Project. That includes financing for a second $900 million 960 megawatt gas-fired electricity-producing power plant. The first plant, an 800-megawatt facility, is already under construction. The second project is expected to need approximately $900 million in financing, including $400 million in equity and $500 million debt. “Projects of this scale and complexity require an incredible amount of coordination and planning by all the parties involved. It should be pointed out that not
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