IS IT TRUE? October 7, 2011 “EPA Fallout, Demolition Tabs, and Vetting”

IS IT TRUE? October 7, 2011 “EPA Fallout, Demolition Tabs, and Vetting”

IS IT TRUE that it has now been reported that Vectren Corporation has officially opposed the relaxation of the EPA restrictions that was passed by the United States House of Representatives earlier this week?…that if this bill makes it through the US Senate (it is not expected to) and is signed by President Obama (he will do everything that he possibly can not to) that the utilities surrounding Evansville will be somewhat off the hook for a while longer when it comes to making large investments in scrubber technology?…that Vectren by virtue of this position all of a sudden finds itself aligned with the left wing of the Democratic Party, with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and with President Obama on this particular issue?…that the website opensecrets.org reports that Vectren’s political contributions in the 2012 federal campaign are thus far running 4 to 1 in favor of Republicans?…that politics and money make strange allies?

IS IT TRUE that tighter EPA rules are largely accepted as directing capital to compliance projects and away from consumers?…that the Great Recession is widely accepted as needing a serious infusion of consumer spending to get the economy out of the funk that it is in?…that when compared to Henderson’s typical electric bill, Vectren’s 142,000 ratepayers spend about $100 each more on electricity than our counterparts in Henderson?…that additional expense works out to $14.2 Million per month or $170.2 Million per year that is removed from the local economy to pay for the cleaner air that Vectren’s forging ahead to comply with EPA restrictions before they were due is costing us?…that we really wonder what a difference an additional $170.2 Million in consumer spending would make for SW Indiana this year?…that we wonder if the EPA restrictions are pushed out 10 years how much our economic development efforts will be impacted during that time?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #44 tells us the early next week there may be legal action initiated with respect to the fact that Klenck Construction has not been paid the $315,000 that they are owed for demolition work completed on the Executive Inn and its parking tower?…that we recall that the City of Evansville that owns the land on which that work was done has consistently asserted that they have no responsibility legal responsibility to pay for the work and that Klenck’s only course for relief is to collect from the business that hired them to do the work?…that it was mentioned in an ERC meeting in early August that Klenck would be paid and that the about face became apparent when project manager John Kish stated before the Evansville City Council that even though this is City of Evansville property and that the property has been improved that the terms of a private contract being satisfied are the only way that Klenck Construction will be paid?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #44 also advises us that the gathering of facts and the follow up questions with regard to the VETTING process conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners is nearing completion?…that there are only 5 more scheduled meetings of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission during 2011 and that will constitute the last 5 meetings under the Weinzapfel Administration?…that this hotel can has been kicked down the road enough already and that the most appropriate action right now may just be to seal the Hunden VETTING report until January and to let the next Mayor of Evansville’s Administration and a newly appointed ERC carry this ball to its conclusion?…that shoving a decision in favor of either bidder will not pass the smell test at this stage of the process?