03/15/2016
The legislative process just wrapped up and Carbon County Commissioner Jae Potter came to KOAL 103.9 FM News Room to shed some light on Senate Bill 246 which does involve an exciting opportunity for our county as well as three others that are coal producers.
“I want to put out information that is correct because of that negative media press that has been out there. I think that it’s very important that we clarify what is going on and how this bill will actually helps our area and helps our industries, especially as rural counties,” stated Potter.
As the bill came forward on to the senate schedule, there was a committee meeting scheduled in which Senator Hinkins was a member of. “He passionately testified and rebuked those that had the environmental agenda just simply because they don’t understand; and encourage them that they should solve their own problems on the Wasatch front before they start meddling into our affairs,” state Potter. It did pass successfully with plenty of votes out of committee and then went to the house floor where it was approved on a vote of 20 for, 7 against and thereby went to the house floor.
The house Representative, Mike McKell was the house of representative sponsor. “With the help and passionate testimony of Representative Brad King on the house floor, on that Thursday, this bill also passed the house with a 52 to 17 vote and thereby provided an opportunity for $53 million to be set aside into an enterprise fund that would allow us to have a seat at the table to then negotiate the port availability at Oakland, which is on the old Oakland army base, it is a bulk terminal is what we are looking at our portion,” stated Potter. The CIB Board set the $53 million aside about a year ago for this port project, this will allow the the opportunity to increase their export of coal and other bulk commodities.
Potter wanted to emphasize that there has been no money spent on this project and will not be spent until everything comes to a close. This is a $250 million project of which $53 million will be an investment. This will give us a 49-50% of usage of this port which is 9 million metric ton port it’s on deep water so it has the availability to load cape size vessels which are the largest ocean vessels around.
Modern life cannot be made without coal, fossil fuels and carbon products and that in itself is a misnomer and is why there are so many activists. “California for a long time I think they dropped their social contract in regards to the State of Utah because years ago they came to the Legislator and managed to get the bill passed that allowed IPP to be built, where build the power plant in our state, use our coal and we’ll take all your power. Now they are saying nope we don’t want coal power anymore, we’re not going to do that and so I think they need a good coal appreciation day and they also need a little bit of truth in energy,” stated Potter. There is no reason a land lock state like Utah wouldn’t be interested in exporting thru a port which would give us international market and international exposure. This would have phenomenal benefits for rural Utah as well as the entire state.
Potter appreciates the support that our area has for energy and fossil fuels, Castle Country is a wonderful place and has been built on the backs of coal.