Considering The World editorial board hardly blinked when Coos County terminated twenty two family wage jobs almost two years ago, touting jobs in their editorials is a specious argument. Simultaneously ignoring the loss of public sector jobs while promoting publicly subsidized private sector jobs reflects either a complete misunderstanding of local economics, a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, or both.
A recent editorial in favor of a proposed 50MW natural gas fueled power plant on the North Spit, (first reported on MGx last week), touts jobs, “potential redundancy” and “property tax revenue” as reasons we should cross our fingers and hope Fort Chicago goes through with the project. Unfortunately, the points used to sell the reader on the merits of the Canadian owned power plant are spurious at best.
In the energy industry, redundancy refers to the use of multiple components in a chain or system that come online as a backup in the event of a single component failure. In theory, if one power plant goes down for maintenance another can cycle up to replace it. Within a centralized grid this theory rarely translates into practice, however, as witnessed by the massive power outages seen in the last few decades. The grid is such a complicated and frequency sensitive system that grid operators are more likely to decouple from an ailing segment as quickly as possible to avoid damage rather than step in to share the load.
Assuming the South Dunes Power Plant is built, a PPA (power purchase agreement) will be signed in advance with electricity buyers, probably out of state. Tying in to the Hauser BPA transmission tap (the request has been withdrawn) means the power is leaving Coos County and has no way of reentering the county except via BPA infrastructure. Even if the owners enabled a hookup to local distribution lines, they are contractually obligated to sell their power to their outside customers.
‘Potential redundancy’ maybe, actual redundancy, not likely.
Next, the editorial claims property tax revenues will “support local governments”. Again, this claim is specious. Once any enterprise zone tax abatement ends the project, situated in the Coos County Urban Renewal District, will benefit only one government entity administered by the International Port of Coos Bay. There will be no money for schools, fire or police departments, road maintenance and other county services. NONE.
Even the “underutilized 12-inch pipeline” supplying gas to the power plant, thanks to special legislation exempting it from property taxes, will earn only a minimal transfer fee, hopefully, enough to cover maintenance.
In short, the jobs the editorial claims make the project worthwhile are heavily subsidized and benefit a Canadian firm selling power most likely to California. Taxpayers would be better off funding public jobs that support local infrastructure, public safety and services.
Not so long ago, within my lifetime at least, newspapers participated in the democratic process and took pride in providing their readers thoughtful, well researched analysis of current events. Indeed, they saw it as a responsibility that enables fellow citizens to actively participate in their own governance.
Instead of a newspaper we have a publicity megaphone parroting whatever talking points are fed to it. In another recent editorial, the editor actually refers to Oregon’s Public Meetings Laws, wherein media oversee closed executive sessions conducted by elected officials, as ‘screwy’!
Bob Braddock of Fort Chicago has revealed in two power point presentations not just his disdain for the citizens his projects may impact but also the importance of messaging.
While it would be fun to inform Braddock the “…industry have not done a good job in providing satisfactory answers…”, because there aren’t any, companies like Fort Chicago and Oregon Resources use compliant press to pitch their game and manipulate public opinion. When press print unconfirmed statements as facts or use them in editorials they are not reporting news or giving an opinion they are providing free publicity.
Redundancy has another, non engineering, definition – “the state of being no longer needed or useful”. The World is fast becoming redundant.
Well, perhaps one of those agencies (specially the last one) will start a responsible newspaper to keep me sedated.
Careful, you will trigger the NSA or the FBI or the DHS or the WTF with talk like that.
Verily, as a humble blogger bound by veritas aequitas the editorial vagaries of the local jesters must pass unnoticed at this time.
“Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.”
You are just a fly, magix, a nettle at the picnic grounds, something to avoid or swat at but not deal with directly. They are too busy carrying water for important corporate interests
It is a joy to read well written editorials, even if you don’t agree with them. Wordsmithing is an art form and like other art forms requires practice and studious observation.
Until readers protest en masse, The World will continue doing what it does… they have never responded to any of my criticism.
Maybe the editors are doing the best they can with the skills they have. Maybe they don’t read other papers and have nothing to compare themselves to.