More Green Job Fraud

From my hometown newspaper, the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: "For the first time in almost a year, Energy Composites President Jamie Mancl will address members of the Common Council, updating them about the wind-turbine blade project he said would make the city the epicenter of "green" manufacturing.
The meeting is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 444 W. Grand Ave., and will be broadcast live on River Cities Community Access television.
In November, the council approved a $5.3 million incentive package for the company, agreeing to pay $1.5 million for infrastructure costs and $6,000 for each full-time job the company creates on or before Dec. 31, 2012, up to $3.8 million.
Since then, an apparent lack of progress has many in the community -- including some Common Council members -- concerned about the project's viability.
Mancl continues to search for investors to purchase $45 million in tax-free recovery zone facility bonds, the authority of which the state Department of Commerce granted earlier this year. Those bonds are set to expire Dec. 31."
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20101018/WRT0101/10180535/City-to-get-update-on-wind-turbine-plant-project
When this project was first proposed about a year ago, I had my doubts. First, there was no market in the immediate area for wind turbine blades and second, it sounded too good to be true.
But the mayor and city council thought happy thoughts and went in and gave the company millions of dollars in grants, incentives and more. The plant was supposed to be built by now, employing a couple hundred people. Well,the plant hasn't been built and any money the City of Wisconsin Rapids is down the drain.
And this brings us to Nevada. Harry Reid has been promising green jobs. First, there is a green company in Boulder City that is millions of dollars behind in rent to the City of Boulder City and because of this, the city is facing a budget shortfall and possibly lay off employees. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/25/late-lease-payment-could-force-boulder-city-make-c/
Earlier this year, Harry Reid came out and said a green company was looking for place to put down roots, build a plant and employ hundreds of people. The company needed over 1000 acres. To this date, nothing has been done. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/11/companies-announce-plans-wind-turbine-manufacturin/
And Harry has promised more energy jobs for Nevada but we have not seen many, if any jobs, except for high level executives for these companies. This is happening throughout the country. It would be nice if Harry actually came through with green jobs, but I think Harry is either being snookered by companies who get benefits such as tax breaks, grants and free or discounted land or Harry is playing politics with green jobs in his effort to get re-elected. It's a shame that I don't know which one it is.