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Plans for Wells Bridge plant making progress
Two industrial development agencies have approved loans totaling $175,000 to a family business that plans to open a plant for making grass and wood pellets to burn for heat.
Robert and May Miller, their son, Michael, and their daughter-in-law, MaryLou Miller, will open the Enviro Energy plant on state Route 7 in Wells Bridge, said Carolyn Lewis, Otsego County economic developer.
The Millers didn't immediately return messages left Wednesday night at their telephone numbers.
Enviro Energy initially will make wood pellets, manufacturing grass pellets as demand develops, according to the business plan submitted to the Otsego County Industrial Development Agency. Demand for wood pellets outstrips supply, the plan said, and demand for grass pellets will increase as fuel costs rise.
The Otsego IDA has approved a $100,000 loan for a term of 15 years at a 4 percent interest rate, Lewis said recently, and the project will create five jobs within five years. The loan was the first time the Otsego IDA has funded a project also supported by the Delaware County IDA, she said.
The Millers, who live in Delaware County, received a loan of $75,000 from the Delaware County IDA for a term of 10 years at 5 percent interest, said Bill Willis, county economic development specialist, last week. Willis, who worked with the Millers on the plan, said the market for fuel pellets is ``very strong.''
``With the price of oil, we feel it's only going to get better,'' Willis said, and the Millers' project will benefit Delaware County residents, farmers, loggers and the local economy.
``It's good all the way around,'' Willis said.
The building on Route 7 is up, officials said, and both loans are for equipment and machinery. The $450,000 project also is supported with $70,000 in equity from the owners, plus bank financing, the plan said.
Canada is the major exporter of wood and grass pellets, the Millers' plan said. More than 1,200 stoves are in use in Oneonta and a survey of wood-pellet fuel retailers in Oneonta found that at least 3,400 tons were sold in 2007. A stove typically will use about three tons of pellets a year for residential use, the Millers' plan said; stove sales are increasing as the price of oil increases, and a stove that burns corn or soybeans can burn grass pellets.
At Enviro Energy, pelleting creates a market for weather-damaged hay crops, wasted hay or overgrown acres, according to www.enviroenergyny.com. The Millers expect to be selling pellets this autumn, the site said.
Pellet stoves burning grass produce 90 percent less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels, the Millers said, and use of locally produced pellets will conserve oil used for heating.
A crop of grass takes 70 days to grow, the plan said. Comparing pellets with oil, it said, 90 cents worth of pellets at $224 per ton equals about 1 gallon of fuel oil.
Robert and May Miller, each born on a farm in Delaware County, owned and operated a dairy farm in Franklin from 1961 to 1985. After farming, Robert operated an excavating business, and May owned a quilting business.
Michael Miller owned a home construction business and has experience in the forest and lumber industries. Mary Lou has retail management and banking experience.
Lewis said the Millers were innovative in developing a manufacturing operation that adds value to a low-grade product.
``They have a business plan that was well-thought out,'' Lewis said.
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Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
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- Ignore protesters; Arizona law protects citizens Congratulations go out to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state's legislature for having a backbone and passing a tough new law dealing with illegal immigration.
- Holocaust survivor to speak ONEONTA _ Hartwick College will host a lecture by Holocaust survivor Helen Sperling at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Celebration Room of Shineman Chapel House on the college campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
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- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
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3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. - Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.
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Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
