Complaint Review: Dynamis Energy LLC

Although this is an Editorial from Sharon Ullman, I am confused as to why she continues to defend a project that ended her political career and her involvement at this point is considered a "Lame Duck" administration, since Gov. Butch Otter appointed Dave Case to beat Sharon Ullman in the primaries.  You might be asking how did this happen?  Our governor acted to replace the seat vacated by Vern Blisterfeld due to medical issues.  

So I ask again, why is Sharron investing all this energy when everything she proposes will be negated by Dave Case?  Is she looking for favors from the folks at Dynamis Energy or is she simply looking to amend her career in the high tech waste disposal industry?  I really questions why Dynamis Energy would want to continue to partner with someone that has brought such a high degree for question to their venture.  So, here is the editorial that she submitted.....please keep in mind that her positions are slightly biased.

READERS VIEW ADA COUNTY LANDFILL By SHARON ULLMAN

Here is a point-by-point critique of the Idaho Statesmans Aug. 17 editorial:
Hidden Hollow Energy faces a bind, resulting in part from the Dynamis dealings. Not true.

Fact: Hidden Hollow Energys problem is with the state Department of Environmental Quality, NOT Dynamis or Ada County.

Hidden Hollow, which has produced energy from landfill methane gas since 2006, has built a second pair of engines to convert gas into electricity. But those engines arent running. Not true.

Fact: Hidden Hollow Energy has never even BUILT the second set of engines at the landfill.

But this dispute centers largely on Dynamis. In a $30 million tort claim, Hidden Hollow argues that the countys commitment to provide trash to Dynamis has, in turn, jeopardized Hidden Hollows access to methane. Not true.

Fact: The county receives about $250,000 out of the total revenue each year. HHE is making close to $1 million a year just on the first two engines! Under the existing contract, the second two engines would generate a similar amount of revenue to each entity as well.The Dynamis project will save the county and its ratepayers about $2 million a year for the first five years it is operational.  In years six to 30, the county will receive 25 percent of the amount of tipping fees in place at the time on 408 tons of waste a day, with few associated costs. The project will generate over $60 million of economic investment, hundreds of construction jobs, 60 permanent jobs and enough locally generated power to serve 20,000 households (or the commercial equivalent) per day.

Given the Statesmans concern about the $2 million nontax landfill dollars (but NOT the $81 million weve saved for Ada County property taxpayers!) the best way to ensure they are returned to the county is to move forward. In addition, Dynamis is based in Eagle. HHE is based in White Plains, N.Y. Buy Idaho should not just be a slogan!Shouldnt the county put first things first working with Hidden Hollow, a company that already pays the county $250,000 in annual royalties, as opposed to Dynamis, which still owes the county $2 million?

These two projects are NOT mutually exclusive, even according to HHEs OWN graph.Fact: The first agreement between Ada County and Dynamis was signed on June 30, 2010, and a news release issued that same day. Ada County signed the agreement with Hidden Hollow Energy 2 for the second two engines on Feb. 22, 2011, more than six months later. If HHE now believes the Dynamis project will critically reduce the volume of available landfill gas, then it failed to do its due diligence prior to signing the contract with Ada County for the second set of engines.

Sharon Ullman is an Ada County commissioner.