To the editor--
The Feb. 12 letter to the editor from Neil Tangen made some very strong and inaccurate claims about the affects of the coal industry on local economies and population. I would like to address both of those issues.
First of all, the South Heart gasification plant will bring tremendous economic opportunities and growth for not only Stark County, but the entire southwestern region of North Dakota. With 250 high-paying, steady jobs at the plant and the hundreds and hundreds of directly related service jobs, the plant will provide opportunities for many people seeking high quality jobs who wish to stay here, rather than relocate to other states.
Mining and power development is the number-one ranked industry in our state in terms of annual average pay and it is hard to imagine how it could not have a positive economic for us. Even though Mr. Tangen has only been a resident of Stark County a short time, one would think he would understand the economic importance of this project to our area.
Mr. Tangen also makes a general reference to population declines of some coal producing counties compared to Stark County. This is really an apples to oranges comparison.
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All rural counties who were dependent on the agricultural industry experienced a downturn in population trends in the 90's. One only needs to talk to neighbors in our surrounding eight counties to confirm this.
Thank God Stark County had county and community leaders who had a vision of the future and took the lead in attracting and expanding our economic base during the 90's. Our area is better off because of that vision.
We now have another opportunity before us and I am confident our city and county leaders will again embrace this opportunity.
The demand for energy is rapidly rising. Fortunately, North Dakota has the resources to help meet that demand, and the technology is finally available that allows those resources to be developed with a minimal impact on our environment.
Neal Messer
Dickinson
