Today, Seminole Electric shelved a 3rd unit construction project at their Putnam County facility. With that announcement, the energy needs for growth in Putnam and Clay counties went with it. This coal fired unit was going to the largest of the generation units and capable of producing 750 megawatts of new, much needed electricity for Putnam and Clay counties. Seminole is one of the major suppliers of the Clay Electric Cooperative.

This project, located in the heart of the 3rd Congressional District, would have created over 1,500 new construction jobs at a time when the construction trades are at an all time low. Add to that, the economic impact it would have created to a very hard hit area because of this recession just washed down the St. Johns River with this announcement.

Seminole company spokesman, Jeff Fela announced the end of the project:

“because of the uncertain regulatory and legal environment related to coal-fired generation.”

Add to this, the price of coal is expected to rise with the closure of several coal projects in West Virginia due to the EPA revoking the licenses of several coal mines being planned. Consolidated Coal also announcing their “Christmas bonus” for 600 employees in their central West Virginia operations. They would be losing their jobs- all due to EPA regulations and permits possibly being revoked.

Mike’s statement is simple and to the point:

“This is but another indication of the insanity coming from this Administration’s policies. It’s not about creating private sector jobs but about government once again forcing an agenda on the energy needs of this District and this nation.”

Mike further added,

“They would rather spend $2.6 BILLION of taxpayers dollars on a SunRail project that is going to lead to taxpayers subsidizing millions annually than allow private enterprise to meet the future energy needs of our nation. This is but another example of abject failure of government and the insanity it is creating for our nations future.”

This project would have allowed more development in one of the most economically depressed areas of Florida. Again, it shows the failure of leadership by Rep. Corrine Brown for the people of Clay and Putnam counties. Instead, she would rather build a commuter rail project from Tampa to Orlando that is not going to meet the objectives of ridership that will reduce capacity on I-4. There is no transportation modalities at the ends of this project, and when people are going to want to see one of their kids at a ball game or school event, there is no way to get there except to drive.

Once again, Mike sees the wasteful spending and calls it what it is- more budget busting failures from Rep. Corrine Brown. To use the reasoning that “if we don’t use it (Stimulus money) for this, then some other State will” is far from justification enough to build the Sunrail. It was touted as “high speed rail” and now it is nothing more than a 61 mile above ground commuter rail project almost identical to the Tri Rail in S. Florida that consumes $10-15 million in taxpayers dollars. It’s wasteful “Spend and Tax” at it’s finest and more generational theft from the resulting debt.

The failed and forced policies of this Administration and the Pelosi/Reid/Corrine Brown Congress would rather put real JOBS, real economic growth, and the real job creators out in the cold and build a railroad that Putnam and Clay counties will pay for.

If you agree with Mike and want to see an end to the misguided and costly job-killing regulations, then your contribution today will bring real, common sense Conservative leadership to Washington. Bring real economic growth, real jobs, and real prosperity to the 3rd District by helping elect Mike and telling Rep. Corrine Brown to file her retirement paperwork.