Ohio Citizen Action writes to major airlines: Is Baard Energy negotiating to sell you jet fuel from their refinery?

COLUMBUS – Since 2003, Baard Energy has been saying it would sell jet fuel from its proposed refinery to the Pentagon or to major commercial airlines. On March 3, 2010, I wrote to a dozen major airlines to see if Baard has really been pursuing them as potential customers. The companies are American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, FedEx Express, Hawaiian Airlines, Jet Blue Airways, Polar Air Cargo, United Airlines, UPS Airlines, and US Airways. The letter said, in part –

I am writing you on behalf of Ohio Citizen Action, a consumer advocacy group, in regards to Baard Energy’s proposed coal to liquids facility for Wellsville, Ohio, and any existing or potential involvement they may have with your company.  I am interested in whether or not Baard Energy has had any communication with your company regarding supplying jet fuel, have any option agreements with your company, or have any existing, pending, or “in the works” contracts with your company. As a consumer advocacy group, we want to make sure that the claims by Baard Energy are legitimate and whether or not they intend to really build this facility…

We have also written to potential coal and biomass suppliers, potential investors, and Baard Energy CEO John Baardson himself, with the goal of each letter to find out if the seven-year-old Baard proposal is still breathing.

- Kate Russell, Organizer, Ohio Citizen Action.