By JIM BUTLER
Is an undisrupted river view worth risking a $2 billion prize?
The question arises after the issue surfaced (no pun intended) in the minutes of the Central Louisiana Regional Port’s April session.
Routine reading to verify port commissioners had adopted the 2024-25 budget (they did; it projects $514,000 net operating income on revenues of $1.16 million) reveals a surprise in the public comments section.
Bill Fontenot, Cleco president/CEO and among the parish’s industry-hunting heavyweights, urged commissioners “to cease and dismiss any and all efforts to build a port between river markers 83-84.”
That location, he said according to minutes, is directly across Red River from 18 to 20 residents of River View Acres “who believe the Beaver Lake Renewables project would disrupt their quality of life.”
Beaver Lake Renewable Energy LLC revealed intentions about a year ago to invest $2 billion at the former IP facility on Williams Lake Road.
It will be a green methanol production facility for marine fuel. About 1,100 construction-related jobs are forecast, with 100 or so local jobs once in operation.
Economic development efforts Fontenot is or has been a part of were active in securing the Sun Gas Renewables project.
One of the factors in the location decision is access to river transportation. And the outfall site for a barge landing is between the markers Fontenot asserts are off limits.
According to the minutes, Fontenot insisted that alternative sites be evaluated by the commission.
The minutes do not reflect whether commissioners told Fontenot the port has nothing to do with the landing site selection or development – that the Red River Waterway Commission and/or the Corps of Engineers are more-proper venues for such issues.
Though the text of Fontenot’s remarks doesn’t necessarily reflect the tenor those of the next speaker seem to.
Attorney John Pickles, also speaking on behalf of the Association for Quality Red River Living, “emphasized the importance of distinguishing between demanding and simply requesting customers to explore alternative sites.”
His remarks perhaps reflect different persuasion styles in the boardroom as opposed to the courtroom.
The minutes do not reflect whether either Fontenot or Pickles are residents or property owners in River View Acres.
Minutes of the May port meeting are not yet published. The agenda for that meeting did not include the topic.