Contact: Matt Dempsey (202)224-9797 Matt_Dempsey@inhofe.senate.gov 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today commented on the announcement that Baard Energy has decided they will no longer pursue an application with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program for the Ohio River Clean Fuels project (ORCF) because of litigation filed by environmental groups.

“NRDC and Sierra Club have once again successfully killed a clean coal project that would have created American jobs and strengthened America’s energy security,” Senator Inhofe said. “Groups like the Sierra Club and NRDC have mastered the art of using litigation to delay and stall projects long enough to ensure they will never proceed. Unfortunately, the greatest cost will be felt by those who are looking for good, well-paying jobs.”

Baard Energy CEO John Baardson stated in a release today, “The people of Ohio should know special interests groups are suing the State of Ohio's EPA claiming that permits were issued to our project unreasonably and unlawfully.  These disruptive activities only serve to delay the creation of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in Ohio.  The Ohio EPA spent more than a year scrutinizing these permits and even incorporated many of the comments received from the NRDC into the final permit terms and conditions.  Although we are confident the Ohio EPA acted within the bounds of the law, we have decided not to pursue this financial guarantee path and are moving on toward a more reasonable strategy.” 

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