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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Zwickelmania puts the taste buds to the test Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Mt. Ashland offers shuttle service Education Levy supporters kick off campaign Bowling for knowledge Sharing black culture It's alive! SOU students create thought-provoking art Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Silvio Calabi: Range Rover Sport, the off-road GT Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect Politics and elections Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation State News Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' Oregon's second in command abruptly returns from capital Nation - World Obituaries Arlene M. (Ryan) Mills Michael Wayne South Claire G. Craft Theodore F. "Ted" Carter James Fredrick Shareable This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Raiders perfect on senior day Millers smother Grizz on senior night Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules High school Millers smother Grizz on senior night Crater girls, boys cruise to victory in Midwestern League blowouts Grizz boys' upset bid falls just short in loss to Churchill Layton picks Western Oregon Ashland girls go 6-1 in multi-team dual meet Southern Oregon University Raiders perfect on senior day Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Under SOU spotlight one last time Just following the rules Raiders sweep Hope Int., stay perfect Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Workers need more power Landgren cartoon: Disneyland measles outbreak Matthew T. Mangino: The government has access to your emails Our View: Support schools — again Editorial Our View: Support schools — again Our View: Kitzhaber's Delilah? Our View: GMO ruling was correct Our View: The benefits are mutual Wolves in our woods Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Guest Opinion: A message to my health care colleagues Columns Workers need more power Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Jeffrey Gillespie: Mr. Netanyahu goes to Washington Editor's Notes: More local content in the Tidings Council Corner: Transforming Ashland for the future Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Young poets need your help 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Brett Dennen plays the old Ashland Armory Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Theater 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Looking inside yourself and finding a character is magic Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Music Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Fifty Shades’ of boring Movie review: ‘Kingsman’ transcends spy-movie tribute status Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Movie review: ‘Leviathan’ tells a whale of a human tale Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories David Murdock: Take a nice little walk Looking Up: The sky on Valentine's night Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Jimmy Smothers: Car trouble turns into a pleasant experience Marketta Gregory: We are loved Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... Neighbors fight cell tower proposal near Ashland ... Ashland Calendar: Feb. 14 ... Workers need more power ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Feb. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News Why build it? Replacing the worn-out steam boiler at Southern Oregon University has drawn the interest of many, including the editorial board of the Mail Tribune (see Our View, Sunday, Feb. 1). When one reviews the original proposal documents on the SOU website, some further questions come to mind. The proposal showed that the worn-out boilers could be replaced with new, efficient gas-fired boilers for $2.1 million at an annual (average) cash flow cost of $330,000. This alternative would continue to use natural gas to heat the buildings on the SOU campus. This is the quickest, simplest, and least-costly alternative. The cogeneration alternative being promoted by SOU calls for burning slash (waste wood) and natural gas in specialty boilers for a capital cost of $11.1 million at an annual average cash flow cost of $755,000. Some of the capital cost could be offset by grants and credits, but that is just another way to spend somebody's tax money; it's not "free money." The extra capital and operating costs of the cogeneration option would be partly offset by having the proposed power plant generate extra electricity to be sold back to the grid. The project estimate shows net sales of electricity to be about $83,000 per year — not enough to offset the annual cost difference of $425,000 ($755,000 - $330,000). Supporters of the cogeneration option laud the benefits of disposing of forest waste (slash) by burning it in the SOU power plant. That waste wood is somebody's problem, and that "somebody" should deal with it, but it's not SOU's. SOU exists to educate students, period. Other factors associated with the cogeneration option are that it would generate more particulate (air contamination) than burning natural gas, and the most particulates would be produced during our months of air stagnation: November through February. Fueling the boilers with slash wood would require a flow of heavy diesel-burning trucks driving through already-congested city streets (Wightman). Thus, more air contamination in mid-winter. Cogeneration costs more to build, costs more to operate, makes more air contamination and generates more traffic. Why do it? Bruce Barnes, Ashland Amazed by Rothschild In his column Feb. 7, Herb Rothschild continues his war against Israel and Netanyahu. At the same time he paints a very positive picture of Iran, which plans to blow Israel off the face of the earth. It's amazing to me that he can say such ugly things in the name of Peace House. Maynard Telpner, Talent Stop the rest stop   The Ashland City Council should suspend water and sewer rights for ODOT’s proposed rest stop/welcome center on the east side of Interstate 5 south of Crowson Road. • There is a rest stop 27 miles south of Ashland , one in Talent, and one in Grants Pass; another is not needed. • Our precious water should be reserved for Ashland citizens, not diverted to an unneeded rest stop. • The project is costly and will suffer the same fate as others that have closed due to lack of funding. • If not fully staffed by police it will turn into another hangout area, close to homes, that attracts vagrants and drugs. • Maintenance of landscaping will divert irrigation water from TID recipients. • Trucks come down the mountain too fast, with overheated brakes, which will create a hazard as slow moving vehicles enter and exit the rest area. • Smart phones have made welcome centers outdated and studies show these centers are not productive unless they pull people off the interstates. There will be a vote on this ill-conceived plan at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 1175 E. Main St. Citizens must unite in opposition! Liz Schmidt, Ashland   DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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