Byron Yankey's blog

How WA lost $2 Billion Plant to Idaho

Idaho Statesman

Newspaper: How WA lost $2 billion plant to Idaho

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire was asked to support French-owned energy services company Areva NC Inc.'s $2 billion uranium enrichment plant and told her help was important to bringing its 400 jobs to the Tri-Cities, a newspaper says.

The paper says Washington's governor feared the project would be controversial in some environmental circles.

In May, Areva announced it would build its new plant near Idaho Falls, Idaho. The announcement came after the company won tax concessions from the Idaho Legislature.

Frankly, I think the state of Washington may have been the Winner! The tax deals approved by the last legislature to woo Areva to Idaho seem to be typical.  Large tax breaks and tax exclusions like this demonstrate our lawmakers willingness to trade short term increases in employment for potentially long term impact on our environment.   Why would we want to trade these incentives to a French Company while we continue to collect sales tax on food...a basic necessity for life.  Home owners need to also remember the famous property tax relief they received 2 years ago that was funded by a 20% increase in sales tax.  Guess who received the greatest amount or property tax relief in this "Republican coupe".  It was not the individual homeowner.

Interesting reading is found in the Tri City Herald June 29th:
Tri City Herald

The new facility would enrich uranium for use in nuclear fuel assemblies for commercial nuclear power reactors. Putting it near Areva's existing fuel fabrication plant in Richland would allow the company to avoid steep transportation costs.

[...]

But the uranium enrichment process would produce a waste stream of depleted uranium. Though a dangerous chemical, depleted uranium contains only low levels of radioactivity. Still, with the state already struggling to keep the federal government on schedule to clean up its World War II and Cold War-era wastes at Hanford, creation of new wastes of any variety is a touchy subject.

Sounds like the same concerns exist in both states.

The Debate's Over. It's Time For Action

Idaho Statesman

Our view: The greenhouse gas debate is over. It's time for action.

Maybe it's time to stop thinking in terms of Idaho's carbon footprint.

Let's think instead in terms of tire tracks and footprints. Cars and cows. And let's stop kidding ourselves into dismissing this as a made-up problem.

It is time for action! Public policy needs to be shaped by facts and crafted with input from all stakeholders.  Too many quality of life decisions hinge on our ability and our will to act now. After all, the only thing we have riding on the outcome is our future.

I-84 Plans

Yesterday I went to the Hampton Inn to see the Idaho Department of Transportation information display. As I arrived, a current legislator from Canyon County was leaving.  He greeted me with, "What are you doing here?" Less than a week before we both attended a picnic along with other candidates for the legislature as invited guests. Finding the greeting a little gruff, I responded, "What are you doing here?"  Then without waiting for a response I said, "I think transportation is an important campaign issue don't you?"  "Well I guess so," was his reply.

For nearly a half hour, I was the only one in the meeting room that was not from the IDT or Commuteride.  I had great conversations with IDT staff who were very knowledgeable about the projects being presented.  However, the most interesting and earnest person there was a 17 year veteran who works for Commuteride.  Her commitment to developing and expanding regional transportation alternates was refreshing.  When I asked what will it take to make progress, she said "it will take great cooperation between all parties to meet our regional needs."    HOW VERY TRUE...

Idaho Department of Transportation Projects

Byron's Brownies

In 1989 I was at a new school desperately needing to build rapport with lots of new people.  Growing up in Weiser, I reverted to a strategy used by countless farmer's wives..."food makes friends."  This cultural act probably began with the cavemen.

During that year I perfected my brownie recipe.  I think the original recipe came from a old Farm Journal Cookbook. During that year I experimented with variations and crafted the following recipe.  I will confess I never measure carefully except when making candy. I also have preferred brands of ingredients. (These are seldom the most expensive ingredients because they cost too much.) 

Originally, the brownies were called "Killer Brownies" because they could have been endorsed by the Idaho Dairy Council but blacklisted by the American Heart Association.  Years have past and I continue to make slight changes in the recipe.  I make around 100 batches a year.  I can make the batter in about 8 minutes from start to oven.  While the recipe has measurements, these are at best estimates.  When I share the recipe with people they often tell me, "but mine do not taste like yours."  My response is," come and make a batch along side of me and make notes as we go."  That usually helps but like most recipes in life, you need to practice it and adapt it to make it your own.  I will not share my frosting recipe with you.  That will remain a secret at least for now. 

I have taken these brownies to countless meetings around the state and they are often more welcome than I am.  The brownies have been used to reward, soothe, make peace, energize, and excite.  But general they are made just because.  Most of my immediate family no longer eat the brownies.  Our sons are vegans and vegetarians and I have not tried to adapt the recipe for them yet.  I know I contribute to the local sugar beet and dairy industry each time I make them.  See what you think...

Byron's Brownies

Melt 3 sticks of margarine ( I like Nucoa because it is cheap, predictable) and one stick of butter

Add to:
4 cups of sugar
I/2 container of Saco cocoa ( This is between 3/4 and 1 cup of cocoa.  I like this cocoa because it is inexpensive and has a better flavor I think than Hersey's.  It can be found at Winco and Fred Meyers.)
If you use Hersey's use about 1/2 cup cocoa
2 to 4 tablespoons of vanilla flavoring ( Yes, I mean the often less than a dollar store brand vanilla.  The large amount of sugar in this recipe means the brownies continue to cook long after they are removed from the oven,thus evaporating the alcohol and leaving the flavor.)
Mix well

Add:
8 jumbo sized eggs (Eggs are graded by weight.  This was not introduced until the mid 60's.  Many old recipes were originally made with farm eggs that were not always a uniform size. I only buy jumbo eggs to use when baking.)

Mix by hand to combine.  Do not use a mixer.  Mix only until you no longer can see the eggs.  Mixing a lot will make the brownies more cake-like than you will want.

Add one bag of semi sweet chocolate chips of your choice and mix until incorporated.

Add two cups of flour.  I use unbleached flour.  If you add the chips after the flour, the chips will remain whole like in a cookie.  I like them to melt into the rest of the batter so I add them before the flour.

Pour into a jelly roll cookie sheet. This is a big recipe that makes between 48 and 60 brownies depending on the size you want.  The recipe can be reduced by half if you want but results may be slightly different.

I bake them on the lowest rack at 350 for 36 to 38 minutes.  You can test them with a tooth pick or use what I call the pat test. Pat the brownies while in your oven with your flat hand.  It should sound a little hollow and will not leave an impression.  Yes,you have to be quick and careful when using the pat test, but it works.

When you remove from the oven, cut around the edge of brownies with a knife.  This will keep the edges and corners from continuing to cook and get crispy.

When cool, frost with your favorite icing.   You can serve with ice cream while warm if you want.

I hope you enjoy the recipe or better yet, I hope you get to taste one of my brownies sometime soon.

The impact may be small, but the implication would be HUGE

Idaho Statesman

Our View: In this shaky economy, raises aren't the answer

State legislators aren't overpaid - and they still won't be, even if they take the 5 percent raise recommended Friday.

But when both the economy and the state budget are shaky, this isn't the right time for legislators to vote themselves a bigger paycheck.

Idaho legislators now make $16,116 a year for part-time public service. A citizens' committee is recommending raises to $16,921. Eight hundred bucks apiece for 105 legislators isn't a budget-buster - but there is ample reason for lawmakers to say thanks but no thanks

The editorial board of the Idaho Statesman makes a great point regarding the salary of elected legislators. Given their decisions in the last session and the need to understand the impact of a slowing economy on Idaho citizens, declining the recommended raise would speak volumes.  Let's all hope the next legislature, "just says no!"

 

"The Fall of Fall ISATs"

This piece included in yesterday's Idaho Statesman means maybe the pendulum is swinging toward the middle ie. away from too much state control, back to more local control.  After all, I thought local control was an important tenant of the majority political party even though over the last years they have moved more and more in the opposite direction.

The State Board of Education made the right call Thursday, getting rid of one time-consuming test. The board dropped the fall Idaho Standards Achievement Test. Click here for the story.

Students in third through eighth grades and 10th grade already take the ISAT in the spring. So the fall ISAT amounts to not much more than a "how-I-spent-my-summer-vacation" standardized test.

And not a cheap one, either. The state will save itself about $500,000 by ditching the fall ISAT. More importantly, local school districts will get a little more time to teach their students — or, in the case of Meridian schools, administer a test of their choice.   

As the state covers an ever-increasing share of the public schools' costs — and, with it, wields more power over the delivery of education — any bow to local control is notable.

Problem solving at the ATM

Not long ago I stopped at an ATM to do "commuter banking".  In front of me was a frustrated young woman.   The card went in, the card came out, the card went in, the card came out...you get the idea. This could have gone on forever. But in what seems to be a moment of genius the women removed the card, licked that back of it, reinserted it and then was able to complete her transaction.  How's that for a creative solution?  (I'm sure this practice is neither recommended or endorsed by the banking industry.) 

Tales from a Canyon County Commuter

Every work day I join thousands of commuters making their way to jobs in Meridian, Boise and points in between.  For the most part I enjoy the travel time to mentally rehearse my day...what's scheduled, what do I want to do...what do I have to do and where do I begin.  The reality is I would do that same things if the commute time was shorter, or on a train or on a bus system.  It is my rich inner life that keeps me entertained.  The commute home is slightly different.  I am wrapping up the day in my brain, trying to gain a sense of closure, trying to get home.  It is in the evening that I find myself becoming slightly competitive as a commuter.  I wish I could offer driving tips and advise to the drivers around me.  I wish my Honda CR-V was equipped with helicopter like features.  Most of all I wish the traffic reports were accurate or that all radio announcers had the same definition of "slow and go" or "stop and go" or "spectator slowing". Let's face it so much needs to be done to improve our state's transportation infrastructure.