I would like to submit a few thoughts on the article in this past Sunday’s Natchez Democrat, regarding the proposed Rentech plant to be built in Natchez. This was: “Just how green is Rentech?”

All of the information I can come up with at this time is that Rentech is very “green,” to put it in the parlance of the environmental terrorist that want to attack anything that would make this country more energy self sufficient.

Make no mistake about it, we are paying the high prices at the gas pump solely because these environmental terrorists, and their willing dupes, their Democratic allies in Congress have shut down a great deal of our resources to drill in for oil.

I am talking about ANWR, and the Florida Gulf, where currently the Chinese and Cubans are drilling in these huge supplies of oil beneath the seas in this area.

In the Sunday article regarding Rentech, it was stated that the National Resources Defense Council (read tree huggers) don’t like what Rentech plans to do. First of all, the comments made by this group indicate they really do not know and/or understand what Rentech is going to do, or the process they will be using.

Let me explain. The National Resources Defense Council specialist, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin Perera, says she opposes Rentech’s heavy use of coal in their process of manufacture, because it is a “non clean burning fuel.” It is very apparent that Mrs. Perera is not aware that Rentech is burning the coal in an enclosed combustion chamber, and no emissions are allowed to escape into the air. (Seems pretty clean to me, Mrs. Perera)

Mrs. Perera’s second, and according to her the most important, objection to the Rentech process, is the fact that in the process of manufacture there will be large amounts of carbon dioxide generated in the gasification and the running of the plant.

Here comes the good news, Mrs. Perera. The Denbury Corporation has signed contracts to purchase 100 percent of the carbon dioxide generated by the Rentech plant. The Denbury plant will use this in their oil recovery process in the Cranfield area to recover oil from this field that has not been possible up to this time.

This has not been possible without a huge supply of carbon dioxide that will now be available to be used in their carbon dioxide sequestration process.

Oh! And another thing, Mrs. Perera — Rentech will also use petroleum coke, bio-mass materials, which will include municipal waste in its gasification process. Sounds pretty “green” to me, Mrs. Perera.

After addressing what seems to be the tree huggers’ main two complaints against Rentech, I will bet this does not shut them up. These people seem to be obstructionists of the first order.

It is of great consequence to Natchez that Rentech will build a $4 billion (that’s with a “b”) plant here. When completed, they will manufacture diesel fuel that is approximately 92 percent cleaner than what is currently on the market.

I also understand that the plant will have the ability to manufacture several other products when in full production.

Come on Rentech! Come to Natchez! We welcome you.

Kirk Bartley

Natchez resident