Gov. Scott Walker has recently shut down yet another project undertaken by the city of Madison. The new biomass boiler that would go in the Charter Street Heating Plant has been put on shelves. This boiler would burn plant-based fuels instead of the traditional natural gases, so, what's the point of stopping the installation of this boiler?
I am not an environmentalist in any sense of the word. I will not argue that the new boiler is better for the environment and we have a duty to our kids to keep our planet healthy.
However, I will take a fiscal standpoint and point out the flaws in Walker's views. Yes, the new boiler will be better for the environment, but to be honest I don't care. It comes down to the dollars and cents.
According to Walker's logic, since the new boiler cost about $100 million and the project as a whole would have cost $250 million, it's just not worth it. The project would have been the most expensive in the university's history. With a budget as tight as the one we are working with, I can see how Walker might believe that expensive projects like these must be suspended.
But I completely disagree with this line of reasoning. The biomass boiler may be more expensive now, but if you look at the long-term implications, it is the best choice. This kind of technology will reduce our need for natural gases. Yes, those options may be cheaper, but they also have to be piped in from out of the state. The materials used in this new boiler can be grown right here in Wisconsin, creating new jobs, be less expensive, and keeping our money here in state where it belongs.
I don't understand how someone can't think about the future implications of a purchase and just make impulsive decisions such as this one. It's as if Walker walked into a car dealership and had to decide between a Ford Pinto, known as the fiery death trap, or a Honda Accord, one of the most reliable cars. Yeah, the Pinto costs about $15, but it's going to breakdown and be more expensive to fix later on while the Honda be the better investment in the long run.
The new biofuel-powered boiler is the more reliable machine that will eventually pay for itself and save this city money.
Walker needs to learn that sometimes it's necessary to spend a little extra to save money down the road. Making these impulsive, one-sided decisions won't fix our budgetary problems, but only further exacerbate them.
Nick Fritz is a sophomore majoring in Marketing. We welcome all feedback. Please send all ressponses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
