In Part 1 I told you how to bring manufacturing jobs to Greensboro by recycling glass. In Part 2 I explained how to convert waste wood into jobs and profit. Today, as promised, I'll explain how to use the White Street Landfill to attract aviation manufacturers to Greensboro.
As usual we begin with our assets, that being 500 acres of unused land sitting just 1300' from a major thoroughfare (East Cone Blvd) connecting a US highway (US 29) that is slated to become an Interstate highway and $Millions of Dollar a year of free landfill gas that is currently being given away at no charge and burned off as waste.
With the City of Greensboro owning the land which, by the way, already has huge water and sewer access previously used to pump sewage sludge to the landfill, long term low cost leases to major manufacturers who provide minimum amounts of high paying aviation manufacturing jobs shouldn't be a problem for the City of Greensboro.
And if you think aviation manufacturers must be located next to an airport then you are exactly the sort of moron Robbie Perkins had hoped would return him to a second term as mayor. I have several local family members who work as tool and die makers in the aviation industry and everything their employers produce leaves Greensboro on tractor-trailers. The thing that White Street has going for it most and the thing big manufacturers most need is easy access to and from the Interstate.
The land isn't really an issue. 500 acres is enough for 2 dozen or more manufacturers to all have room to operate. You see, unless they're actually assembling airplanes then runways and giant acreages are not an issue. Most airplane parts are small enough you can pick them up with one hand.
And the icing on the cake? That would be what can be done with the landfill gas. You see, while Duke Energy has the ability to stop Greensboro from selling electricity throughout the city, Duke Energy does not have the legal right to prevent the City of Greensboro from selling electricity at below market rates to manufacturers who are located on property that belongs to the City of Greensboro. And as of right now the unused 500 acre portion of the White Street Landfill remains the property of the City of Greensboro. Landfill gas can be used to generate electricity for aviation manufacturers just as it generates electricity for Cone Mills now. Only they would pay us for it plus provide jobs.
If I were a member of the Greensboro City Council I'd be looking in to this. You've got 2 years to pull it off. So what's in Part 4? Click on the link to find out.
