RE: FT. UNION & EEEFt. Union Capacity
You don't seem to be able to focus very far beyond your job at that Ft. Union plant, and that is what will keep you from missing the much bigger opportunity with this stock. I agree with you, that woman who gave the presentation probably should have avoided any discussion of the plant's current capacity, especially since they never did decide to fully ramp it up. However, for the purpose of her presentation it doesn't matter much anyway, since she was only trying to promote the concept of refined coal to a bunch of Washington politicians. Really, you have to look at the big picture. The key takeaway from that presentation was mention of a new 25 MILLION ton plant. Do you realize how important a deal like that would be to Evergreen? Can you imagine how profitable a plant with roughly 67 of those Lurgi processors would be? And your biggest concern right now is to get lifetime job security for the Ft. Union workers? How are you going to retire in paradise with a perspective like that? THINK BIG.
As investors, we need to put those Ft. Union ramp-up problems on the back burner. It's a pilot plant, nothing more. It still gets the job done of producing test burn quantities for prospective customers, doesn't it? Look at the Ft. Union plant from the standpoint of those CPI executives. They also would like to see that Ft. Union plant fully ramped up before they sign a big plant deal, but Bechtel has assured them that it is nothing more than engineering problems that will definitely be fixed on the new design. Fixing that plant does not require rocket science; you of all people should know that.
Really man, you need to extend your focus beyond that Ft. Union plant. The game is to make money, and the home office in Denver is on the verge of some very big plant deals.
P.S. Don't worry about your Ft. Union job, or your coworker's jobs. Until a new local plant comes on line, likely two years out, there will still be a need to produce K-fuel. It seems to me that your best job security in Gillette is having a place to call home, and your skill set. So many workers are coming into town to build that new power plant that it is becoming nearly impossible for visitors to even get a hotel room. The bottom of the bucket Super 8 motel just quoted me $96/night! There will be lots of work in Gillette for many decades to come, the coal business is booming. If you miss this specific stock opportunity, there will always be graveyard shift work for you in Gillette. Or, you could be retired, sipping margaritas outside of your beach front condo. I'm not trying to be your shrink, but to get to that beach scenario you're going to have to abandon that pessimistic attitude of yours and put some money into this stock.