To the editor:

Though it is admirable that Douglas County Development, Inc. (a nonprofit joint venture by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County, and the city of Lawrence) is investigating a possible purchase of the Farmland site to expand the East Hills Business Park, they should step aside and allow a visionary private developer to manufacture hydrogen fuel cells there.

DCDI’s mission is to attract new industry to the county by offering good building sites. Since 2000, when DCDI was effectively blocked from expanding the business park eastward into prime Kaw Valley farmland for the American Eagle warehouse, they have been trying to acquire property near Farmland.

But if Roger Billings is eager to build a hydrogen fuel cell factory there with his own money, no “carrot” is needed to attract him. As fossil fuels inevitably get costlier, fuel cells to power electric autos and stationary ones for building electricity will be the future. This is exactly the kind of clean high-tech industry the Chamber is looking for. DCDI should be grateful one such ship has come in and work with Mr. Billings to assure that he meets other community and environmental standards.

And if Mr. Billings buys Farmland, this does not mean that DCDI needs to revert to building in the 100-year floodplain. They can work anywhere in Douglas County, not just near East Hills Business Park. I hope DCDI continues searching for the higher ground, both literally and figuratively.

Michael Almon,

Lawrence