Is Laidlaw the new Onassis?

In talking with people about the proposed Laidlaw biomass plant, I am reminded of the 1974 in Durham. I was home on a "senior study" break from college. All the talk in town was about Aristotle Onassis' plant to put an oil refinery in Durham and pump oil in from the Isles of Shoals. The town fathers were excited about the prospect, dreaming of tax revenues and jobs. The feeling among town the town residents was a little different.  Onassis had just offered my uncle $1 million for the rights to the farm. Uncle Phil told him to get lost. (Ironically that's about half of what its worth today. Not a bad offer for the 70s in Durham).  On Town Meeting day there was a referendum, and the Onassis plan was defeated 9 to 1. Thanks to the hard work of Dudley Dudley on the home rule bill, that vote actually meant something and Onassis took his refinery plans elsewhere.
As I read the front page of the Berlin Daily Sun today, I wonder if there isn't a lesson there? Is Charlie Bass this year's Aristotle Onassis?