Public hearing held on proposed power plant
More than 70 people attended a public hearing at Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School Wednesday about a proposed natural gas-fired power plant in Robinson Township, but few commented about the plant.
Robinson Power Co. intends to build a 1,000-megawatt power plant fueled with natural gas on a 37-acre parcel of land next to the Champion Processing Inc. waste coal pile off Route 980.
The state Department of Environmental Protection hosted the hearing in regard to Robinson Power’s application for approval of an air-quality plan for the Beech Hollow project.
Before the public hearing, representatives from the DEP and Robinson Power offered brief presentations during a question-and-answer period.
Tom Graves of Burns and McDonnell Energy Group said the plant will employ between 18 and 24 full-time workers, and during peak on-site construction of the facility, about 600 to 800 workers will be employed.
Joe Pezze, a principal with Hillcrest Group, described the steps Robinson Power followed in the plan-approval process, and said studies show no endangered species or historical sites are on the property.
According to an EPA fact sheet, Robinson Power’s air-quality analysis showed the project’s proposed emissions will not cause or contribute to air pollution in violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. It also noted the DEP has determined the proposed facility satisfies “best available control technology” requirements.
The location of the plant in Robinson would boost gas consumption, a benefit to producers and gas leaseholders, according to Pezze.
Rodger Kendall, a member of the Robinson Township Board of Supervisors, said the proposed power plant is “a good plan,” and said it will reduce dependence of foreign energy.
Justin Wasser of the Clean Air Council, however, said he had serious environmental concerns.
“The air pollution expected to be emitted from this facility is known to have detrimental effects on human health,” said Wasser. “Health impacts from air pollution have a real economic cost to communities, including missed days of work, school, hospitalizations, emergency room visits and life years lost.”
Public comments will be accepted until July 22 and can be submitted to the attention of Alan Binder, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or to abinder@pa.gov. Written testimony must include the commenter’s name, address and phone number, and reference the proposed Robinson Power Plan Approval.