LISBON Company applies to build plant
It's expected to take months to navigate through the approval process, which will include a public hearing.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Nearly six months after announcing a proposal to build a $600 million electric generation plant in Columbiana County, a North Carolina company has filed an application to do so with the state of Ohio.
Cogentrix Energy Inc. of Charlotte submitted the application Thursday to the Ohio Power Siting Board, which will scrutinize the project and the locations chosen for it.
It could be months before the siting board makes a decision, and that will only come after a public hearing.
The primary site for the natural gas-fired plant is along St. Jacob-Logtown Road in Center Township. The secondary location is along state Route 45 in Salem Township.
The plant is expected to create 300 to 500 construction jobs during a two-year building period.
Cogentrix has said it wants to start construction late this year.
Number of jobs: Once the plant is operational, it's expected to provide 25 to 30 full-time, permanent jobs with an annual payroll that's likely to exceed $1.5 million.
Power generated by the 1,100-megawatt plant will be enough for about 450,000 homes.
An independent financial analysis commissioned by Cogentrix as part of the state application process predicts the plant's economic benefit to the county over a 22-year period will be about $750 million.
That figure includes construction, labor income, and the direct and indirect purchases of goods and services that will result from having the plant here.
Cogentrix is brokering a deal with the county's Buckeye Water District to supply water from the Ohio River to the plant.
The facility will use about 9 million gallons of water daily to cool its electric generation turbines.
Plans call for discharging the spent cooling water, after it's treated, into nearby Little Beaver Creek.
leigh@vindy.com