Superintendent says second power plant secures future for Lordstown schools

LORDSTOWN

The Lordstown Schools superintendent said in a statement this morning that the announcement of a second power plant to be built in the village “could not have been timed better.”

“This is a great announcement for Lordstown, Lordstown schools and the entire Mahoning Valley,” Superintendent Terry Armstrong said.

Mayor Arno Hill explained earlier this week that a 1 p.m. news conference today will reveal that Clean Energy Future is planning to build a “twin” second power plant in the Lordstown Industrial Park to be called the Trumbull Energy Center.

Each power plant will involve about $890 million worth of investment. The second plant will be built just south of the first one, Hill said, adding that discussions with the Lordstown Schools still must take place regarding tax incentives.

“The financial impact of the agreement for the first facility was a game-changer for the immediate future of Lordstown Local Schools,” Armstrong said.

“The first agreement also provided funds to demolish a school building that has been closed for over five years and to build a soccer/track complex at Lordstown schools promising our student-athletes an exciting future.

“The second facility will provide long-term budget stability in the face of declining state tangible personal property [tax] reimbursement revenue for Lordstown schools.

“According to state law, Lordstown schools’ TPP reimbursements, totaling $1.6 million dollars, will be phased out over the next decade. This represents nearly a quarter of our school’s budget,” Armstrong said.

“The potential revenue from a second energy center can generate the long-term funds needed to continue providing our students, staff, school families and community a quality education, much needed resources and engaging experiences well into the future.”

Armstrong said that as negotiations move forward for the second energy center, the school district will “look to provide tax millage relief for our school families and community.”

“Lordstown schools currently has the second lowest millage in Trumbull County, and we are happy to look to a future where we can continue providing a quality education without having to ask for additional revenue from our community,” he said.

“We realize as a district how fortunate of a situation this is for us,” he said.