Government and Politics
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Lordstown power plant is a step closer; deal will help schools
After the first proposed site for the plant was rejected by the village council last year, a search was undertaken for a new location
by WKSU's TIM RUDELL |
Reporter
Tim Rudell | | |
 | | Lordstown village sign, near the massive GM complex | | Courtesy of wksu |
Lordstown officials say they have finally found a site to build an $800 million natural-gas-fired power plant. Village Mayor Arno Hill announced that talks are under way for a location in the Lordstown Industrial park.
The village northwest of Youngstown is granting the plant a 15-year tax abatement. But Hill says while that is in effect, the operator -- Clean Energy Future, LLC -- will make direct cash payments to the Lordstown school dDistrict. |
“Once the plant is up and running, they’ll be breaking it down into three five-year bundles. And then in the first five years, they’ll get X, and in the second five years Y, and in the third five years Z.  And I believe in the first five years they’ll get a check for a million bucks.”
Hill says the influx of cash for the schools is timely because the system was projecting a budget deficit in 2015. The plant will sell the electricity it produces on the open market. Planners expect construction to be done in 2018. |
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