Second round of coal plant hearings set for Surry County
A second round of hearings has been set for later this month to consider Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s proposal to build a 1,500-megawatt coal and biomass power plant in the Town of Dendron.
The non-profit electric co-op received the necessary zoning and permitting approvals from the Dendron Town Council and Surry County Board of Supervisors back in 2010; however, a court ruling last year voided those approvals, requiring the company to reapply.
The Surry County Planning Commission has scheduled the first of the public hearings for February 27th at the Surry County Government Center.
In 2008, ODEC proposed to build the $6 billion Cypress Creek Power Station to help fill the 7,200-megawatt electricity shortfall projected in Virginia by 2020. The 1,500-megawatt power plant would generate electricity for up to 375,000 Virginia homes and businesses.
The company plans to invest more than $1 billion in the latest pollution-cutting technologies to minimize the impacts on air and water quality. For example, the company has said it will install state-of-the-industry scrubbers to dramatically reduce air emissions.
Local supporters have touted the project as an opportunity for jobs and economic development in this largely rural and economically disadvantaged region. The project is expected to create more than 2,400 jobs during the 48-month construction phase and approximately 225 permanent jobs over the 40 to 60 year life of the plant.
