The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing on October 25, 2017 at the River High School in Hannibal, Ohio to discuss a proposed air permit for a 485-megawatt gas fired power facility. The proposed gas fired power facility is slated for the former Ormet Aluminum smelter site in Monroe County.
The Ohio EPA invited the public to make formal comments at the meeting, which it will consider in its determination of whether to issue the necessary permits for the facility. Over 75 local residents attending the meeting, many of the members of the Building Trades. All thirteen individuals that provided formal comment to the Ohio EPA were in support of the construction of the gas fired power facility.
ACT Ohio Executive Board Member and Executive Secretary of the Parkersburg/Marietta Building & Construction Trades Council Bill Hutchinson addressed the Ohio EPA staff and those attending the meeting.
“This project means jobs for our members and the community.” said Hutchinson. “In our jurisdiction, we have hundreds of highly skilled construction workers ready, willing and able to deliver this project on time and on or under budget to the project owners.”
According to the owners and developers of the project, Hannibal Development LLC and Ohio River Partners Shareholders LLC, the project will cost between $450-$500 million to construct.
ACT Ohio’s Chief Legal Counsel Rob Dorans also provided formal comments at the Ohio EPA hearing in support of the project.
“The project’s state-of-the-art combined cycle generating technology consisting of high efficiency combustion turbines will minimize its environmental footprint, while creating 400+ construction jobs from ground-breaking through project completion.” said Dorans. “We estimate Monroe County’s economy will benefit in excess of $800 million over the course of the first 20 years of operations.”
ACT Ohio looks forward to working with Hannibal Development LLC and Ohio River Partners Shareholders LLC to make this project a reality and secure work opportunities for our members on the construction of this facility.
