Greenidge plant may open in October

Aug 06, 2015 at 12:44 pm by Observer-Review


Greenidge plant may open in October ADVERTISEMENT

Greenidge plant may open in October

DRESDEN--Since the plant ceased operations in 2011, plans are now underway to have the Greenidge Power Plant in Dresden back online. The 104-megawatt coal-powered facility is owned by Atlas Holdings LLC, which is based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Atlas Public Affairs Representative Michael McKeon said the company expects the plant to be operational by late fall or early winter.
A public comment period on the project was held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Dresden Mayor Bill Hall said he was told the plant could open in October or early November, adding everything looked good from the public comment standpoint. McKeon said they must still go through the DEC and possibly Environmental Protection Agency process before they can open.
Atlas expects this project to restore 30 local jobs once it is fully operational. McKeon previously stated the energy market is better than it was when the plant closed down in 2011. Hall said there were already people over at the plant getting things ready, including Facility Manager Dale Irwin. McKeon has stated Atlas plans to remain in control of the facility once it is operating and is not intending to "flip" the facility.
McKeon said the plant would meet all current federal emission standards, as former owner AES Energy Eastern, L.P. invested millions of dollars in 2006 to retrofit and environmentally upgrade the facility. However, new regulations proposed by President Barack Obama seek to put additional limitations on emissions from power plants across the nation. McKeon said this is not deterring them from reopening the plant, adding whatever route Atlas takes they are sure they will be in federal compliance.
One of the proposed ideas for the Greenidge plant is to eventually convert into a natural gas burning plant, which produces fewer emissions than coal. However, McKeon said he is not ready to comment on the details of that process until Atlas is ready to begin their full campaign, which he said will reveal more details of the project.

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