ARCHBALD — Testimony on the Essential Energy LLC natural gas power plant proposed for Eynon Jermyn Road stoked more uncertainty Tuesday night.
A lack of specificity permeated the three-plus-hour hearing. An engineer for the project tried to assure council members and the community that a power plant proposed near homes, parks, schools and businesses can be built and operated without creating a significant hazard to public health. Specifics on the power plant will come later — after council approves the project’s conditional use application, according to testimony Tuesday night from civil engineer W. Casey Deller.
Essential Energy representatives returned to the Valley View High School auditorium for the fourth time since April. About 70 community members heard testimony and cross-examination on a “site, project and operational safety report.” An accompanying study looked at possible mine hazards associated with both the power plant and the proposed Project Boson data center across the street. The geohazard study only references Project Boson, though Deller emphasized it encompassed the entire parcel, which includes the Essential Energy site. The property was previously the Highway Auto Parts junkyard.
Deller, a vice president at KCI Technologies, deferred answering questions on multiple topics, including: how much electricity the power plant would generate; expected emissions; what equipment it would use, including the specific number of turbines; its natural gas source; how a natural gas pipeline would connect to the site; impacts on a nearby residential development during rock blasting; and the power plant’s water source and water consumption.
At prior hearings, Essential Energy’s representatives referred to their project as a 400-megawatt power plant.
But Deller said Tuesday, “We believe that the site will be suitable to produce power to somewhere in that range.”
“It could be less,” he said. “It could be more.”
The hearing opened on a contentious note.
When Councilwoman Lisa Osborne pointed out that Deller’s resume was missing from the documents provided to council, Essential Energy attorney Frank Hoegen handed her a large binder.
“You gave it to me, but there’s more than just me,” Osborne said.
“Well, you can pass it around,” said Hoegen of Hoegen & Associates in Wilkes-Barre.
The crowd groaned.
“This is starting off in a good way,” Osborne replied.
The councilwoman also criticized the developer’s lack of on-screen presentations. Hoegen contended the report doesn’t lend itself to publication on an overhead.
Councilman Larry Marchetti admonished Essential Energy over the timing and presentation of its 92-page safety report.
“With all due respect, when we get this three minutes before the meeting, that’s a pretty lame excuse,” Marchetti said.
During his testimony, Deller provided an overview of his report and an accompanying study into the mines beneath it, determining, “Based on all of the documentation and studies that have been performed to date, I feel that the site is very suitable for a facility of this nature.”
He faced cross-examination from council members; attorney Justin Richards of Elliott Greenleaf P.C. in Wilkes-Barre, who represents borough residents opposing data centers; Stop Archbald Data Centers co-founder Tamara Misewicz-Healey; and Karen Timmons, a cancer survivor who lives in the Highlands Archbald development less than a quarter-mile from the proposed power plant.
Archbald’s special counsel, attorney Brett C. Flower, asked to defer her cross-examination so the borough’s professionals can review the safety report. Archbald Solicitor Jay O’Connor approved her request. Resident Meg Nudelman will also question Deller at the start of the next hearing.
Cross-examination and testimony will continue Aug. 18 at 5 p.m.
Essential Energy and Project Boson are affiliated with Kriger Construction Inc. and its executive leadership. Using a separate limited liability accompany, another related firm, PDC Realty LLC, bought the land a year ago for $1,575,000. Kriger Construction President Jim Marzolino is the governor of PDC, according to a Pennsylvania Department of State business registry.
Other Kriger Construction-affiliated companies propose four data centers and three power plants across Bell Mountain above Business Route 6 in Dickson City.
Check back for updates.