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Power plant owners take issue with company’s petition

LORDSTOWN — Although attorneys for Clean Energy Future-Trumbull say a petition filed by a company with property located next to a proposed power plant is “too generic” regarding safety violations, Clean Energy still wants them to have a seat at the table.

Vienna Investments LLC owns 1702 Henn Parkway, which is next to Clean Energy’s second proposed power plant. The first plant, Clean Energy Future-Lordstown, is under construction. The Vienna Investments property houses Magna Seating Systems, which supplies seating for the Chevrolet Cruze sedan made at the General Motors Assembly Complex in Lordstown.

Vienna Investments filed a petition with the Ohio Siting Board — a separate entity within the Ohio Public Utilities Commission responsible for approving plans for the construction of new energy facilities in the state — seeking notification of developments in the project.

In its petition, the firm states it has a “real and substantial interest” in the outcome of the proceedings as the project will “significantly affect its property and business operations.”

In its petition, Vienna Investments states it is in its interest to participate in the proceedings to ensure construction of the proposed facility is done in a safe manner; its construction and operation does not adversely impact the safety of Vienna Investments’ plant; is disruptive to the operations of Vienna Investments’ tenant or others in the industrial park; that the new power plant is sited and constructed “in a manner consistent and in compliance with the covenants and restrictions” and “takes into account” future development within the industrial park.

In a response filed last week, Clean Energy Future-Trumbull LLC states it does not object to the Siting Board granting Vienna Investments limited intervention so the companies can work together “to address Vienna’s safety and tenant concerns.” However, the response also states Clean Energy Future does oppose the investment firm’s intervention on issues involving “private agreements” between Clean Energy and Vienna Investments that are “outside the board’s jurisdiction.”

The company’s response states the second power plant is identical to the first, yet Vienna Investments did not raise objections to Clean Energy Future-Lordstown even though it is closer to the firm’s property than the proposed plant. It also states that Vienna Investments alleges there are safety concerns with the plant, but no specific allegations about how it is unsafe and no specific examples of how its operations would be adversely affected.

The company’s response also states the first plant has been under way for more than a year and there have been no safety complaints made by Vienna Investments or Magna Seating.

Bill Siderewicz, president of Clean Energy, said previously the petition by Vienna Investments could derail the second plant and “came out of the blue.”

The state siting board will conduct a public hearing on the matter Tuesday at Lordstown High School, 1824 Salt Springs Road. An administrative law judge from the board will receive public comments starting at 6 p.m.

An adjudicatory hearing on the project has been set 10 a.m. Aug. 10 at the Public Utilities Commission office in Columbus.

rsmith@tribtoday.com

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