REC Project Comment Period Ends Monday
WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Monday, Dec. 7 is the deadline for members of the public to comment on the proposed Renovo Energy Center. Expectations are, with all approvals in hand, that the approximate $800 million natural gas-to-electricity plant will see construction begin in the second or third quarter of 2021. In the meantime the state Department of Environmental Protection is accepting comments on a proposed project modification.
Megan Lehman, Environmental Community Relations Specialist with DEP’s Williamsport office, told therecord-online that as of late Friday more than a dozen comments had been received from the public.
She explained the plan approval is being treated as new, but a nearly identical project was approved previously, one which also included opportunities for public input. She said in addition to the comments received to date, DEP anticipates receiving additional comments in the coming days.
Lehman said, “DEP appreciates the public’s comments, which are useful in our review and serve to further our understanding of the community’s interest in the proposed project. At this time, DEP anticipates that the extended written comment period, combined with significant public comment collected when this project was previously reviewed, will provide sufficient opportunity to be informed of community perspectives.”
In a late November posting about the comment period, DEP said a final decision will not be made “until it has been determined that any necessary approvals are administratively and technically complete, meet the applicable federal and state regulations, and have considered all comments collected during the public comments period.”
Renovo Energy Center is proposing to construct a 1,240-megawatt electric generating station at the old railroad site on the north side of Renovo. The project has the backing of Renovo Borough Council and the Clinton County Economic Partnership. The Clean Air Council, a Philadelphia-based environmental organization, is urging that the project be stopped.
