Renovo Energy project still under DEP review

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Williamsport office of the Department of Environmental Protection is still reviewing comments received from the public relative to the proposed Renovo Energy Center project.

Dec. 7 was the deadline for the public to comment on a revised permit request for the REC project. A spokesperson at DEP’s north central office said this week that more information is being sought from developers of the approximate $800 million natural gas-to-electricity plant at the old rail yard site on the north side of Renovo:

“DEP has requested additional information from the applicant based on initial review of the public comments and currently awaits the applicant’s response. The Department will prepare a comment response document in which responses will be provided to public comments. DEP will also coordinate with U.S. EPA before a final decision is issued. There is no specified time frame for a final decision.”

Project backers are hoping for a final DEP go-ahead this year, anticipating that construction can begin this calendar year for a project first disclosed in 2014.
DEP had said last November a final decision would 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.