REC says Renovo project remains in play
By John Lipez
RENOVO, PA – A principal in the Renovo Energy Center proposal says the billion dollar project “remains viable” if project developers are successful in warding off a pending challenge to its state-approved air quality permit.
REC’s Rick Franzese this week responded to Joseph Minott’s recent opinion article in The Record. Minott is executive director and chief counsel for the Clean Air Council. The council is among those appealing a DEP permit approval for the facility planned for the north side of Renovo.
Franzese said investor interest in the Renovo facility remains high, “increasingly so in light of current events.” In particular, he said, “the war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for energy security and independence, which for the near-term in the United States can be reliably provided by domestically-sourced natural gas.”
But the REC official indicated the appeal process to the Environmental Hearing Board has not helped: “Plant construction requires a major financial commitment, and the mere existence of the appeal to our air permit represents a financial risk that lenders and investors must consider. While we are confident that the Environmental Hearing Board will eventually uphold the permit, the simple fact is that despite the low probability of the permit being rescinded or substantially revised, the potential financial costs if that happened are substantial, and lenders and investors are rightfully concerned.”
Franzese also refuted Minott’s claim there had been insufficient community involvement in the planning process. He said there had been a 14-member focus group of area residents involved in the planning and hundreds had attended public meetings detailing project plans.
The REC official closed by noting the project will provide “a much needed economic boost” to the community during construction and operation, expressed thanks for the “strong support on all levels – local, county and state” and closed with “REC remains committed to the project, and is willing to engage with the Clean Air Council, the other parties appealing the plan approval and the Department of Environmental Protection in meaningful negotiations to promptly resolve the appeal so we can get on with construction of this much needed project.”
