Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
A study from an energy research firm shows a proposed natural gas power plant in Pawnee would have a negative effect on City Water, Light and Power, Springfield’s city attorney told aldermen last week.
But utility and city officials are keeping quiet on just what a negative impact means for CWLP’s coal-fired power plant because they say it could tip their hand in negotiations with Houston-based EmberClear Corp., the company proposing the $1.2 billion plant on 80 acres near Pawnee.
“We want checks and balances, and we want to balance what the electric division tells us with others that are knowledgeable and can give us great insights and understanding,” Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said. “It’s good to have checks and balances and to get the information out there.”
The study comes as Springfield leaders consider whether to extend the joint Springfield-Sangamon County enterprise zone, which offers sales and property tax breaks to companies promising new jobs. The company estimates that construction of the proposed 1,100-megawatt gas-to-electric power plant would create 500 to 800 jobs, as well as 30 to 40 permanent jobs once it’s completed.
The enterprise zone extension requires sign-off from the county board, which happened in May, the city council and the state agency that oversees the incentives.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 