Lackawanna County

We don’t know how many times we have to keep ringing the bell–this is a five-alarm situation! Wake up! A group of Democrats elected to the Jessup, PA Borough Council (Scranton suburb) are actively trying to block the completion of the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant–the first phase of which will be ready to go online in a little over a month. A bunch of ninny nanny antis didn’t like that they couldn’t stop the project, so they used money and help from Big Green groups last November to launch successful campaigns to defeat incumbent Council members who voted to authorize the Lackawanna Energy Center to be built by Invenergy (see Scranton Antis Get Political Revenge for Gas-Fired Power Plant). A new majority of anti-power plant radicals took office last week and wasted no time in attempting to slow (or stop) the project (see New Town Board Tries to Stop Nearly-Done Gas-Fired Plant in Jessup). Yesterday, Jessup Council members voted unanimously to hire the same attorney used by Big Green group Delaware Riverkeeper, Jordan Yeager, to “investigate” a request by Invenergy to flush 56,000 gallons of heated water (used to cool the plant) per day down the municipal sewer system. Council voted, unanimously, to pay Yeager and another attorney from the same Big Green law firm $225 per hour for their “expertise” in reviewing Invenergy’s request. No doubt the new council members are hoping Yeager can figure out a way to deny Invenergy’s request and perhaps kill the plant–or at the very least delay the project as long as possible. That seems to be the strategy here. Why else would Jessup Council hire a Big Green lawyer like Yeager? This is NOT a good faith effort to work with Invenergy, as some Council members pretend. It is a bad faith effort to screw Invenergy and stop the plant…
Read More “Jessup Town Board Continues Effort to Stop Gas-Fired Elec Plant”

Just yesterday MDN warned you about a group of antis who had seized political control in the Pennsylvania borough of Jessup, where Invenergy is nearing completion of the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant (see PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Elec Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup). True to form, no sooner than the antis were sworn in, they began to throw up roadblocks to completing the Lackawanna Energy Center project. As we explained yesterday, Invenergy has filed a request with Jessup to use the borough’s sewer system to dispose of up to 56,600 gallons of “wastewater” (heated water) per day. The first thing the new board did was to hire a radical, far-left attorney (who also represents the odious Delaware Riverkeeper) to “review” Invenergy’s request. It’s a total sham. Jessup’s new Council President, Gerald Crinella, lied through his teeth when he said, “What we’re looking to do is have an expert look at it and say, ‘What other options are available?’ What are the pros and cons of them? What are the costs associated with them?” The aim of hiring the Riverkeeper attorney is to STOP this project and has nothing to do with being extra careful. Council is supposed to vote by Jan. 15 on Invenergy’s request to use the sewer system in order for the project to remain on track. The yesterday decided to ask Invenergy to delay the Jan. 15 date–the classic first move antis always make. First delay, then deny. We predict a lawsuit will swiftly be filed by Invenergy, who will be ready to start the plant up in February…
Read More “New Town Board Tries to Stop Nearly-Done Gas-Fired Plant in Jessup”

It’s been a long road, but we’re finally close to startup for the first phase of what will be Pennsylvania’s largest gas-fired electric generating plant near Scranton, PA. The Invenergy plant, dubbed the Lackawanna Energy Center (located in the community of Jessup), will produce 1,480 megawatts of electricity when it’s fully built and running. Construction crews are hard at work in frigid temperatures, working to complete the first of three combined-cycle generator units. The work is 80% done on the first unit and on track to be completed by February. The plant is certainly having an impact on locals–both good and bad. On the bad side, we previously reported that antis in the Jessup community exacted their revenge on local political leaders for approving the plant by removing them from office (see Scranton Antis Get Political Revenge for Gas-Fired Power Plant). Hey, it’s a hard knock life. On the positive side, when MDN editor Jim Willis was visiting family in the area over the Christmas holiday, he heard family members talking about the “huge” plant going up. And they’re happy about it! As we reported in early December, a pipeline to feed the plant is now almost done (see UGI Pipeline to Feed Scranton NatGas-Fired Power Plant “On Track”). However, there is a cloud on the horizon that may delay a February start. The antis that threw out previous town board members take their seats today. Invenegy needs a final town approval to hook up to the town’s sewer system to handle some 56,600 gallons of “wastewater” (heated water) per day. Look for the antis to make trouble and try to delay the approval. Here’s an update on PA’s biggest gas-fired electric plant, coming online (hopefully) soon…
Read More “PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Elec Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup”