Invenergy won't build power plant in Elizabeth Township - WTAE Pittsburgh

Invenergy won't build power plant in Elizabeth Township

PLAN. PLANT WOULD HAVE GONE ALONG THE YAQUINA RIVER IN ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP. BUT MULTIPLE COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARGUED IT WOULD HAVE HAD DEVASTATING IMPACTS AND IT WOULD UNFAIRLY, IN DISPROPORTIONATELY REALLY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING. YOU KNOW, OUR RIVER VALLEYS HAVE A LOT OF POLLUTION AND THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO ADD NEW POLLUTION SOURCES THAT COMPLICATE THAT. THE COMPANY FILED FOR A PERMIT WITH THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND GROUPS, INCLUDING THE CLEAN AIR COUNCIL, TOOK THEM TO COURT, ARGUING THAT A GRANTED PERMIT WOULD VIOLATE THE LAW. IN THE END, THE THE AIR PERMIT WAS CLEARLY DEFICIENT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. IT WAS LACKING PROTECTIONS THAT WERE REQUIRED BY LAW FOR PROTECTING PEOPLE’S HEALTH FROM NOXIOUS POLLUTANTS. THOSE LIVING NEAR THE PROPOSED POWER PLANT WHO FOUGHT IT VOICE RELIEF. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AREA IN WEST NEWTON THAT HAS THEY’RE REINVENTING THEMSELVES AS A AS A TRAIL COMMUNITY WITH LOTS OF NEW RETAIL AND NOT LOTS OF NEW RECREATIONAL AREAS. THIS WOULD HAVE HARMED THEM, NOT ONLY ECONOMICALLY, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS HEALTH. INVENERGY RESPONDED TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR’S REQUEST FOR COMMENT WITH A STATEMENT. THEY SAY, QUOTE, IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, INVENERGY IS EXPLORING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE RELIABLE ENERGY AND SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THERE’S A HOST OF EMOTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. I THINK CHIEF AMONG THEM IS THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE HEARD. AND NOW THE ATTORNEY WE HEARD FROM, FROM THE CLEAN AIR COUNCIL SAYS IN 20 2023, THERE ARE NO OTHER PERMIT REQUESTS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR A NEW POWER PLANT THAT IS FUELED BY

Power plant plans scrapped in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County

Updated: 5:14 PM EST Nov 15, 2023

Invenergy has withdrawn its permit and will not build a new power plant in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, where neighbors have been fighting those plans for years.The company, which specializes in solar and wind electricity plants, has scrapped its plans for a natural gas-fired power plant along the Youghiogheny River."In response to current market conditions, Invenergy is exploring other opportunities to provide reliable energy and significant economic benefits," a spokesman said Wednesday.Multiple community and environmental groups argued that the plant would have had devastating impacts."And it would unfairly and disproportionately cause health problems and air pollution problems for people who are already experiencing — you know our river valleys have a lot of pollution, and the last thing we need is to add new pollution sources to complicate that," said Lisa Graves Marcucci, of the Environmental Integrity Project.Invenergy had filed for a permit with the Allegheny County Health Department. Groups, including the Clean Air Council, took them to court, arguing that a granted permit would violate the law."In the end, the air permit was clearly deficient in a number of ways. It was lacking protections that were required by law for protecting people's health from noxious pollutants," said Alex Bomstein, the legal director for Clean Air Council.Those who live near the proposed power plant and fought it are voicing relief. "We have a beautiful area in West Newton that is reinventing themselves as a trail community with lots of new retail and lots of new recreational areas. This would have harmed them, not only economically but also the citizens' health," Graves Marcucci said.Bomstein said in 2023, there are no other permit requests in Pennsylvania for a new power plant fueled by fossil fuels. He said economics favor renewable power sources."There's a host of emotions among the community right now. I think chief among them is they feel like they were heard," Graves Marcucci said.

ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

Invenergy has withdrawn its permit and will not build a new power plant in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, where neighbors have been fighting those plans for years.

The company, which specializes in solar and wind electricity plants, has scrapped its plans for a natural gas-fired power plant along the Youghiogheny River.

"In response to current market conditions, Invenergy is exploring other opportunities to provide reliable energy and significant economic benefits," a spokesman said Wednesday.

Multiple community and environmental groups argued that the plant would have had devastating impacts.

"And it would unfairly and disproportionately cause health problems and air pollution problems for people who are already experiencing — you know our river valleys have a lot of pollution, and the last thing we need is to add new pollution sources to complicate that," said Lisa Graves Marcucci, of the Environmental Integrity Project.

Invenergy had filed for a permit with the Allegheny County Health Department. Groups, including the Clean Air Council, took them to court, arguing that a granted permit would violate the law.

"In the end, the air permit was clearly deficient in a number of ways. It was lacking protections that were required by law for protecting people's health from noxious pollutants," said Alex Bomstein, the legal director for Clean Air Council.

Those who live near the proposed power plant and fought it are voicing relief.

"We have a beautiful area in West Newton that is reinventing themselves as a trail community with lots of new retail and lots of new recreational areas. This would have harmed them, not only economically but also the citizens' health," Graves Marcucci said.

Bomstein said in 2023, there are no other permit requests in Pennsylvania for a new power plant fueled by fossil fuels. He said economics favor renewable power sources.

"There's a host of emotions among the community right now. I think chief among them is they feel like they were heard," Graves Marcucci said.