GUERNSEY COUNTY, Ohio—Norm Blanchard is Director of the Community Improvement Corporation in Guernsey County.
He says the $1.6 billion project that will bring a state-of-the-art natural gas electric generating facility to the County will have significant economic benefits well beyond 30 months of construction and 1000 workers.
- A proposed $1.6 billion natural gas power plant is expected to bring 1,000 construction jobs to the largely rural community of Guernsey County
- While many in the community say this project is a positive step, others question if residents will get the jobs
- The plant is expected to open in 2022
“It’s going to inject people into our hotels, into our restaurants, gas stations and so forth, which is going to be a temporary spike. But then you have 30 jobs, permanent, they're going to be high tech jobs, good paying jobs,” said Blanchard.
Guernsey County has about 40,000 residents.
Its unemployment rate is slightly above the state's average, and its household income is $10,000 below the state average.
The 1800-megawatt combined cycle natural gas electric facility, which is run by Caithness Energy, is slated to be located just off I-77.
Blanchard says the project will have a substantial impact to the Rolling Hills School District and is expected to add up to millions of dollars over a thirty-year period.
“They had previously tried to pass a levy to reconfigure the school district to add buildings, modernize the buildings they have. The levies did not pass. This came along, and it will fulfill all of the plans that they would have consummated under that particular levy,” said Blanchard.
While some residents have expressed skepticism that those construction workers hired for the project will come from outside, county commissioners say that's not the case.
“They've already met with the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union here locally,” said Guernsey County Commissioner Dave Wilson. “They have made a commitment that they're going to staff it as much as humanly possible, out of the local market.”
Residents who we spoke on camera had generally positive opinions about the project and they look forward to the ripple effects that may result.
“We need dependable jobs that will help with our community and will help with our growth. I think we need more business, I think we need more to have a choice in,” says Cambridge resident Wanda Gray.
Commissioners say they are now studying housing options for the temporary workers, as well as future full-time employees.
The facility is expected to use three existing gas turbines and produce enough electricity to power one million homes.
Site preparation is underway and the facility is expected to be finished in late 2022.