STOMP
News

Hamilton County Council Tables PSI Tax Abatement Request

Noblesville 6/6/2001 - In a 5-2 vote, the Hamilton County Council tabled a request by Cinergy-PSI for an ARA tax abatement for the planned re-powering project at their White River plant north of Noblesville.

Citing concerns voiced by area residents concerning the impact the plant's operation would have on water levels in White River and nearby Morse Reservoir, Council members felt that the matter should be tabled for 30 days to allow time for the Hamilton County Surveyor to look into potential impacts to area water supplies. The Council will reconsider the request at their July 11th meeting.

PSI officials present at the meeting indicated that they were still in the process of completing their hydrology studies, which had originally estimated daily consumption of water from White River in the range of 11-13 million gallons per day. PSI stated that updated engineering and design changes would allow them to lower that consumption level to 5 million gallons per day.

PSI indicated that their feasibility study had considered deep wells or drawing water directly from Morse Reservoir in the event of a drought, but found that those options were not economically feasible. When asked for clarification by Councilor Jim Belden, the PSI engineer reiterated that under no circumstances would they draw water directly from Morse.

Water impact on Morse could come as a result of the Indianapolis Water Company needing to draw water to increase flow in the White River to meet drinking water and flow requirements for sewage treatments plants. Morse Reservoir lies along the Big Cicero Creek watershed, which in turn empties into White River.

STOMP supports the abatement and the re-powering of the Cinergy-PSI plant, as this regulated utility plant would provide power to local area. If Cinergy is unable to obtain the abatement from Hamilton County, they will likely move the project to one of four other sites, leaving the White River location vulnerable to take over by a merchant plant operation. PSEG, in abandoning their planned siting west of the current PSI location, had cited the existence of the PSI plant and refit in their decision not to pursue a second plant near that location.

Prepared by Kirk Demaree, STOMP

Victory In Hamilton County - No PSEG Plant

The following press release was put out by PSEG regarding their decision not to move forward with plans for the White River combined cycle plant. Congratulations and thanks go to all who helped with our efforts to block this plant. Now we need to redouble our efforts to get legislation passed to ensure that citizens have a real voice in the power plant siting process!

April 10, 2001
PSEG Power Suspends Plans For Power Plant in
White River Indiana

(April 10, 2001 - Newark, NJ) -- PSEG Power
announced today that following the completion of an
environmental analysis of the impact of a proposed plant in
White River Township, the company had decided not to go
forward with a combined cycle gas plant at that location.

"To make economic sense the plant needs to be able to
run, even at a time of reduced water flows," said Lathrop
Craig, manager project development, PSEG Power. "
While we believe that the flows would allow us to obtain a
permit to construct a combined cycle facility, the flow rates
of the White Water River do not give sufficient margin of
comfort for PSEG, especially in light of other possible
plants proposed on the river."

PSEG Power continues to develop several sites in Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois and is actively evaluating several
additional sites in the Mid-west.

"We are very grateful for the assistance and strong support
from many people in the township and surrounding
communities for this project. We appreciate this
community's time and effort in addressing the many
complicated and important issues that must be analyzed by
any community hosting a power plant development. PSEG
wishes them well as we move on in our quest to find good
locations for building power plants to meet the growing
energy needs of the region," added Craig.

STOMP Hosts Press Conference with
Citizen's Action Coalition

Hamilton County 3/28/2001 - STOMP and the Citizen's Action Coalition jointly hosted a press conference this morning to unveil a new sign, and to announce plans for the push to get a hearing for HB 1979 before the Indiana Senate Committee on Energy & Economic Development.

Approximately 30 area residents attended the unveiling, and listened to presentations by Chris Aldridge and Kirk Demaree of STOMP, along with Dave Menzer of the CAC. The event was covered by WTHR-13 and WRTV-6, along with reporters from the Tipton Tribune and the Indy-based Nuovo newspaper.

Earlybirds pose by the new STOMP Sign on Overdorf Road

The sign is aimed at increasing awareness of the merchant plant issues within the northern Hamilton County region, and the unveiling was coordinated with a second CAC press conference to be held this afternoon in Logansport, home of Senator Tom Weatherwax, who chairs the Senate Committee which now holds the fate of HB 1979 in its hands. Citizens concerned about the unfettered spread of merchant plants across Indiana need to contact Senator Weatherwax to request an immediate hearing on HB 1979 before his committee.

CAC's Dave Menzer spoke in support of STOMP's efforts related to the proposed PSEG power plant in Hamilton County, and of the need to get legislation passed in this session to provide the force of law for the IURC in establishing the need for additional plants, as well as for establishing priorties for where such plants may be sited.

"These plants don't belong in prime farm fields such as the one we're standing in this morning," said Menzer.

STOMP's Kirk Demaree, attired in army fatigues and bush hat sporting a STOMP button, told Channel 13's Anita Malichi that, "I'm wearing these clothes this morning to dramatize the fact that there is a war going on in this country between the interests of big power companies and local citizens, and the battle line has been drawn this morning right here in Hamilton County. It's time for the Senate to step up to the plate and protect the rights of the citizens of Indiana."

STOMP Co-Founder Chris Aldridge spoke of the need for people to get involved now. "Even though PSEG has not filed anything yet in Hamilton County, we want people to know they need to get behind these issues now, and educate themselves about the impact merchant plants will have on the lives of their families," said Aldridge.

The new "STOMP Sign" was the result of long hours of effort by Rich and Chris Aldridge, and Larry and Debbie Brown. The Browns and the Aldridges live directly across from the site of the proposed PSEG plant.

Keep checking this page for updated information!